Tuesday, July 28, 2009
What do Christians really believe? Does God exist? Is there any point or meaning to life? What happens when we die?
Do any of these questions resonate with you? If so, the Alpha Course may be for you.
This fall, The Well will be offering the Alpha Course, a free 10-week exploration of the basics of the Christian faith. Each week, we’ll share a meal and watch a video together, then discuss the claims made in the video and their validity. We’ll even spend a day away for more in-depth discussion.
We promise a no pressure, non-judgmental atmosphere, where you may ask any question at all, and we’ll do our best to answer.
Everyone’s Invited
People come for different reasons, from different backgrounds, and with different opinions - but in the Alpha Course, those differences only add to the conversation and often lead to greater understanding.
Ask Anything
Alpha is a place where no question is too simple or too hostile and all viewpoints are respected.
Real Problems
Life is full of tough times - shaky employment, relationship struggles, kid troubles and illness. No matter what you are facing, Alpha is a place to ask why - with the freedom to share or just sit back and listen.
Big Questions: God
Is there a God? Why am I here? Who is Jesus? What about other religions? Alpha tackles these and other questions each week. Chances are somebody in your group is wondering the same thing you are.
Building Friendships
Some of the closest and most long-lasting friendships have been built on the Alpha course. Alpha friendships get beyond the standard “What is your name? and What do you do?” so you connect on a more personal level. On the weekend away, which is a key part of the Alpha course, you get to know each other even better.
Food and Fun
Alpha isn’t all work. In fact, most of the time it is simply just fun. Sharing a casual meal and hanging out after a long day can be a time to relax and be yourself - no expectations or strings attached.
Sound interesting? Please with us for more details.
Peace,
Matt
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009
If you spend much time with us at The Well, you’ll quickly learn that we value environmental ministry. This means that we believe that caring for the environment is a spiritual matter, a matter of faith for us as Christians. This is why we do things such as litter clean-up and volunteering with environmental education. This is why we don’t use plastic cups for our communion or styrofoam cups for our coffee. This is why we teach creation care as a spiritual value.
Does this connect with you? You’re welcome to join us in caring for God’s creation. To learn more about environmental ministry, visit our web site Is Jesus Green?
Peace,
Matt
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Monday, July 06, 2009
At The Well yesterday, we watched “Trees”, one of the Nooma videos by Rob Bell. [SPOILER ALERT!] The gist of the video is that the Bible begins and ends with a tree in a garden. In the Genesis story (the beginning), a tree is connected with the break in the relationship between God and humanity. In the Revelation story (the end), there’s a tree in the garden where a reconciled God and humanity live together. The challenge is living in the time between the two trees.
Sometimes we live bound by the past. It can be nostalgia, longing for the good old days. The older I get, the more I understand this thinking as my body just won’t do everything it used to do. For others, it can be the baggage of a past that we’re not proud of. We all come from somewhere, and the church is just as full of people with a scary background as anywhere else. In fact, Jesus constantly scandalized the religious establishment by hanging out with folks from a shady past. There are still others haunted by a past of physical, emotional, or spiritual abuse. The heartbreak and damage overwhelms us, and we can’t seem to get free.
You’re welcome at The Well no matter where you come from.
Sometimes we live bound by the future. I think everyone can relate to this on some level. As a kid, I frequently couldn’t wait for the next big thing: getting the driver’s license, graduating from high school, finishing college. It’s easy to think that the next milestone in our lives will be the one to usher in real life: when I get married, when I get a job, when the kids are out of the house, when I retire. We keep waiting and waiting to live, when we suddenly notice that life has passed us by and we forgot to live.
You’re welcome at The Well no matter where you’re going.
God cares deeply about your past. Past pain. Past shame. Past triumph and joy. In fact, God was with you during all the highs and lows of your life.
God cares deeply about your future. Future joys. Future pains. Future accomplishment. In fact, God has plans for your life; ways that he will use you to do great things (some things you won’t even know about). God will be with you every step of the way.
God cares deeply about your today. The Christian life isn’t one that only matters in the past or the future. We’re not hanging out in a holy lobby waiting for God to call us home. God works in our lives today and walks with us today. Our faith matters today. Don’t forget to live today.
Peace,
Matt
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009
On Sunday we spent our time together in prayer for The Well and for Chapel Hill. We prayed for our spiritual community - that we would grow to be more like Jesus and that our friendships with one another would grow deeper. We prayed for Chapel Hill - for unity, for the economy, and for our role as a church in being a blessing to our community. This video was a meditative background, with some passages from the Bible to help guide our thoughts in prayer.
Find more videos like this on The Well Chapel Hill
We invite you to join us in prayer. If there’s something you’d like us to pray about, you may either put it in a comment below or send us an email.
Peace,
Matt
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Monday, June 22, 2009
The Well Chapel Hill will be involved with a couple of service opportunities this week. Everyone is invited, you don’t have to be part of our community to participate.
Friday, June 26th - 6:30-8:30 at Extraordinary Ventures (map) - Friday Night Live is a fun opportunity to hang out with developmentally disabled adults. Ping-pong, foosball, Karaoke and more. Light refreshments available for minimal cost. Hope to see you there!
Sunday, June 28th - 6-9 at Umstead Park in Chapel Hill: Potluck in the Park. This is a community potluck, so bring a dish or two to share and get to know your neighbors.
Peace,
Matt
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