Whether it’s your first time here, or you’ve been coming for a while and simply want to know more about us, you’ve come to the right place. Our heart is to: “Seek Jesus, Point to Jesus, and Walk with Jesus.” Below you’ll find the answers to some of our most Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have any questions that are not answered here, please feel free to contact us at info@thealpinechapel.com or call us at 970.728.3504. We want to be here for you!
FAQs:
- What about COVID-19?
During the pandemic, while our area was at more dangerous ‘levels’, we closed our public gatherings for 10 months, and when we reopened we required all to wear a mask during the services, and we practiced social distancing. Now, we do not enforce mask wearing or social distancing. However, we still provide hand sanitizer, located near each exit of the worship center and folks are welcome to wear masks if they’d like. If you are uncomfortable being in a crowd, or being in a room where people are NOT wearing masks and social distancing, please feel free to watch our 9am service from home. For more information, please click HERE.
- When are your services? – Saturdays at 6pm (not during the ‘off-season’ Oct. 16-Jan. 1) and Sundays at 9am. These services are identical, with one exception: There is no children’s ministry for the Saturday service. If you have children, the 9am Sunday service would be a better choice. We also have an in-depth Bible Study on Wednesday nights at 6pm.
- How can I learn more about following Jesus?
If you would like to know HOW you can BEGIN a relationship with God, or even what you are supposed to do NEXT once you’ve accepted Christ… please click HERE. If you’d like to talk to our pastor, he is always available and can be contacted at pastor@thealpinechapel.com
- What does your church believe?
Please visit our BELIEFS page for specifics, but simply put, we are centered around Jesus Christ and God’s revelation to us, the Bible. Through the teaching of His Word we learn about His character, plan, and love for us. As we grow in our understanding of Him, we experience His Spirit leading us to step out in ministry to one another and the world.
- When do you meet?
- Saturdays at 6pm and Sundays at 9am – Alpine Chapel’s main services. Please come early, to get a good seat! (not during the ‘off-season’ Oct. 16-Jan. 1)
- Our service is available on our Facebook page and this website at 9am each Sunday.
- We have a Wednesday night Bible study at 6pm where we dig deeper into the Scriptures.
- Other Bible Studies and special events throughout the week are also available. Please see our EVENTS page for more details.
- Where are you located?
Alpine Chapel is the cute, little church located half a block off the main drag in Telluride, Colorado. We’re also a block away from the famous Telluride Gondola. The address is: 122 S. Aspen Street. For detailed directions from wherever you are in the world, just click HERE.
- What denomination is Alpine Chapel?
Alpine Chapel is an interdenominational body of believers striving to live out the Biblical command to love God, each other and our neighbors well. Although our church began many years ago associated with the Southern Baptists, and we have a deep love and appreciation for that particular denomination, we call ourselves ‘interdenominational’, because we are so unlike many Southern Baptist churches and have so many other denominational backgrounds represented by those that attend T.A.C. Our senior pastor and associate pastors are ordained with the Calvary Chapel Association (more info about Calvary Chapel found HERE).
- What Can I Expect?
At Alpine Chapel our main weekend services are approximately 60 minutes long. We put a great emphasis on musical worship in our services. We believe that God made us to worship and He created music so that it reaches into the heart and soul of people unlike anything else. Therefore, it is woven throughout everything we do. Worship is our opportunity to reflect God’s love back at Him while allowing our hearts to be shaped the way that He wants them to be. It’s always an intimate time, led by our passionate worship team. Our church is made of people who have come from a variety of denominations and church backgrounds. We invite people to freely express their worship in a “decent and orderly” way during our services (1 Corinthians 14:40).We teach through the Bible with it’s original context and meaning as our starting point. Most times we’ll teach through a Book of the Bible verse-by-verse. Occasionally, we’ll center on a theme and dig deeper into a topic. Our goal is to breathe life into the people, places, and stories of Scripture and to always provide practical application of God’s Word to our lives today. Our desire is that Jesus, the Living Word, would touch your life during this time.
- What translation of the Bible do you use?
There are many English translations of God’s Word that we think are great. Truthfully, a person should use any translation that they will actually read! If the King James Version is your thing, great! If you are an NIV person, wonderful! However, in our main services, Pastor Michael teaches from the Christian Standard Bible, which is a highly readable, highly reliable translation that arrived in 2017. The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-transforming message and to share it with others. Please watch the two minute video below to learn more about this translation.
- Is Your Building Handicap Accessible?
Yes, we have an elevator that can take a person from the Sanctuary to the restrooms and the children’s facilities.
- OTHER THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW:
- We enjoy a casual, relaxed environment; come dressed as you are… seriously! If you are dressed to ski and come clomping in wearing your ski boots you’ll be right at home!
- We are a community of people who love God, each other,… and you!
- We offer excellent ministries for infants and toddlers as well as an exciting Children’s Ministry for older children. – We believe that worship is important for all ages, therefore, older children will join us for worship, and then be dismissed to their class. Only our 9am service has children’s ministry available.
- What is Alpine Chapel’s Story?
Alpine Chapel ministers to the community of Telluride Colorado to locals, second homeowners, and visitors. We are located at 122 South Aspen Street. We have been in our current location since completion of our building in 2010 and we are debt free.Alpine Chapel began as a mission church from Rosemont Baptist Church in Montrose, Colorado during the mid 70s. Alpine Chapel was originally named The Telluride Baptist Church. The Church began worshipping at the Porterfield Stone building in town. The small congregation met in the upstairs of the Porterfield building, which they called “The Upper Room.” The Telluride Baptist Church changed locations several times during the first 20 years. We met at the school lunch room, music room, private homes, the Christian Fellowship building, and the Nugget Movie Theater. And from the Nugget Movie Theater we moved into our current space. In 1997, Telluride Baptist Church became independent, self-supporting from Rosemont Baptist Church and was officially named The Alpine Chapel of Telluride. We continue to have affiliation with Rosemont Baptist Church as friends. Our congregation grew and the desire and possibilities to have a home building to worship was pursued. Money was raised and then land was purchased in Mountain Village. Plans and models were made, going before the architectural design review committee. It was determined that Mountain Village did not want or need a church. No church building would be allowed to be built on the lot owned by Alpine Chapel. The Chapel land was sold and the money was put into savings. George Greenbanks architectural building and land in town was up for sale. With God’s help, we raised funds again. All members gave as best they could. The Second Home Fellowship financially challenged each other to meet the remaining balance and the challenge was met. The land was purchased in 2008 and our plans were approved by the town. We broke ground in 2009 and the church was complete in 2010. We are so thankful that God blessed us with this building to gather. The church building is currently being utilized for Sunday Worship, Children’s programs, a Free Coffee House, and other church ministry and community events. We continue to thrive within our own church building. In April of 2018 Alpine Chapel welcomed our senior pastor, Michael Craft. In 2020 the church purchased two parsonages for our pastors to reside in.
- What is your senior pastor’s story?
Michael Craft has been a pastor since 1989, and is ordained with Calvary Chapel. Michael has a sincere passion for God, a passion for people, and a passion for creating a platform to bring the two together. For much more information about our pastor click HERE or visit his personal website: www.MichaelCraft.org
- What is the LEADERSHIP Structure of The Alpine Chapel?
We believe our structure to be what Scripture describes as how the government for the church should look, God’s model. Jesus is the Head of the Church. The Lead/Senior pastor is ruled by the Lord and (aided and held accountable by the elders and Trustees) called to discover the mind and will of Jesus Christ for His church. This in turn is implemented by the assistant pastors. The Alpine Chapel has a Leadership Council (‘Board of Trustees’) that is made up of men and women who’ve been nominated by the current board and Senior Pastor, and then elected by the members of the church. These Trustees oversee all the finances of the church and decisions concerning the upkeep and maintaining of the facilities of the church. The Senior Pastor sits on this board and has influence, but no vote. The pastors currently serve as elders of the church, in that they are in charge of overseeing the spiritual well-being of the fellowship, as well as serving the church in other areas including prayer, council, and visitation. Others can and will be appointed to the elder board as the Lord leads.
- Why are there 4 pastors on staff at such a small church?
The Alpine Chapel is unique in that we are a large church with a small congregation. The number of locals that attend is growing, however, many of our local attendees are very sporadic attenders due to their traveling schedules. T.A.C also has a large number of “Second-Home-Owners” (those that live elsewhere, but also own homes in the Telluride area and want a solid church to attend while they are here). Add these numbers to those that are simply ‘visiting’ and we can have some weekends with half the chairs full and others where there is standing room only. For this reason, we don’t have the consistent volunteers that many churches are blessed to have. It can be a challenge to ‘plan’ and adequately provide all the ministries that we feel God has called us to provide. The four pastors are here to ensure that consistent and excellent ministry continues, regardless. All four pastors have areas that they oversee: Pastor Michael oversees the entire church and staff, but mainly focuses on teaching God’s Word. Pastor Isam oversees all the outreach events of the church, including the Coffee House ministry. He also oversees all volunteer training and discipleship. Pastor Skye oversees the praise and worship of the church, as well as oversees the facilities that are owned by the church. Pastor Conor oversees all ministries geared for those aged 18 years and younger.
- How can I get connected?
While Sunday morning worship is important, if that’s your only involvement with church, it’ll be difficult (okay, impossible) to become connected to our community in a meaningful way. There are several avenues to getting involved, and in turn, building relationships with other people at Alpine Chapel. Please explore this website for other ways you can jump in and become a part of all that God is doing here. Special classes, Bible studies, and regular community outreach events are just a few of the ways. Of course, you can always talk with someone in leadership, but perhaps most importantly, to get started you can attend our D.N.A. classes (these are offered on a regular basis, please see calendar for next class, and are meant to help people Discover more about Alpine Chapel, Navigate their way to where God can minister to them and through them at Alpine Chapel, and then be Activated into authentic and exciting ministry opportunities).
