Alpha at St Stephen's Preston

Alpha is a fantastic way to explore faith in a warm, safe and
non-judgmental environment. It’s an informal course that combines community and the big questions of life.

Click here to watch a video about Alpha

Over several sessions, Alpha helps you explore questions about faith and the meaning of life. We will explore (together with others who also have questions) whether Christianity is still relevant to our lives today.

We start the evening by eating a meal together and this leads into watching an Alpha video followed by discussion - no question is too stupid to ask.

Please contact the church office for details of when our next course will be starting.

Here is what the course covers:

Session 1: Is there more to life than this?
Session 2: Who is Jesus?
Session 3: Why did Jesus die?
Session 4: How can I have faith?
Session 5 : How and why should I pray?
Session 6: How and why should I read the Bible?
Session 7: How does God guide us?
Session 8: Introduction to the Alpha Away Day (Introduction)
Session 9: Who is the Holy Spirit? (Away day talk 1)
Session 10: What does the Holy Spirit do? ( Away day talk 2)
Session 11: How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? (Away day talk 3)
Session 12: How can I make the most of the rest of my life? (Away day talk 4)
Session 13: How can I resist evil?
Session 14: Why and how should I tell others?
Session 15: Does God heal today?
Session 16: What about the church?

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday.

Where and When do we meet?

We meet at the Church Building on Bird Street (off Broadgate PR1 8DY) for our Sunday Services at 10.30am and 6pm. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10 minutes early to ensure you find somewhere to sit before the service begins.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. We also have a fully accessible toilet.

What Should I Expect?

You will receive a very warm welcome particularly from our Welcome Team who will be able to answer your questions and direct you to where you need to go. We sing, read a passage from God's Word, the Bible, and church members lead a time of prayer. We have a talk based on the passage that was read to deepen our knowledge and love of God and to understand how we are to live as His people. There are opportunities for prayer at the end of the service with someone from our Pastoral Team.

Tea, coffee and biscuits are served after the service where there is plenty of time to meet new people and ask more questions.

images: Services

What about my kids?

We have a creche upstairs with a live link to the service so you can still feel part of it. There is a fantastic Junior Church for those children aged 3–10, and a Pathfinder group for school years 6 to 9. Children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service for the welcome, songs and notices. We really value worshipping God all together as a church family. At the end of the notices someone will announce that it’s time for the younger members to go to their various groups. You will need to go with your children to their groups and register them as part of our child safety policy. Whilst you are dropping your kids off at their groups, we pause to take time to chat to someone sitting near or next to us, giving folk a chance to come back before the sermon begins.

For more information about what happens in the children's work please visit the page on Youth and Children's Ministry under "Church Life".

The kids group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games and free play. Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes.

Is there a dress code?

We don't all dress up for church, although some choose to look smart and others dress less formally. It's always great to see people wearing national dress from various parts of the world. However, we do like to dress with a degree of modesty

Will I have to join in?

Not at all!
You are free to simply observe or participate as much as feels comfortable for you.

What is Christianity?

You can read more about who Jesus is, why he came and what that means for us here.

I have more questions, how can I get in touch and ask them?

Please feel free to contact us.

Getting Connected

Growth Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our Growth Groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some daytime and some evenings. Check out our Growth Groups page for more info. If you would like to join a group we can put you in touch with one of the leaders, who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.

Leadership


Leader 1		Leader 2
Leader Intro		Leader Intro

We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.

Best Wishes

(Handwritten Signature)