Despite its well-known religious diversity, the San Francisco
Bay Area may be one of the most
”
unchurched
”
regions of the country.
Despite its well-known religious diversity, the San Francisco Bay Area may be one of the most “unchurched” regions of the country.
Perhaps as much as 20 percent of the population claims no religious faith, and thousands of people who profess a faith rarely attend a religious service.
The members of Gilroy’s St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 651 Broadway St., recently hosted a weekend retreat called Faith Alive.
Nearly 75 percent of the congregation participated in this moving experience that enriched and deepened their faith. Now they want to reach out to the South Valley community by sharing their renewed enthusiasm for Christianity with others.
They are inviting all local residents to join them in an educational program known as “Alpha,” named for the first letter of the Greek alphabet, symbolizing “beginning.”
This opportunity to explore the meaning of life in a relaxed, friendly setting began in 1977 in a London Church. In 1990, a remarkable former lawyer named Nicky Gumble modified it, and now it has spread to 163 countries.
Most people know something about Jesus and the Bible, but they may have learned it long ago and forgotten much. Or they may have learned about the faith at a church that emphasized special doctrines and was dogmatic, judgmental or aggressive.
Alpha is a course in Christianity that teaches a traditional form of the faith accepted by most major Christian communities. In our area, Alpha has been presented by such churches as Advent Lutheran in Morgan Hill and Holy Spirit Catholic in San Jose.
Participants will learn about the existence of God, the purpose of life, the claims of Jesus, the nature of afterlife and more.
St. Stephen’s Alpha program will meet on 14 Monday nights plus an all-day Saturday session and a final celebration dinner. Since summer activities may hinder attendance, it is important to note that each session is independent and missing some will not spoil the experience.
Each Monday, the session will begin at 6 p.m. in the church family living room with a simple meal. At 6:30 p.m., the group will watch a video featuring Nicky Gumble addressing an important issue. And at 7:15 p.m., they will break into small groups to discuss the answer to the evening’s question. The sessions will end at 9 p.m.
The questions covered are ones that people have been pondering for centuries, such as who is Jesus, why and how do I pray, why and how should I read the Bible, how can I resist evil, does God heal today and how can I make the most of the rest of my life.
Alpha is for everyone who thinks there is more to life than meets the eye. There is no charge to participate and no obligation to attend worship services. Organizers hope that participants will find a relationship with God that changes their lives. Also, they can develop close, long-lasting friendships that are often built through attending the Alpha course.
Father Terry Burley, rector (pastor) of St. Stephen’s welcomes anyone to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about what Jesus really taught, assuring “no question will be too simple or too hostile to address.”
For more information, call (408) 842-4415.
