Good morning everyone, my name is Jennifer, and I am here today to share my Alpha experience with you. As many of you may be wondering, what is Alpha? You keep hearing an invite to Alpha but have no idea what it may be. Let me tell you, Alpha is an 11 week course where we explore big life questions, where we explore our faith with no judgement and no one is forcing a conclusion on us. We meet every Monday from 7pm till about 8:30pm. We come together for dinner, watch a 15-25 minute video, and then get into small group discussions. This is a friendly open setting where we are able to share our thoughts on the video or ask any questions we may have.

I grew up Catholic my whole life, I knew the basic teachings, believed in God, prayed, and I would attend church here and there. But I never had a deep or personal relationship with God like I have today. Growing up I viewed him as a father figure, very masculine, tough, and someone who I was a little scared to disappoint with my life

decisions. As a little girl I would always pray ( more like ask for things), it seemed like I only remembered him at nighttime right before bed. As I got older I also learned to ask for forgiveness in a very timid way not understanding that he would always forgive me. God is so faithful and will always forgive our sins.

Earlier this year, I decided to take a step and see what Alpha was all about. My aunt and uncle dedicate their free time to the church in any way that they can. They are actually in charge of the Alpha program here at OLM & St Francis Xavier, Angela and Francisco I am sure you have seen them around. They both repeatedly invited me to Alpha, and reassured me that I would really enjoy it. So I signed up, honestly not knowing what to expect, but it made it easier to sign up because I did it with one of my best friends. Alpha is for anyone, and you are more than welcome to invite whoever you think would benefit from this journey. I was nervous but also excited knowing that I would be growing in my faith. Anxiety would kick in at times and I would catch myself praying, asking God for everything to be ok. For those of you that don’t know me, I am currently a preschool teacher at a daycare and anyone who has worked in childcare knows that it's not easy. Children need a lot of care, attention, and patience. They can really push your buttons throughout the day and once you clock out all you may want is peace and quiet.

I asked myself plenty of times if I would be able to commit to this 11 week course, and all I have to say is God really works in mysterious ways. I knew and felt that this was where he wanted me to be after my 9 hour shift as a preschool teacher on a Monday night. Surprisingly, my deep mental and physical exhaustion was gone. I didn't feel drained. My social battery was still going, and week after week strangers became friends at my table. I looked forward to Mondays, wanting to learn and discuss more about our faith. It was comforting knowing that we were all at different points in our lives, yet we were all together on this journey that we had started. Proverbs 3:5–6 states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

God started revealing himself to me in so many different ways, and that brought so much peace into my life and heart. Alpha was that tool used to fulfill God’s calling in my life. God is big and can get through anyone, he loves us for who we are, and gave his life for us, he knew us even way before we were born. I have gained so much from this experience, a reminder that God listens and responds, grateful that he answers prayers, my days have become easier to navigate, and it's why I can't keep it to myself. I want everyone to be able to experience what it feels like to walk through life with Jesus, knowing that you are never alone. He loves us for who we are and can become your best friend.

Alpha welcomed me with open arms, gave me a safe and comfortable environment to learn and ask questions. It gave me a community that turned into a family and that I will cherish forever. After Alpha, I continued seeking God in new ways. I joined a women’s Bible study group, started attending Tacos & Theology here at church, spent more time in adoration, and began reading and understanding the Bible more deeply.

With that being said, did you know that 188 million adults are open to exploring and experiencing faith? So what are you waiting for? I hope to see you at our second season of Alpha starting Monday, September 14th at 7pm and if you can’t attend, that's okay. I ask that you instead pray for Alpha and for peace in the world. Thank you so much! & God bless you