Sunday 27th July 


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 27th July 


The Sixth Sunday after Trinity
 
9am - Morning Worship – Spirit, Soul and Body (1 Thessalonians 5:23 + Galatians 5:13-26) -  David Thomas       
 
          10.05am - Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 20 minutes

10.30am - Holy Communion – As above

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

7pm - Sundays@Seven – Images of Jesus – Light Of The World  (John 8:12-20 + Matt 5:13-16) – David Thomas
 

Services in the coming week


Wednesday 30th July
10am - Holy Communion – followed by refreshments

Sunday 3rd August 
9am -  
Holy Communion – Favourite Psalms (Psalm 62:5-8) – David Thomas       

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

10.30am - All Age – As above

7pm 
Sundays@Seven – Favourite Bible Passages – Hannah Applegarth + Y@6
 

Church Family News


20/30s Lunch: Sunday 27th July after the 10.30am service in the halls.

Baptism & Confirmation - we are planning on having Baptisms on 19th October at our 10.30am service, 26th October at our 7pm service (by full immersion), and Confirmation on Sunday 16th November at 7pm with Bishop Richard. If anyone is interested, please speak to DT or Ben Williams. (apologies for the incorrect date in the Tuesday email!)
 
Church Office During the Summer - now we are in the summer holidays, staff and clergy will be taking annual leave, the office is likely to be “shut” at various points between now and September. We will do our best to communicate this in advance. Apologies for any inconvenience, feel free to blame the vicar!

Thoughts from the Vicar

 
At our morning services we have been thinking about Spirit, Soul & Body. We have been thinking about understanding ourselves, how we relate to the world around us, and how we engage with God. One of the important things has been the idea of connectedness – connected to God and to each other and to the world that we live in. And that connectedness brings responsibility, which perhaps we would rather not think about, let’s save that for another time. One of our responsibilities though, is to ourselves, we are after all temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). We cannot separate out our spirit, soul and body, and because of that there is this inner connectedness. Our spiritual lives affect our emotional lives which impacts our mind and our body, and vice versa.
 
In Romans 7, Paul bemoans the fact that he doesn’t understand what he does, and the good he knows he should do he doesn’t do. I feel a bit like that with exercise at the moment. I know it is good for me, but I allow a million (slight exaggeration) things to get in the way. I know I need to spend time being still, but I fill my day with doing things. And none of this takes place in a vacuum. It takes place in relationships with God, each other and the world. This week I am attempting to pay more attention to my spirit, soul and body and to listen to what God might be saying to me…
 

For your prayers this week


Prayer for The Sixth Sunday after Trinity: Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as pass our understanding: pour into our hearts such love toward you that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
 
Please pray for:
  • Foster Parents and Carers – that that during the long summer weeks they may know God’s strength as they serve in such sacrificial ways.
  • Thank God for the opportunities that are in front of us.
  • Those who are unwell – that they would know Christ’s healing presence in mind, body and spirit.
  • Peace in our world - that leaders and those in positions of power would work for peace and justice.
 
Children's Ministry and Events
 
THIS SUNDAY
AT 10.30am:
AT 3.30pm:

 
 
 
COMING UP THIS WEEK:


 
NEXT SUNDAY: 

 

SUMMER 2025 HOLIDAY CLUB
 


 
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

 

What is happening at Christ Church and beyond


Go4Gold Film Club: Friday 1st August at 1.45pm. No booking is needed, you are welcome just turn up.
 
First Aiders: We are updating our list of First Aiders. If you have a current First Aid certificate and are willing to be included in our list of First Aiders (displayed in the kitchen and the church porch) then please let Pauline Grimley know (office@ccbedford.org).

Volunteers needed:

This academic year (2024/5) Impact (supporting schools, exploring Christianity) piloted two RE workshops in local schools on the topics of Creation and Holy Trinity. They were a great success, and the schools are keen for us to go back in again. (Creation workshops will be in Sept/Oct 2025 and the Holy Trinity ones in Jan/Feb 2026.) For the Creation workshop, we require Christians, who have an interest or background in the sciences.  This is so that the children have the opportunity to have a Q&A session about science and its relevance to Christianity.


Dates for Your Diary:
 
An evening with Graham Kendrick: hosted by Bromham Baptist on Friday 12th September at 7:30pm, the very well-known worship leader, accompanied by Jason Carter on harp guitar, and Natasha Petrovic on violin. Graham brings together sung worship, using many of his ‘classic’ worship songs, plus a taste of some new ones PLUS ‘concert’ segments featuring several of his much-loved performance songs. Tickets cost £12 with all profits being donated to the Utange Orphans Charity and the Bethel Caring Academy Mombasa (Kenya). Go to www.bromham.org to purchase tickets.
 
Bike ‘n Hike: Saturday 13th September, an opportunity to get sponsored to visit churches on foot, by bike, or by car, and raise money for the Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust and Christ Church. Sponsorship packs now available from the Hub. 
 
Parenting course: The Teenage Years: Open to all parents with young people! Being run by Christ Church Bedford!
Come along to meet and chat with other parents. Starts Thursday 25th September. For more details speak to Hannah Applegarth  or book a space here


 
2025 Ladies and Men’s Weekend Something to look forward to this autumn
HAVE YOU BOOKED YOUR SPACE? Don't miss your chance to attend.

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.
 
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: