Worship on Alpha

We are unsure about the best way to do Worship on our Alpha course.

Worship is a very sensitive subject. According to Nicky Gumbel, many guests find the worship the most difficult part of the course to begin with, but by the end of the course they find it is the part they value most. Thus, it needs to be handled carefully.
 
Be sure to explain carefully what you are doing. Nicky likes to quote Paul in Ephesians, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord," (Eph. 5:19). "I explain that we are going to sing a mixture of psalms (usually set to modern melodies), hymns, and spiritual songs."

Nicky suggests that you start the first night with a well-known hymn.  As the course goes on you can introduce more modern songs, changing gradually from singing about God to singing directly to Him. Increase the length of the worship time from about five minutes at the beginning of the course to 15 or 20 minutes toward the end of the course. Don't move too quickly at the beginning, and assure guests that they can simply listen if they don't want to join in.
 
For many, singing the worship songs is their first experience of communicating with God, and their experience of worship on Alpha helps them to make the next step from Alpha to the church.

From "How to Run The Alpha Course: Director's Handbook" p. 27 © 1997 Alpha International, Holy Trinity Brompton, Brompton Road, London SW7, UK