Sunday 30th 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 29th November

 

 

10am-3pm - Christmas Activity Day in the halls (for those who have pre-booked)


Sunday 30th November


The First Sunday of Advent


9am -  Holy Communion – Advent 1 (Matthew 24.36-44) – Sue Marshall
 
          10.05am - 
Prayer Meeting – in Room 4 for approx. 20 minutes

10.30am
 -  Morning Worship – As above


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


7pm - Sundays@Seven – Advent 1 – David Thomas  

 

Services in the coming week


Wednesday 3rd December

10am - Holy Communion – followed by refreshments
 

Sunday 7th December

9am -  Holy Communion – Advent 2 (Matthew 3:1-12) – David Thomas
         

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

10.30am - All Age Worship – Nativity Service

7pm - 
Sundays@Seven - Advent Taizé – Ben William

Church Family News

 

Tim Robb (former curate here at Christ Church): Recently we received the news that Tim’s longer-term prognosis has now changed from one of controlling & managing his cancer, to one where he has been given only ‘months to live’.  He is now on sick leave. Please join us in praying for Tim, Julie and Sarah, and all those at St Mary’s Eaton Socon.

Prayer Diary:  Copies of the December prayer diary are now available to collect a from church.

Help Around The Church: Are you handy? Do you have some skills, enthusiasm and time? We are trying to put together a group of people who can help with looking after our church building and grounds. From lawn mowing to fixing things to helping rearrange stuff. For more info talk to DT / email vicarspa@ccbedford.org

ChurchSuite: We use ChurchSuite to help us manage and organise life here at Christ Church. It is used for our church database, but also for our rotas and many of our communications with church members. We encourage all of those who consider Christ Church to be ‘their church’ to give us permission to hold their details on ChurchSuite.

Anyone on ChurchSuite with access to the Internet can then sign in to My ChurchSuite. This is a tool designed to help you access and engage with the life of the church. After logging in to My ChurchSuite you can check dates what you are serving on rotas, update your personal details (and those of your children under 18) and even search for others (you have control over what others can see about you). Some of us have uploaded pictures to help you link a name to a face (and we would encourage you to consider including a picture if you haven’t already done so).

We are encouraging everyone to log into My ChurchSuite this week and check their details are up to date. We know that some of you have moved house in the last 12 months, or maybe you have a new preferred email address or phone number.  To log in you will need to use the email address that we have for you. If you can’t get in, please let us know: office@ccbedford.org or you can reply to this email.  If you have never signed up to the ChurchSuite / Christ Church members list, let us know (as above) and we will look into adding you. Thank you.

For your prayers this week 

 

The First Sunday of Advent: Almighty God as your kingdom dawns, turn us from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness, that we may be ready to meet you in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen

Please pray for:

  • Churches as the season of advent begins, that their plans would come together to bless their communities with the good news of Jesus.

  • All those impacted by the fires in Hong Kong.

  • Those negatively impacted by the budget having to make difficult decisions.

  • Hope Works (formerly Kings Arms Project) as the busy winter season approaches.

Children's Ministry and Events
 

THIS SUNDAY 30th November

 

 

THIS WEEK

 

ADVENT:

 

 

 

COMING UP

 

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

 

Youth Blog

We have started a 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! :)

 

 

Satellites 2026: We have announced that, next summer in 2026, we are taking our young people to a youth festival, satellites, down at the Bath & West showground in Somerset. 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 'super saver' ticket that they offer (price goes up on 9th December). For any more information about travel or prices, please feel free to contact the youth team: 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

 

 

Bedford Christmas Tree Festival

 

Go4Gold Film Club: Friday 5th December @ 1.45pm Refreshments (popcorn & ice cream) included.  Just turn up if you are free & come & watch a Christian film with others. (Suggested donation £1 to cover refreshment costs).

 

Ladies Elevenses: Saturday 6th December 10.15am-Noon at Christ Church: Carol Singing with Ruth Rawes will start at 10.40am followed by some more Christmas fun. All ladies welcome to attend for a warm welcome refreshments, fellowship and stalls. Suggested donation £2.50.

 

Taizé Service: On the 7th December we will be having our next Taizé service at 7pm. All are welcome to come along as we find a moment of peace and reflection in this season of Advent.


Are you looking for something to do with your children once the schools break for the Christmas holidays?

Something to keep them occupied in the days leading up to the big day?

Following the success of our 2024 competition, Christ Church is running another Gingerbread House Decorating Competition on the 22nd December 2025.

For families with children and young people

You can also book via this link https://ccbedford.churchsuite.com/-/forms/mogb4mfp


Bedford Foodbank Shopping List: The most needed items at the moment are: tinned tuna/meat/rice pudding/sweetcorn, jars of coffee/cooking sauces, bars of chocolate, biscuits,  laundry tablets & long-life fruit juice. Thank you for your donations.

 

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: