After seven weeks of Alpha Tuesday night sessions, on 21st September, around 30 people gathered at St Anthony in the Fields Church, a serene and green oasis in Terrey Hills, for a deeply moving Alpha Retreat Weekend. The church’s peaceful surroundings set the tone for a day of reflection, prayer, and connection.
The Alpha Program - and in particular the Retreat - has the goal and intention of creating relaxed time and peaceful space so that participants can experience the love of God, come to know Jesus better, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
As participants arrived, the gentle and welcoming atmosphere took over. The one-day retreat, starting at 8:45 AM, was filled with Alpha videos, group discussions, and powerful spiritual activities led by our dedicated Alpha leaders. Throughout the day, many standout moments that captured the essence of the retreat:
Contemplation: Participants were guided through several spiritual exercises throughout the day. The Day started with an Examen. A technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the week in order to detect God's presence and to discern his direction for us. After covering content on Who is the Holy Spirit, the participants spent quiet personal time in the outdoors reflecting on the Spirit’s role in their lives. Finally, a peaceful contemplation exercise sitting with Jesus, enjoying a personal encounter with Him, talking directly and building on our relationship. With soft music playing in the background, many shared profound feelings of comfort and connection after all these exercises.
Prayer: In small, private groups, Alpha leaders offered heartfelt prayers for participants' needs, placing hands on their shoulders and asking for the Holy Spirit's blessing. This time of prayer provided deep emotional support and spiritual healing.
Give and Take: Participants were invited to recall moments of love, gratitude and compassion in their lives, exchanging these emotions with partners through a simple, yet meaningful, eye contact exercise. This powerful moment brought many closer together.
Despite coming from different backgrounds, with not all participants baptized, the Alpha journey has fostered a deep sense of unity. The retreat was an emotional day—filled with tears of joy, shared support, and personal breakthroughs and revelations. Many expressed that the experience was far more impactful than they had expected.
Beyond spiritual nourishment, Alpha leaders ensured everyone was well cared for with breakfast, a delicious lunch, and a joyful afternoon tea. In a heartwarming moment, the group also celebrated the birthday of one of the Alpha leaders with a cake-cutting ceremony, adding to the day’s joy.
The retreat concluded at 4:00 PM, leaving everyone with joyous and spirit-filled smiles, the love of God and anticipation for the Week 8 session. The bonds formed and the experiences shared will undoubtedly continue to inspire us on our Alpha journey.
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