Sunday 27th April 

 

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 26th April 

 
 

 

Sunday 27th April 


 
9am - Morning Worship –Thanksgiving and prayer (Phil 1) – 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 - 
 - 
 

Services in the coming week

 
Wednesday 30th April
10am -  Holy Communion – followed by refreshments
8pm - Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Sunday 4th May 
9am -  Holy Communion – Phil 4 - David Thomas
          10.05am - Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 20 minutes
10.30am - All Age Worship – as above - Ben Williams
7pm - Sundays@Seven – Following Jesus - The Final Sacrifice: Hebrews – David Thomas
 

Church Family News

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

Word for Today: Copies of Word for Today for May - Jul are now available in the Hub.

Annual Parochial Church Meeting:  This year our APCM will be held on Wednesday 30th April in Church at 8pm. 
 
WHAT IS THE APCM?
 
The APCM is the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. Actually, it comprises of two meetings: the meeting of parishioners which elects the Church Wardens for the coming year and the APCM itself, which is the business meeting of the Church, it’s a sort of Annual General Meeting for Christ Church.  At the meeting of parishioners anyone who lives in the parish, as well as those on the Electoral Roll can vote.  At the APCM only members of the church electoral roll, can vote.  At this meeting we will (re)elect wardens, & 4 PCC members. The meeting is also an opportunity to catch up with the events of the last year and to explore the vision for the coming year together. Most of all it’s a CELEBRATION of all God has been doing in the life of the Church as we look forward to the coming year.

As a parish with an income over £100,000 per annum we are required to be registered with the Charity Commission.  Our Charity Commission number is 1134785. We have to submit an annual report and financial statements to the Charity Commission each year and this is why there are two parts to our report: 

1/ The formal Trustees Report and Financial Statements 
2/ The Christ Church Annual Report. This latter document contains the agenda for the APCM (page ii); the minutes of last year's meeting (pages iii-vi); the official annual report and accounts for the Charity Commission (pages 1-26) and various reports of committees and activities connected with Christ Church (pages 27-48).  This latter section includes some photos. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this document.  Click here to see the report. If you would like a paper copy please ask at the office. 

Elections to PCC (Parochial Church Council)
There are 4 PCC places available, for 3 years. Please consider standing to serve our church in this key leadership capacity.

PCC representatives’ role involves:
1) enable the church to play its part in God’s mission to his world
2) co-operate with the Vicar in sharing leadership
3) ensure legal compliance with charity law
4) care for the buildings and church gardens
5) be a channel of consultation within the wider Church

We usually have 6 PCC meetings a year. They must be DBS checked and complete safeguarding training and are encouraged to pray for Christ Church, prepare for the meetings and contribute to the discussions.
If you would like more information, or want to talk about anything, please speak to David, Andrew or Kay.

Anne Wakeling: a member of our Wednesday congregation, Lunch Club, Go4Gold etc. 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

Thoughts from the Vicar

 
We are beginning two new teaching series at Christ Church. In the mornings, we will be looking at the book of Philippians, and in the evenings, we are going to be using NT Wright’s Book titled Following Jesus. I am excited about both of these series. Philippians is such an amazing book, with so many verses which have stayed with me over the years. Providing encouragement and comfort, refining my faith. The next few weeks are an opportunity to dig into this wonderful book. 

As I mentioned last week, NT Wright is one of my favourite theologians, and so to spend some time thinking about what different books in the New Testament reveal to us about Jesus and how this impacts us as disciples is going to be great. The first book we will look at is Hebrews, so if you are able to, try and read Hebrews this week. I've found that the Bible App is really helpful because you can get someone to read the bible to you! I've listened to God's word while cleaning my teeth, cooking dinner, tidying up etc.                                                             
 

For your prayers this week

 
Prayer for The Second Sunday of Easter: Risen Christ, for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred: open the doors of our hearts, that we may seek the good of others and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace, to the praise of God the Father. Amen.
 
Please pray for;
  • The Roman Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis, especially for the Cardinals involved in the process of choosing a successor.
  • Peace in Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Kashmir, and other places where war and unrest continue.
  • All those who heard the good news of Easter and are wondering what it means for them in day-to-day life.
  • Our APCM on Wednesday, thanking God for his goodness and faithful provision in 2024.
 
Children's Ministry and Events
 
THIS SUNDAY AT 10.30am (27th April) : 



COMING UP THIS WEEK:
 
 

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

 
18-30s Ministry and Events


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


Garden tidy up: Sunday 27th April after 10.30am service. Cake provided but if possible please bring equipment eg, clippers, rakes, brushes, trowels for weeding, All welcome.

PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME Go4Gold Film Club: Friday 2nd May 1.45pm-3pm in the halls. Refreshments (popcorn & ice cream) included.  Just turn up if you are free & come & watch a Christian film with others.

Ladies Elevenses: Saturday 3rd May 10.30am to 12 Noon. Speaker Becky Guynn ‘Walking with Jesus’. All ladies are very welcome to join us for a warm welcome, refreshments, fellowship and a very helpful encouraging talk.

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 Gillian Lindley. If you are planning to come please let Gillian 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.
 
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 on 07981918263.  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.
 

 

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)
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:

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