Sunday 1st June 


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 1st June


The Seventh Sunday of Easter
 
9am - Holy Communion  Jonah 1&2 – Martin Harris

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

10.30am - All-Age Worship – God never gives up on us (Jonah 1&2) – Ruth Hulme

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

7pm - Sundays@Seven – Following Jesus - The Servant King: Mark – Mhairi Brown         
 

Services in the coming week


Wednesday 4th June
10am -  Morning Worship – followed by refreshments

Sunday 8th June 
9am -  Morning Worship – Jonah Goes to Ninevah - God's Compassion  (Jonah 3&4) - Ben Williams
          10.05am - Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 20 minutes
10.30am - Holy Communion – As Above
7pm Sundays@Seven – Pentecost: Thy Kingdom Come – Vikki Thomas
 

Church Family News


Prayer Diary: June’s Prayer Diary is now available to download here or collect a paper copy from church.

Holy Communion at 10.30am Service: From Sunday 8th June we will be changing the way we do the distribution at Communion. Moving forward, people will be directed to come to the front, to line up on the front step from left to right. Clergy will distribute the wafers along the line, followed by the other server(s) with the wine. Gluten free wafers and non alcoholic wine will continue to be available. Our hope is that this will give people a moment to be still as they partake in the eucharist.

28th and 29th June 2025 Ordinations: 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 take these next steps in their ministries and all will be welcome to come and join us at these services.
Last chance to book: if you would like to go to one or both of these services please email Ben Williams TODAY on curate@ccbedford.org and let him know. Ben has offered to coordinate, so we can give the Cathedral an idea of numbers.

Thoughts from the Vicar

 
For ten days from Ascension Day until Pentecost Sunday we are thinking about praying for five people to come to know Jesus. This can be an emotive subject for some people. Many of us will have friends and family who don't know Jesus and we have been praying for a long time for them, and frankly it can feel like a waste.

I have found it helpful to think about two things in relation to this. Firstly, I remember the great love that God shows to all his creation, and which is revealed in Jesus. This is not some abstract thing, it is real, amazing and life changing. Secondly, I remember stories such as Simeon and Anna, who waited their whole life before they saw Jesus. Each of our journeys will be different, and we can't impose our timings on others.

Let's use these ten days to refocus our prayer, to bring loved ones before the Lord in prayer. To ask the Holy Spirit to open eyes to see Jesus, that they might be welcomed into the Fathers arms and experience the embrace of love. Resources to help and inspire are available at https://www.thykingdomcome.global/prayer-resources                             
 

For your prayers this week


Prayer for The Seventh Sunday of Easter: Risen, ascended Lord, as we rejoice at your triumph, fill your Church on earth with power and compassion, that all who are estranged by sin may find forgiveness and know your peace, to the glory of God the Father. Amen
 
Please pray for:
  • Five people to know Jesus (as a part of Thy Kingdom Come).
  • Teachers, staff and students as they return to their places of education.
  • Those who are housebound or in hospital, and rely on others to help and support them.
  • Those on the Christ Church coach holiday to Portsmouth, this week.
  • St Mary's, Goldington, and St Peter De Merton, who are in vacancy.
 
Children's Ministry and Events
 
THIS SUNDAY AT 9.30am (1st June) : 


THIS SUNDAY AT 10.30am (1st June) : 

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:
 
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 to book for Hope Youth: Friday 6th June 7-9pm
The final Hope Youth event for this academic year takes place at Christ Church on Friday 6th June at 7pm. It is for those aged 11-18; entry £2. HOPE is an event where young people across Bedfordshire come together. There will be pizza, games, worship and a talk. Flyers are available from the Hub and you can book a space using the QR code on the flyer below
 

 
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

 

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.  

Items for sale: There are still some plants for sale (mostly house plants) in the hub in aid of cost of repairing the church roof (over £700 raised so far) and there will be a bake sale fundraising for the Youth Weekend after all 3 services on Sunday 1st June.

Church Walk: Sunday 1st June meet in the Hub at 2.30pm for a local walk and then return to church for refreshments. 


Service of Remembering: Three Rivers Church, 88 Denmark Street, are holding a special service to ‘give thanks for those who are no longer with us, acknowledge loss and move towards hope’ on Sunday 1st June at 6pm for about 45 minutes. All welcome to attend.


Ladies Elevenses: Saturday 7th June 10.30am to 12 Noon. Speaker Hannah Applegarth ‘Walking with Jesus’. All ladies are very welcome to join us for a warm welcome, refreshments, fellowship and a very helpful encouraging talk.
 
Music Night: Saturday 7th June 7-10pm at Riverside Tennis Club (opposite Christ Church). Be entertained by Riverside Talent (bar open; bring nibbles) and raise money for Bedford Foodbank (donations). Open to all just turn up on the night.

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.

 Mission Partner News: The Malawi Orphan Fund and Home of Hope Malawi. In August 2025 Helen Ryan, Gillian Lindley,  Hannah Applegarth, Alex Mnatzaganian,  Phil and Ruth Janes are visiting Home of Hope. Please pray for good preparations. 
If you would be interested in visiting Home of Hope in summer 2026 there will be information sessions to find out more on Thursday 5th  June 7.30pm, in Christ Church Room 7, or Sunday 15th  June 2.30pm, Christ Church Room 7. For more details contact Alex Mnatzaganian

Job Opportunities: The King’s Arms Project is currently advertising a few job vacancies. They are looking for a teacher of English for speakers of other languages, a tenancy support worker and a refugee and migrant services caseworker. Vacancies are advertised on their website https://kingsarmsproject.org/vacancies/ or email hr@kingsarmsproject.org 
 
 
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.
 
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: