Sunday 2nd November 

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 1st November

 

 9.30am - Prayer Meeting by Zoom (link here)

 

10.30 - Ladies Elevenses

 


Sunday 2nd November


The Fourth Sunday before Advent


9am -  Holy Communion  All Saints Day (Hebrews 11:32- 12:2) – Ben Williams 
 
          10.05am - Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 20 minutes

10.30am -  All Age Worship – As above (Hebrews 12:1-2) – Chris Somervell

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

 

3pm - Service of Prayer and  Thanksgiving - Michael Bishop - followed by refreshments
 

7pm - Sundays@Seven – Prayer and Praise

 

Services in the coming week


Wednesday 5th November

10am - Holy Communion – followed by refreshments


Sunday 9th November

9am -  Morning Worship –Remembrance Sunday - David Thomas 

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

10.30am
 - Holy Communion – As above

7pm Sundays@Seven

 

Church Family News


Service of Prayer and Thanksgiving: for All Soul’s Day, this afternoon (Sun 2nd  Nov) at 3pm. We will once again be holding a service of reflection and thanksgiving for all those who have lost a loved one, whether family member or friend.  The service will be in church, include an opportunity to light a candle in remembrance and will be followed by refreshments.  

John Nutt: Please pray for Jane, his family and friends as they grieve John’s death. There will be a service of thanksgiving for his life at Christ Church at Noon on Friday 7th November, followed by refreshments in the church halls. If you are able to help with setting up and serving refreshments then please volunteer to Vikki Thomas vicarspa@ccbedford.org

Retirement News: Vandon Grimley has retired from his role as Christ Church’s Site Manager. For the past six years he has worked, part-time, mainly behind the scenes, to keep things safe and running smoothly for us.

Prayer diary: Copies of the November prayer diary are now available to download here or collect a paper copy from church

Word for Todayfor November to January is now available from Christ Church.

HOPE Bedfordshire is taking part in Shine Your Light 2025 on 13th December. (https://www.shineyourlight.org.uk/), but has also been asked to take part in filming for BBC Songs of Praise (to be shown on 14th December) on Wednesday 12th November.

🎶 JOIN OUR FLASH MOB🎶Be part of a joyful performance for BBC’s Songs of Praise!

We’re gathering singers and performers for a surprise flash mob of “Joy to the World” at the Harpur Centre, Bedford on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, 3:30pm until 5:30pm

✨ Calling all singers to be part of a unified Bedford Choir of people from diverse backgrounds 📽️ Filmed by the BBC for a special Songs of Praise episode🎶 Simple choreography and harmonies — all materials provided 📅 Rehearsals in early November (dates TBC)

📩 Sign up now! Email Marc.james@trcb.uk with your name and availability

Let’s spread joy, music, and Christmas cheer — together!

For those who can’t offer to sing, perhaps you can ‘go shopping’ in the Harpur Centre from 3.30pm on Wednesday 12th November, and help to form a crowd.

Singers Wanted: As in previous years, we will be putting together a choir to sing at the Carols by Candlelight service on the evening of the 21st of December. We will be singing along with the congregational carols as well as 2 choir items. Rehearsals will be on the evenings of Monday 24th November, Tuesday 2nd December and the afternoon of Sunday 14th December (don't worry if you can't attend all 3) as well as on the day itself (timings TBC). We would love anyone interested to come and join us, all are welcome, you don't need to be able to read music. Please speak to Ruth Rawes or email Vikki Thomas (vicarspa@ccbedford.org) if you would like to sing!

Thoughts from the Curate 

 

Have you put the heating on yet? This is perhaps the biggest question facing people at the moment, especially with the costs going up. With the clocks going back, the days are starting to feel a lot darker, and there is a great temptation to want to wrap ourselves up under a warm blanket and go into hibernation and wait for the spring weather to return.

But this goes beyond the changing of the seasons, for with everything going on in the world, there is a great temptation to shut our eyes and retreat away, particularly this week when so much of society is encouraging us to celebrate the macabre side of All Hallows Eve. Despite the darkness which surrounds us however, we are still called to be lights for this world (Matt 6:14-16), witnessing to the good news of Jesus. I am reminded of the hymn Christ Be Our Light by Bernadette Farrell which speaks of how we are still waiting in the darkness, but asks God to shine his light through us, that we may share God’s light and love in the brokenness of our world.

Jesus challenges us when he states that no one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket, but instead puts it somewhere prominent so it can light the whole room. In the same way, instead of hiding under the covers, waiting for the light of spring to come, how can we as a church be a light in the dark of this world today?

For those who would like to listen to the song, follow the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qibAAo0JiEQ

 

For your prayers this week 

 
Prayer for the Fourth Sunday before Advent: God of glory, touch our lips with the fire of your Spirit, that we with all creation may rejoice to sing your praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Please pray for:

  • All those whose lives have been devastated in the wake of hurricane Melissa.

  • All those who are grieving, especially those who will be attending the Service of Thanksgiving & Prayer.

  • That God’s light will shine in the midst of society’s celebrations of Halloween

  • Give thanks for all the saints who have faithfully followed Jesus, praying that we may try to follow their example.

 

Children's Ministry and Events
 

THIS SUNDAY 2nd November

 

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.

 

THIS WEEK


SUPPORTING CHRIST CHURCH PRE-SCHOOL

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
 

 

Friday Night Youth on 7th November 

The Hamiltons have graciously offered to host our youth to watch the Bedford Blues Firework display from their back garden for our Young People. It will be on the 7th November, meeting at Christ Church at 7pm and aiming to have walked back to church for 9pm.

If you wish your young person to come along, please complete this booking form so that we have your permission to take your young person off site: https://ccbedford.churchsuite.com/-/forms/vmo3hqa9

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

 

Sunday Walk: Sunday 2nd November. Meet in the Hub at 2pm for a 45 min walk to return to Christ Church in time for the Service of Prayer and Thanksgiving at 3pm.

Friends for Life fundraising pamper evening: Thursday 6th November drop in to rooms 2 & 3 at Christ Church between 6.30-8.30pm for shopping, pampering (Tropic skincare) and refreshments. Please let them know you are coming on hello@friendsforlife.org.uk

Christmas Craft DayThe annual Christmas Craft event for over 16-year-olds is on Saturday 29th November from 10am-3pm. We are holding a day of crafts, songs and more, with refreshments including a simple soup and cake lunch. Cost £7, lunch included (pay on the day). Book a place here or collect a form from the office.

Christmas Lunch: Friday 12th December at 1pm. The Lunch Club team are coming out of retirement to cook Christmas Lunch.  If you, a relative, friend or neighbour, would like to come along to our Christmas Lunch for seniors, 50 tickets (£10 per person) will be on sale from Monday 3rd November from the Christ Church Office. First come, first served; please pay on booking, cash or card payments accepted.

King’s Arms Project Bedford Winter Night Shelter will be opening at 56 Harpur Street  on 1st December 2025 with a renewed focus on wrap-around support for the homeless in Bedford. T To find out more and to volunteer visit their website https://kingsarmsproject.org/bedford-winter-night-shelter/

 

Bedford Foodbank Shopping List: The most needed items at the moment are: tinned tuna/rice pudding/potatoes, jars of coffee/cooking sauces, bars of chocolate, cup a soup, pot noodles & long-life fruit juice. We have received a thank you letter from the Foodbank for our Harvest Donations (see noticeboard, by the glass screen)

 

 

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: