Sunday 19th March 2023 

 

All our latest events, information and prayer needs
 
Our Vision: "We are a people being transformed by the unconditional love of God; seeking to bless our community, and longing for all to experience the hope we have in Jesus."
 

Saturday 18th March

 

9am - 10.30am - Men's Breakfast
There is no online Prayer Meeting this week
7pm - Pilgrims' Friend Society Quiz in the Church Halls


Sunday 19th March

Mothering Sunday / The Fourth Sunday of Lent

9am -  Holy Communion – Mothering Sunday – David Thomas

10.30am - All Age Worship  – as above – Chris Somervell

* The 10.30am service will be livestreamed via the Christ Church Bedford YouTube channel * 

4.30pm - Wild Church - at Leslie Sell Activity Centre, Bromham    

6pm - Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 40 minutes

7pm - Sundays@Seven – Whole Life Worship 4 – Tony Daniels
 

Services in the coming week


Wednesday 22nd March
10am - Holy Communion - followed by refreshments 
8pm - Lent Course - Tom Otley - preceded by refreshments

Sunday 26th March
9am - Morning Worship -  The Long Road from Dust to Glory: How We Are, Not Just Who We Are (Rev 2:1-7) – David Thomas
10.30am - Holy Communion – as above   
6pm - Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 40 minutes
7pm - Sundays@Seven – Whole Life Worship 5 – Sue Marshall
 

Church Family News

 
The Church Weekend Away Thank you to everyone for a great Church Weekend Away.  Special thanks to all those who helped with all the preparations for the weekend and helped out at the weekend itself.

Wednesdays in Lent:
Each Wednesday evening (8pm) during Lent we will have a gathering in the church using the Church of England’s Lent Journey resources “Dust + Glory”, thinking about faith, failure and forgiveness. Everyone is welcome to come along to as much or as little as they like.  Refreshments will be served from 7.45pm.  These will also be livestreamed on the  Christ Church Bedford YouTube channel   
 
A Word from the Vicar

As the season changes from winter to spring it really feels like we are in a new season here at Christ Church. Over the last six months we have been working on a new vision for all of us here in Bedford. I am exceedingly grateful for all the hard work by so many people, all the prayer which has undergirded this, and the encouragements from so many different places.
 
So here it is:
"We are a people being transformed by the unconditional love of God; seeking to bless our community, and longing for all to experience the hope we have in Jesus."
 
Sometimes, when we try and distil stuff down into a single phrase, it can become a bit dry and wordy. And so, we have these three points which hopefully we can all remember:
  • Transformed by Love.
  • Seeking to Serve.
  • Experiencing Hope.  
Over the coming weeks we will unpack this further but, in the meantime, please join me in praying that this vision of love, service and hope would inspire all of us as we journey in faith together, loving God and loving our neighbours. 
 
For your prayers this week
 
Prayer for The Fourth Sunday of Lent:  Merciful Lord, you know our struggle to serve you: when sin spoils our lives and overshadows our hearts, come to our aid and turn us back to you again; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer for Mothering Sunday: God of love, passionate and strong, tender and careful: watch over us and hold us all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
Please pray for:
  • Those who are concerned following the budget this week, for wisdom to know what to do.
  • Those who are in positions of leadership, whether in church or elsewhere, for God’s grace to lead well.
  • Those who are hungry, that they would have enough to put on the table.
  • Those who are looking for forgiveness, that they would find peace from God at this time.
  • Those who are in mourning, that they would know God’s presence during this season.
Prayer for Peace:
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
Children's Ministry and Events

Family Lent Challenge: Have a go at a thinking challenge this week!  You will need pen and paper.

Each week of Lent there will be a new challenge to help children to connect with God during Lent. They can be found on our children's playlist on our YouTube channel.
THIS SUNDAY 19th March:
 
This Sunday at 10.30am is an all age service, so we encourage children to stay in to enjoy the service with the adults. There are instruments available to play with during the musical worship and quiet toys at the back of church. 



??Calling all outdoorsy families!
Interactive worship outdoors this Sunday at 4:30pm!
?? Crackling fire
?? Creative activities
?? Bring a friend and their family - it's especially good for those who don't come to church at 10:30am.
 
COMING UP THIS WEEK 

 
Contact Ruth using: children@ccbedford.org or 07554 537757
For more information about our regular groups please look on our website here.  

Youth Ministry and Events
 
Youth Update: As you know, I have taken over the youth work here at Christ Church, and during the past 4 weeks, we have had loads of fun. One of the biggest highlights was the Church weekend away, where we had a group of 7 young people join us as we looked at Ephesians 4:1-32 and what it means to be transformed by God and what it means to follow Christ.

We are still running J Team for the young people who come to church on Sunday mornings; also we are still running Friday Night Youth with a slight change. We are introducing a 'God slot' where we create the opportunity where young people can talk about God and faith.

Thank you for all your prayers for the Youth Ministry here at CCB; please continue praying for more volunteers to join the help and lead sessions.

With blessings 

AJ 

Friday Night Youth for 11-18 year olds  - join us from 7pm to 9pm, meeting at Christ Church.

J Team returns on 26th March.
 

 What is happening at Christ Church and beyond?


Items Wanted: Daring Disciples (our under 7s) are asking for Easter cards to be collected and if anyone has mini chicks that can be used for cake decorating.  Please leave in the church office, for Ruth and Jen.
 
Help Wanted: Firstly: to help Amy Hutchinson move from Bedford to Willington (from 4.30pm Friday 31st March to Sunday 2nd April) Help is needed to load and unload, and any time you can give would be appreciated.  If you are able to help please contact Amy on amyhutchinson703@gmail.com 

Secondly: AJ and Amy are looking for someone to coordinate the cakes for the reception after their wedding on the 13th April and other volunteers to bake cakes, to serve tea and coffee and help clear up.  Any help/support would be so greatly appreciated by them both. Contact them on wadehutchinson1130@gmail.com - thank you so much!

Thirdly: Laura Jewell is hoping to put together a Sunday lunch rota where members of the wider congregation would host members of the 18-30s group at their house for lunch to connect more people together and build relationships.  Would you be willing to host as a one-off or on a regular basis? If so please contact Laura on 18-30s@ccbedford.org with the approximate number of people you'd be able to host.

Go4Gold Social: Friday 24th March 2-3.15pm in the Hub. No booking needed, just turn up.

Annual Parochial Church Meeting:  A date for your diaries.  This year our APCM (like an annual general meeting) will be held on Wednesday 3rd May in Church at 8pm.  At this meeting we will (re)elect wardens, Deanery Synod Representative and some PCC members. 
 
Revision of Electoral Roll: Our formal list of church members is being revised between now and the 18th April. If you are already on our electoral roll and wish to continue then you do not need to do anything.  (There is a copy of the electoral roll in the Church Porch.) 
 
Being on the Electoral Roll means that you are seen as a member of Christ Church, and also enables you to vote in any church elections, as well as apply to stand on the PCC in the future. You need to be baptised, 16 or over and either live in the parish or have been attending for six months or more. If you haven't been baptised please don't let that put you off, we’d love to talk to you about exploring baptism.
 
If you would like to join please collect and complete a form, available in church and in the Hub.  Membership allows you to vote at our 2023 Annual Meeting on Wednesday 3rd May.
 
If you would like more information, or want to talk about anything, please speak to the vicar.
 

Bedford Foodbank: The most needed items at the moment are: UHT milk, cup-a-soup, fruit juice (longlife), tinned carrots, tuna, soup, fruit and rice pudding, jars of pasta sauce, 1kg bags of rice and long life sponge puddings.  
 
 

 

Hello
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.
Visitors click here

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team.

Our 9:00am service is traditional in style and lasts about 45 minutes.

Our main Sunday family service starts at 10:30am and runs for about 90 minutes, everyone gathers together at the beginning of the service. After a short time of worship together, we divide into different teaching and worship groups as children up to school year 8 leave. Our crèche however, is available from the beginning of the service.

At our all-age services (60 minutes), everyone stays together for the whole service. Our weekly notice-sheet gives details of all important events happening in the near future and some guidance on topics for prayer.

Tea, coffee and biscuits are served after the service where there is plenty of time to meet new people and ask more questions. We are proud to be a certified Fair Trade Church.

Our 7:00pm Sunday evening service runs for about 75 minutes and adopts a more contemporary style with a focus on deeper worship and teaching.   

 

What happens to the kids at church?

Children

We have a fantastic programme for the kids at the Church:

Sunday Mornings 10.30am service:

Daring Disciples - (Babies to 8 years). Our weekly group for babies to 8 year olds (school year 3).
Passports -  (9-11 years) Our weekly ministry to encourage our older children in the experience and love of God, through story, worship, prayer, discussion, craft etc. Meets in room 5 during the service.

Children stay with their parents at the start of the service as we worship (sing songs!) together for the first part of the morning. Someone will announce when the children need to go to their programme. You will need to go with your children and register them, the first time they attend.

For more information about our provision for children please visit the children's work page.

What about accessibility?

There are parking spaces next to the church halls but for the 10:30am service a larger car park is available at Castle Newman School just a few yards along Goldington Road. We have step free access from both Denmark street and Dudley street and there is space for buggies and wheelchairs in the Hub area of the new halls. There are baby changing and accessible toilet facilities and a lift to the second floor. Our sound system incorporates a hearing loop.

Getting Connected


Small Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out Small Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team. 

Other Ministries

We also run the following ministries:

  • Men's Ministries
  • Women's Ministries
  • Students
  • Foodbank
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