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 3rd May

 
 

Sunday 4th May


The Third Sunday of Easter
 
9am - Holy Communion – What we think about (Phil 4:8) - David Thomas

          10.05am - Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 20 minutes

10.30am - All Age Worship – as above - Ben Williams

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

7pm - Sundays@Seven – Following Jesus - The Final SacrificeHebrews – David Thomas
 

Services in the coming week

 
Wednesday 7th May
10am -  Holy Communion – followed by refreshments

Sunday 11th May 
9am -  Morning Worship – Following Jesus' example of humility (Phil 2) – Wil Horwood
          10.05am - Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 20 minutes
10.30am - Holy Communion – As Above
7pm - Sundays@Seven – Following Jesus - The Battle Won: Colossians – Ben Williams
 

Church Family News

 
Prayer Diary: The May Prayer Diary is now available to collect from church. 

Word for TodayCopies of Word for Today for May - Jul are now available in the Hub.
 
Anne Wakeling: Anne died on 30th March. Her funeral is on Tuesday 6th May, 2:00pm at Elstow Abbey Church, with reception afterwards at the Kings Arms Pub, St. Mary’s, Bedford

Report on our Annual Parochial Church Meeting:
 
The following were elected as Churchwardens:
            Gwyneth James and Andrew Russell

The following were elected as Lay Members of the Parochial Church Council:
For three years: Kay Berrington, Tony Daniels, Will Eves and Wendy Pegg

Thank you to everyone for playing their part at Christ Church in 2024.  We thank God for all that happened and look forward to what God has in store for us.

June 2025 Ordination dates for your diary: Ben Williams will be ordained Priest on Saturday 28th June at 2pm and AJ Wade will be ordained Deacon on Sunday 29th June at 2:30pm, both at St Albans Cathedral.  They would appreciate support as they enter these next steps in their ministries and all will be welcome to come and join us at these services.

Thoughts from the Vicar

 
If you get a chance have a read of Hebrews chapter 4. If you're coming to our evening service, we're going to be thinking about Jesus, our great high priest. I've spent this morning meditating on the truth that God is able to empathise with my weakness. 

We often think about Jesus as the servant King, we think about him giving up the glories of heaven to be down here in the dust with us. We think about how he was beaten and led like a lamb to the slaughter. We think about his death and resurrection. And we can also see God as a very unhuman human, that he was perfect etc etc. In focusing on his perfection and his sacrifice we can sometimes miss the truth from verse 15 that he can understand our weaknesses, he intimately understands it. And he still loves us, he can empathise with us.

As we allow the truth of this to go deep into our hearts and minds, it will impact the way we see ourselves, our neighbours, our world. If God can empathise with me, then perhaps I can empathise with my enemy too. Or even empathise with my neighbour who I disagree with. Beautiful but challenging stuff.                                                         
 

For your prayers this week

 
Prayer for The Third Sunday of Easter: Risen Christ, you filled your disciples with boldness and fresh hope: strengthen us to proclaim your risen life and fill us with your peace, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. 
 
Please pray for:
  • The Papal Conclave as the Roman Catholic Cardinals come together to decide who the new Pope should be.
  • Organisations who work for peace within communities, such as Grassroots in Luton.
  • Places of conflict, such as Kashmir, Ukraine, Gaza, Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • Families facing difficult times.
 
Children's Ministry and Events
 
THIS SUNDAY AT 10.30am (4th May) : 
 
This week is an all age service at 10.30am, we encourage families to join us for the service. There are instruments and quiet toys available for children who join us.

 
COMING UP THIS WEEK:
 

NOTICES FOR VOLUNTEERS
 
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


 


 
For more information about our regular groups please look on our website here or contact Hannah using: youth@ccbedford.org or 07384 295757
 
Volunteers (and Marquees) needed to support Impact (One of our mission partners)

Nearly a thousand children will be joining us over the three days of Lifepath John Bunyan at Elstow Abbey this year.  The children and staff love coming and they learn all about John Bunyan and Pilgrim's Progress through various interactive activities and workshops.
Thanks for those who have already registered to volunteer, but we need more help.  This is where we need your help please.  Whether you can be involved for a day, two or three or know of family and friends who would be interested in helping, please get in touch.
As Lifepath is taking place in Bedford, it would be great if we could source two large 
marquees locally.  Do you know an individual, organisation or church who we could borrow large marquees from for Lifepath please? If you can help, please get in touch.
 

What is happening at Christ Church and beyond

 
 
Items wanted: please can you save any empty, clean, gravy/hot chocolate/custard powder etc. tubs with plastic lids that could be used for making money boxes at Morning Out. We need 25 by July, please bring them to the office. Old Prescription glasses: Optometrists from Cardiff University are going to Malawi to do eye tests and give out suitable glasses. Students will identify prescriptions of donated glasses before the trip. If you have any old glasses or sunglasses, (not varifocals), there is box on top of the pigeonholes. 
 
Church Walk: Sunday 4th May meet in the Hub at 2.30pm for a local walk and then return to church for refreshments.

Go4Gold Soup and Social Friday 9th May @ 12.45pm. There will be a choice of soups, bread rolls, cheese, yoghurts and fruit for a suggested donation of £2pp. This will be followed by car share to Dorothea Court, 32 Park Avenue, more details to follow (suggested donation £1pp). No booking is needed, you are welcome just turn up to one or both events.

A Celebration: Saturday 10th May 7-10pm Celebrate 20 years of the Malawi Orphan Fund working with the Home of Hope. A fun evening of food for the stomach and for the mind. £20 (children £5). Tickets available this Sunday from Kathy Priddin. If you are planning to come please let Kathy know as it would be useful to know how many people to cater for.


Plant sale:   Saturday 24th May 2025. Please continue to take cuttings and plant seeds ready for the sale, then come and buy other wonderful plants to make your garden look great. We had a great time last year, let's make it even better this year.

Music Night: Saturday 7th June 7-10pm at Riverside Tennis Club. Be entertained by Riverside Talent (bar open; bring nibbles) and raise money for Bedford Foodbank (donations).

Quiet Day: Saturday 21st June in Hertfordshire. Leave Bedford at 9am and go to All Saints Little Munden for time to reflect, pray, walk. Contact Rachel Bennett for details/to book.
 
2025 Ladies Weekend Away: Friday 26th-Sunday 28th September staying at The Garden House in Stamford. Ladies can come for the weekend or for the day on Saturday 27th for fun, food, fellowship, teaching and worship. Brochures with booking form now available in the hub, or download LWA or contact Rachel Bennett.  Early booking will secure your place.

2025 Men’s Weekend Away: Friday 17th - Sunday19th October staying at The Garden House in Stamford. Green brochures with booking form now available in the hub, or download here or from John Betteley.  Twin or single en-suite rooms available.  Book early.
 
Bedford Foodbank Shopping List: The most needed items at the moment are: tinned meat/rice pudding, jars of coffee, bars of chocolate, milk (UHT), long-life fruit juice, laundry tablets, deodorant and sun cream SPF50 (Particularly for children).
If you wish to donate toiletries to Bedford Foodbank, current needs are: toilet rolls, disposable razors, shaving foam/gel, sanitary wear, household cleaning sprays and washing up liquid. Many thanks for your generosity.
 

Sunday 4th May 

 

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.

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)
Youth - Our weekly group for those in school years 7-13. They meet in Room 7 (upstairs). Please register at the desk in the hub


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: