Sunday 15th February

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 February

The Sunday next before Lent

9am - Holy Communion – Holy Communion in the Gospels: The Last Supper (Luke 22:14-20) – Ben Williams

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

10.30am - Morning Worship – As above

*This service will be livestreamed via the Christ Church Bedford YouTube channel*

7pm - Sundays@Seven, with Baptism – Holy Communion in the Gospels - Feeding of the 5,000 – (John 6:1-15, 22-59) – Alan Cottenden

Services in the coming week

Wednesday 18th February - Ash Wednesday

10am - Holy Communion - followed by refreshments

8pm - Holy Communion

Sunday 22nd February

9am - Morning Worship – Holy Communion in the Epistles: Corinthians (1 Cor. 11:17-34) – Ben Williams

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

10.30am - Holy Communion – As above

7pm - Sundays@Seven – Holy Communion in the Early Church – (Rev 19:9 + Acts 2:42) – Agape Meal w/ Soup + Rolls.

Church Family News

Ash Wednesday: 18th February there will be services at Christ Church at 10am and 8pm.

Thank You from Julie Robb: Julie thanks everyone who came to Tim's funeral and all those who sent cards.

Care For Our Building: Christ Church is looking to employ someone to help look after our church and halls, plus do some cleaning. 8-10 hours per week, flexible hours. If you are interested, please email vicar@ccbedford.org for more details/job description.

Prayer Team on Sundays: we are looking for a couple more people to join the prayer team at our 10.30am service. People usually serve once a month in groups of two. If you are interested talk to the vicar (contact as above)

Thoughts from the Vicar

This week I've had the song Do It Again Lord by KXC stuck in my head. It's a catchy worship song to say the least. That's the great tradition of hymns; catchy tunes, memorable lyrics, the stuff of meditation between Sundays.

It can be very easy, especially if you have been a Christian for a length of time, to fall into the habit of self reliance. Self reliance often works out in two ways - we forget our need for God, and our need for each other.

"Do it again Lord, pour your Spirit out." In Psalm 51 King David beseeches the Lord not to take his Spirit away. He recognised that an absence of the Spirit was not good. We need God, and so we ask for more of his Spirit, or perhaps it is that we ask that we might see and know more. Either way, more please Lord!

The second part is our need for each other, there is something powerful when followers of Jesus come together. We come, in our weakness, our brokenness, and our failings. We are the body of Christ. Connected by the Spirit. And when we gather, we build each other up.

And that is one reason, among many, why we gather together week by week. To remember our need of God and one another. To receive from God and one another. To serve God and one another.

For your prayers this week

The Sunday next before Lent: Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross: give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Please pray for:

Teachers, students and staff, that half term would be restful.
Parents, carers, children and teenagers for whom half term is hard.
Hilary Deneufchâtel and family.
Bishop Fiona as she takes up her post as Bishop of Taunton.

Children's Ministry and Events

THIS SUNDAY: 15th February

THIS WEEK:

Forge and Morning Out are also on a Half Term break 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

Don’t Forget: We are not meeting at Christ Church this evening (Friday 13th February) but everyone’s invited to All Nations Church at 7pm for Hope Youth. Please book in your young person here

The Youth Café is meeting in Half Term

Youth Blog

Once a month we will give you an insight into our youth ministry. You will be able to read what we are getting up to and the fun we're having. So far we have blogged about our youth weekend away and what our youth alpha looks like in our Friday Nights Small Groups.

Find all our blogs on the church website in the 'youth ministry' section in 'connect' or follow this link: https://ccbedford.org/Groups/452353/Youth_Blog.aspx

Happy Reading! :)

Coming Up

Youth Quiz: Join us in fundraising for our youth ministry. This year we are fundraising to take our young people to the Satellites Youth Festival! Dinner is included in your ticket price and there are yummy treats and drinks available for donation. Book via link or for more info email youth@ccbedford.org

Come and join us in supporting our Youth Ministry!

Satellites 2026: We are taking our young people to a youth festival, satellites, down at the Bath & West showground in Somerset from 6-10 August. This is an amazing opportunity for them to experience faith alongside so many other young people their age. If you wish your young person to come along, please book as soon as possible to access the standard ticket that they offer (price goes up on 27th February). For any more information about travel or prices, please feel free to contact the youth team: email either Hannah Applegarth or Sorcha Brown.

Camping Equipment: Much to Hannah's dismay, we are camping! If you have any camping equipment that you are able to lend for 4th - 12th August 2026, please speak to or email either Hannah Applegarth or Sorcha Brown.

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

Date for your Diary: 15th-17th May. Church Weekend @ Home!

Bible Study: What the Bible says about Homosexuality. Our last session is on Monday evening, 8-9.15pm in church.

Snowdrop Garden: Possibly for the last time The Bishop of St Albans’ Garden will open for what may be the final time this February, with thousands of snowdrops and early bulbs in bloom. A warm invitation to enjoy the garden’s early spring beauty and help care for our historic churches.

William Tyndale and the English Bible: Friday 20th February at 7.30pm. A free illustrated talk at Lakeview Village Hall, Wixams in the 500th Anniversary year of the publication of the first New Testament in English. See separate flyer for more information.

Lent Course: Starts Wednesday 25th February 8pm in the church. The course will be based on Tom Wright’s book Lent and Easter for Everyone.

World Day of Prayer 2026: Christ Church are hosting the local World Day of Prayer service this year. The service is on Friday 6th March at 2pm and we are looking for volunteers to help with serving refreshments after the service. If you can help please speak to Vikki Thomas or email on vicarspa@ccbedford.org

Volunteers needed: The Impact Easter Experience is a re-enactment of the Easter story presented by volunteers from various local churches. It will be held at St John’s Church in Bedford from 16th–20th March, and you do not need to commit to helping every day to be involved. If you would be willing to help by acting, stewarding, or assisting with refreshments, we would love to hear from you. If you are interested, please get in touch with Trish. Her contact details are: trish@impactbedford.org.uk Thank you!

Plant Sale: Saturday 9th May, please start to take cuttings & plant lots of flower & vegetable seeds. We will be raising money to help with the costs of the Church Weekend at Home.

Bedford Foodbank Shopping List: The most needed items at the moment are: tinned spaghetti hoops/fruit/custard, jars of coffee/cooking sauces, cup a soup, bars of chocolate, long-life fruit juice, sponge puddings & shampoo. Thank you for your donations.

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?

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:

Men's Ministry
Women's Ministry
Students' Ministry
Seniors' Ministry
Foodbank (in partnership with Bedford Foodbank)