Sunday 21st May

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 20th May

9am - 3pm HOPE Spaces gazebo on Bedford Market, Church Square, (aka pigeon square),between Peacocks and HSBC. They go out to pray for people, speak to people and give out literature on the third Saturday of the month. Do speak and encourage them or volunteer to 'man' the Gazebo. (pip@hopebeds.org)

Sunday 21st May

The Seventh Sunday of Easter

9am -  Holy Communion – A Roller-coaster Ride (Esther 6) – Jonathan Templeman

10.30am -  Morning Worship – as above

* 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 - Paradoxology: Jonah – Amy Hutchinson-Wade

Services in the coming week

Wednesday 24th May
10am - Holy Communion - followed by refreshments

Sunday 28th May
9am - Morning Worship – A Great Deliverance (Esther 8-10) – Vikki Thomas
10.30am - Holy Communion– as above
6pm - Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 40 minutes
7pm - Sundays@Seven - Paradoxology: Esther – Mhairi Brown

Church Family News

King’s Arms Project: We welcome Abi Boland from the King’s Arm Project Bedford to our 10.30am service to update us on their activities in Bedford. There will be a table with information on, in the Hub, after the service and the opportunity to chat and learn more.

Hamish Fraser: Hamish died on Sunday 7^th May. His funeral will be at Christ Church at 10.45am on Tuesday 30^th May. All welcome. Our prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

Congratulations: to Ben Broughton and Ellie Ryan-Johnson on their engagement.

Thoughts from the Vicar

Yesterday (Thursday) was Ascension Day (Luke 24:44-end), which to me feels like a marker, the beginning of a season of preparation for the Holy Spirit, a looking forward to Pentecost.

Now hopefully we live in the light of Pentecost and in the power of the Holy Spirit. But I think it can be helpful for us every now and then to pause, take stock and prepare for what comes next.

So what does preparation look like. I think it has two important aspects:
1. Waiting
2. Expectation
To prepare for something we have to create space for it. It doesn't happen instantly, we have to wait, it takes time. But the waiting is not in isolation, it's not doing nothing. There is this hopeful expectation. There is a mental and spiritual aspect to preparing that goes ‘something is coming, I need to be ready'. Perhaps it is being a bit more prayerful, perhaps it is being a bit more quiet and listening, perhaps it is reading a bit more, perhaps it is going for a few more walks and opening our eyes to what is going on around us. Preparing is waiting with expectation, it is making space for God.

For your prayers this week

Prayer for the Seventh Sunday of Easter: Risen, ascended Lord, as we rejoice at your triumph, fill your Church on earth with power and compassion, that all who are estranged by sin may find forgiveness and know your peace, to the glory of God the Father. Amen

Please pray for:

Christians in Iraq; especially for new leaders, for opportunities to learn and grow in faith.
The G7 Summit taking place this weekend, for wisdom, good decision making and a desire for peace and justice.
Our Staff Team, it has been a busy few months, pray for strength, grace and vision.
Our community, there are so many people struggling in different ways, pray for wisdom for how we learn to truly be the body of Christ in serving one another.
King's Arms Project, as they continue to share God's love in Bedford in practical ways.

Collect for Thy Kingdom Come: Almighty God, your ascended Son has sent us into the world to preach the good news of your kingdom: inspire us with your Spirit and fill our hearts with the fire of your love, that all who hear your Word may be drawn to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Children's Ministry and Events

THIS SUNDAY 21st May

Please register your children before the 10.30am service at the welcome desk in the hub.

Then in the afternoon:

This week our verse at Wild Church is 'See the winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth.' If you want to explore God's creation with us, come along to wild church.

COMING UP THIS WEEK

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

The deadline for signing up for the Jungle Adventure Volunteer Team is less than 1 month away. If you think you can be a part of this, please sign up on ChurchSuite as soon as you can using this link.

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

Friday Night Youth TONIGHT Friday 19th May from 7-9pm. Don't forget we are still running Youth Alpha at Friday Night Youth and we'd love it if your young person/s can stay, but if they want to opt-out they can do that at 8:15pm

J Team for years 7-11 meeting this Sunday for school years in Room 7 during our 10.30am service.

If you would like further info, please email AJ Hutchinson-Wade at youth@ccbedford.org

What is happening at Christ Church and beyond?

Newcomers’ Welcome Tea:

Sunday 21^st May
3-4.30pm. For those who have joined Christ Church in 2022 or 2023: tea and cake, chat and a chance to meet other church members.
Please just turn up, you would be very welcome.
[NB: No Sunday Walk this afternoon, due to the Newcomers’ Tea]

Go4Gold: Friday 26^th May 2-3.15pm. This week Becky Guynn, one of the Schools’ Workers with local Christian Charity Impact will be speaking about all the work that Impact does in and with local schools. All welcome to come; no need to book. Suggested donation £1.

Pentecost Picnic: A time for people from different churches to gather socially with some games (for those who are more active) and a time to enjoy fellowship. Darren Chubb (Associate Pastor at Three Rivers Church) will be leading a short time of worship at the end.

Fundraising Events for our Mission Partners: Home of Hope Malawi:

Bedford Foodbank: The most needed items at the moment are: UHT milk, cup-a-soup, fruit juice (long-life), tinned carrots, potatoes, tuna and rice pudding, jars of pasta sauce, 250g / 500g bags of rice, biscuits and long-life sponge puddings.

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?

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