Sunday 15th September


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."
 

Sunday 15th September


The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
 
9am - Holy Communion – Characters from the OT – Elisha and the blind soldiers (2 Kings 6:8-23) – Jonathan Templeman
           
           10.05am - Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 20 minutes

10.30am - Morning Worship – as above

          *The 10.30am service will be livestreamed via the Christ Church Bedford YouTube channel*
          
            6pm - Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 40 minutes

7pm - Sundays@Seven –  Being Disciples 1- Being (Part 2) – David Thomas
 

Services in the coming week


Wednesday 18th September
10am -  Holy Communion – followed by refreshments

Sunday 22nd September
9am - Morning Worship – Characters from the Old Testament: Joash repairs the temple  – Ben Williams
          10.05am - Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 20 minutes
10.30am - Holy Communion – as above
            6pm - Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 40 minutes
7pm - Sundays@Seven – Prayer and Worship Evening
 

Church Family News

 
Welcome: to Adrian Groves, a reader in training from St Mark’s Hitchin. Adrian will be worshipping and serving with us until 17th November.

Congratulations: to Evie Lawrence and Joe Ellis as they marry in Halstead, Essex on Saturday 21st September.

Michael Brown: The funeral of Michael Brown of Dudley Street and a Lunch Club regular will be at Christ Church on Monday 30th September at 2pm.
 

Thoughts from the Vicar

 
I've been reading a short book by John Stott on generosity and giving. It focuses around 2 Corinthians 8:1–6. JS draws out an amazing truth that the generosity which the Macedonian church had shown, comes out of the grace which God had poured out on them. The giving was because of God's generosity and responding to the need. 

This is important for two reasons. Firstly, the gift of grace is given because of God's great love. It comes before we are deserving, it comes before we get things right, it comes before we even acknowledge God. Responding to this generosity should keep us humble. We are undeserving and yet we have been given all things. 

The second point is that the response to the grace received is to see the needs of others and to give. We give out of our poverty and of God's riches. We give because he first gave. We love because he first loved us. The grace of God will shape the way we see the world.                                 
 

For your prayers this week

 
Prayer for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity: Lord of creation, whose glory is around and within us: open our eyes to your wonders, that we may serve you with reverence and know your peace at our lives’ end, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
 
Please pray for:
  • Last Tuesday was World Suicide Prevention Day, we continue to pray for all those who are struggling with thoughts of suicide. May they find God's peace amidst the storms they face.
  • All the charities and services who help those impacted by suicide. May they have God's wisdom as they listen and help.
  • Those who have lost loved ones. May they know God's comfort amidst the grief.
  • All of us, that we might be generous and kind to those around us, especially when we don't know what people are facing right now.
 
Children's Ministry and Events
 
THIS SUNDAY AT 10.30am (15th September):

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

Today's Groups:
 

 
COMING UP THIS WEEK:

 
 

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

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

Youth Ministry and Events


 
18-30s Ministry and Events


For more information contact Laura Jewell our 18-30s Pioneer at 18-30s@ccbedford.org
 

What is happening at Christ Church and some dates for your diary

 
Bike N Hike 2024: Saturday 14th September 9am and 5pm – the annual event in aid of the Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust.  If you would like to take part, either on foot, by bike or by car, gathering sponsorship for the number of churches you visit between 9am and 5pm on that day, let us know and collect a sponsorship pack from the Hub.  Half the money raised comes back to Christ Church.

Grandparenting and Faith: At St Mary’s Church Goldington on Saturday 14th September 9.30am-1pm. Ever wondered about sharing your faith with your grandchildren? You are invited to come along and explore Christian grandparenting. To book a place, or to find out more, please email grandparenting.stmarys@gmail.com or call Ceri-Anne on 07872 052175.

Malawi Lunch: Sunday 15th September at 12.30pm, in Christ Church Halls Everyone is invited to a simple lunch to hear about the Home of Hope with updates from the recent visit to Malawi. If you are able to bring cakes to share, these would be much appreciated.  The team will also be speaking at the Mission slot in our 10.30am service.
 
Church Walk: Sunday 15th September at 2.30pm meet in the Hub for a local walk.


Go4Gold Talk: Friday 20th September 2-3.15pm. Becky Guynn will be speaking about her work for Impact in Bedford Schools. Refreshments provided.  No booking needed, just turn up. All welcome.

HOPE Gazebo: On Saturday 21st September the Hope gazebo will be up and running between 9.30- 1pm outside Peacocks/HSBC in Allhallows. Please pray for and encourage the Hope team as they share Jesus and pray with people passing by.

Fairtrade at St Andrews: Sunday 22nd September celebratory sale (11am-5pm) and refreshments (2-4pm) in the main hall at St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Road.
 

(There will also be a service at Christ Church that evening.)
 
Ladies Weekend Away 2024: Friday 11th-Sunday 13th October staying at The Garden House in Stamford. Ladies can come for the weekend or for the day on Saturday 12th for fun, food, fellowship and teaching from Mhairi Brown and Sue Marshall with worship led by Ellie and Eilidh. More details and booking forms available here or from the Hub.
 
 
Bedford Foodbank:The most needed food items at the moment are: Pot noodles, cup-a-soup, fruit juice (long-life), tinned meat (200g), tuna, sweetcorn and fruit, jelly, coffee and long-life milk.
If you wish to donate toiletries to Bedford Foodbank, our current needs are: toothbrushes, toilet rolls, disposable razors, shaving foam/gel, sanitary wear, household cleaning sprays and washing up liquid. Many thanks for your generosity.
 

Volunteer Opportunity

@ Bedford Foodbank


Trustee

Bedford Foodbank
Voluntary Position (approximately 4 – 8 hours a month)
 

In 2023, we moved premises to a larger warehouse which is enabling our fantastic team of staff and volunteers to work in a better, safer environment, and our day-to-day operations can run more efficiently.

The Foodbank is committed to delivering a high standard of service to anyone who engages with our work. We operate our services with a Christian ethos, supported by local churches. You don’t need to be an active Christian to be part of the team, but understanding these values is important.

We have recently spent time reviewing our policies and processes, developing our strategy and identifying areas where we can strengthen our governance - and now, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join the team as we continue to serve the community of Bedford.

The Role

Along with the board of trustees, this role’s responsibilities are;
  • To oversee the governance of the organisation.
  • To work alongside the trustee board to ensure the organisation’s financial dealings are systematically accounted for and on time, independently examined and made publicly available when necessary.
  • Ensure Bedford Foodbank is accountable, actively complying with statutory accounting and reporting requirements and the law. 
  • To ensure appropriate financial plans are in place for future budget allocations as well as looking after contractual agreements with external partners that award money for core costs and additional projects.
  • To help promote the organisation to a wider audience of potential funders and beneficiaries.
  • To ensure the food bank has appropriate procedures to: comply with current legislation and good practice; including employment, health and safety, equal opportunities, safeguarding & GDPR compliance/data protection etc.
  • Act with reasonable care and skill, giving your time, thought and energy to your role.
  • To serve as an additional promoter of the food bank in the community.
About you
  • A knowledge of and commitment to the work of the Bedford foodbank.
Benefits of volunteering
  • Using your existing skills to make a difference.
  • Meet new people who share your passion to eradicate poverty in the local community.
  • Make a real difference to the running of the food bank.
Support

A full trustee induction is in place to support the prospective candidate within their role.

How to apply

For more information, please contact Kirsty Middleton or fill in our application form here and return it to Kirsty Middleton (kirsty@bedford.foodbank.org.uk) by 30th September.
 

 

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 75 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 11 leave.

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 on Sunday mornings during our 10.30am service:

Imagine -  Our weekly group for babies to 3 year olds, parents are welcome to stay with their child, if they like.  They meet in the main hall 
Wonder - Our weekly group for those in school years R-3. They meet in Rooms 2-3
Marvel - Our weekly group for those in school years 4-6. They meet in Room 5 (upstairs)
JTeam - Our weekly group for those in school years 7-11. They meet in Room 6 (upstairs)

The children and youth stay with their parents at the start of the service as we worship together for the first part of the morning. Someone will announce when the children and youth should go to their groups. You will need to go with your children and register them, the first time they attend. 

For more information about what is currently happening in the children's work please visit the Children's Ministry page and for the youth work please visit the Youth Ministry 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 (south site) 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 first 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:

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