Sunday 4th October

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 3rd October

9.30am - Prayer Meeting by Zoom (link here)

10.30am - Noon - Ladies Elevenses Time Speaker Rev Julie Bradshaw will share ‘Jesus with us’. All ladies are very welcome to join us for a warm welcome, refreshments, fellowship and a very helpful encouraging talk. (Suggested donation £2.50)

Sunday 4th October

Harvest Sunday

9am - Holy Communion – Harvest (Luke 12:16-30) – Vikki Thomas

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

10.30am - All Age Worship – As above – Ruth Hulme

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

7pm - Sundays@Seven – Call to explore and journey - First Disciples (John 1:35-51) – Tony Daniels

Services in the coming week

Wednesday 7th October

10am - Holy Communion - in church, followed by refreshments

Sunday 11th October

9am - Morning Worship - Call to challenge reluctance -Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4-18) – Caroline Coster

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

10.30am - Holy Communion – As above

7pm - Sundays@Seven – Call to the mundane - Ruth (Ruth 1:6-18, 2:2-3) – Andrew Turpie

Church Family News

Sidney Miller: It is with great sadness that we share the news that Sidney died on Wednesday. Sidney served at Christ Church in many different ways over the years, including as Churchwarden from 1992-7. Please hold Judy and all of Sidney’s family and friends in your prayers at this difficult time.

Harvest: We are celebrating Harvest at our morning services today. This year we will be collecting both goods and monetary donations for Bedford Foodbank. There will be an opportunity for items to be donated as part of our All Age service. There is a list of the Foodbank’s most needed items towards the end of these notices and financial donations can be made in person, cash or card, or electronically (reference Harvest).

Prayer Diary: The October Prayer Diary is available to collect from church.

David and Vikki Thomas: David was able to attend the Reader Licensing Service at St Albans Cathedral last Sunday and support Vikki as she was licensed and admitted as Reader. He is continuing his slow recovery and we expect him to be off work for a good while longer. Congratulations to Vikki as she joins Michael Bishop and Sue Marshall as Readers. Please continue to pray for David, Vikki and the family.

Thoughts from the new Youth Intern

“The Lord is with you”. (Judges 6:12 NIVuk)

Hello, my name is Aoife Gray, I will be the new youth intern for this year. I haven’t been with the church for long and look forward to getting to know the church family better through this internship.

I finished 4 years of psychology degree at the University of Nottingham 16 months ago and I wasn’t sure about my next steps. I took a year out working part time during which, after quite a bit of prayer and pursuing my walk with God, re-finding my love for art and time to develop it, has led me to believe the next step is to work towards becoming an art therapist for children and youth. I hope to use this internship as a next step on my way to an art therapy Masters, whilst being open to God’s plans.

At the Sunday evening service Alan Cottenden spoke on Judges 6 -7:21 about Gideon being sent to become a mighty warrior. Through God, Gideon manages to defeat an insurmountable army with his own army of 300, with trumpets and torches in clay pots. Having felt a bit like Gideon in the past, hiding in a hole and not having the self-confidence to stand tall, I was challenged and reassured that God worked throughout the Old Testament with people who felt ‘the least’. I look forward to growing in this internship with the help of God.

For your prayers this week

Harvest Thanksgiving: Creator God, you made the goodness of the land, the riches of the sea and the rhythm of the seasons; as we thank you for the harvest, may we cherish and respect this planet and its peoples, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please pray for:

Students who are starting their training to be priests, deacons and readers in the church.
Those who have been recently bereaved and for those on the bereavement course.
Those living in care homes and assisted living, that they may remember they are part of the Body of Christ.
Places around our world torn apart by war.

Children's Ministry and Events

THIS SUNDAY: 4th October

There will be 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:

COMING UP IN HALF TERM:

You can click on the picture to book.

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

There will be no Friday Night Youth at Christ Church on 23rd October. Please click on the poster for more information / to book.

Youth Blog

Find all our blogs on the church website in the 'youth ministry' section in 'connect'

https://ccbedford.org/Groups/452353/Youth_Blog.aspx

Happy Reading! :)

For more information about our regular groups please look on our website here or contact Hannah using: youth@ccbedford.org or 07384 295757

Job Opportunities

Christ Church Centre Manager - part-time (15 hours) Due to the retirement of the present post holder, we are looking for a dynamic and well organised Centre Manager to manage and promote our church centre. Key responsibilities will be to:

Be the first point of contact for hirers, potential hirers and users, offering advice and information as required.
Act as the main hospitality welcomer for all users of the building so that queries can be answered and everyone made to feel at home.
Oversee lettings contracts and the associated administration.
Ensure the centre is well-maintained and safe by administering the annual programme of maintenance and safety inspections and arranging for ad hoc repairs to be carried out when required.

Full Job Role/Person Specification is available here.

Closing date: 25 October 2026. This role has an occupational requirement to be filled by a committed Christian, active in church life. Equality Act 2010, Part 1, Schedule 9 applies.

Christ Church Cleaning role: Christ Church is looking to employ someone to clean our church and halls, early morning on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday each week (total of 7 hours per week). If you are interested, please email office@ccbedford.org or look on our website for a role description.

Hope Works Senior Facilities Officer: Local charity Hope Works is looking for a permanent Senior Facilities Officer. 30-40 hours per week, based in Bedford Town Centre, but working across Bedfordshire, so a clean driving licence is essential. For more details, please see their website. Hopeworksuk.org/vacancies Closing date for applications 15th October.

What is happening at Christ Church and beyond

Home Communion: If you, or anyone you know is unable to attend church and would like to receive Home Communion, please contact Vikki Thomas (vicarspa@ccbedford.org) to arrange for someone to visit.

Packed Lunch Time: After the 10:30am service on the first and third Sundays in October we would like to invite people to stay for lunch in the hub after coffee. The next one is today: Sunday 4th October. It will be a time to get to know people and make friends with others that you may not otherwise meet. Please bring your own food and drink as there will be no access to the kitchen. Afterwards please clear up and take your rubbish home (including any food bits). Everyone welcome. This can be followed by the church walk.

Church Walk: On Sunday 4th October meet at church at 2pm for a local walk. Then return to church for refreshments in The Hub.

Monday Social Coffee Time: continues on Mondays between 10am-12pm @ the Tennis Club café (on Goldington Road MK40 3EA (opposite Christ Church). Come along have a coffee and meet someone new.

Craft Group: Thursdays 10am-Noon. Interested in sewing or a craft? Bring something with you and join us in room 7 for an informal time of crafting and getting to know others with similar interests.

Go4Gold Autumn Fitness: Friday 9th October @ 1.45pm. Angharad Hughes of Dance4All will be guiding us to enjoy a time of Music and Movement together to help keep fit for Autumn. Refreshments provided (Suggested donation £1 to cover refreshment costs).

Poppy Time: Last year the craft group made a few poppies for a November Remembrance Day display in the church. This year we thought that others in the congregation might like to join in, so we invite anyone of any age who would like to create a poppy, to make some and increase the display. There are various patterns available in the hub for knitted, crochet and felt poppies. Any other types (wood, lace, plastic, metal) are welcome too. Poppies can be made at home and delivered to the box in the hub for collection. If you have any spare red felt or wool etc. feel free to donate it for our use (box in the hub) We may even have a poppy making time! one Sunday after church in the hub. For any further information please see Carolynne Roberts. Have fun.... Craft Group

Accommodation Needed: A female, recent graduate, currently seeking full-time employment, is urgently looking for accommodation in a house share or similar. Please contact Shalom.

Bedford Foodbank Shopping List: The most needed items at the moment are: cup a soup, tinned fruit, tinned rice pudding, 500g/microwave rice, jars of coffee, bars of chocolate, long-life sponge puddings and fruit juice, sanitary towels & laundry tablets. Thank you for your donations.

03/10/2026

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)