Sunday 25th 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 24th October

9-10.30am - Men’s Breakfast: Numerous breakfast options available with perhaps the most popular being the egg and/or bacon and/or sausage bap plus tea/coffee etc. Also available are cereal, croissants, toast, jam, orange juice … If you are vegetarian and would prefer a veggie option instead please let me know (mens.breakfast@ccbedford.org). All for the bargain price of £3 (free on first visit). No need to sign up, just turn up on the day as we would love to see you. This is a valuable time to build up friendships and develop support networks. We hope you can join us.

Sunday 25th October

The Last Sunday after Trinity

9am - Holy Communion – Call to pioneer - Cornelius and Peter (Genesis 12:1-5, Acts 10:1-8, 44-48) – Sam Cappleman

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

10.30am - Holy Communion – As above

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

7pm - Sundays@Seven – Call to the edge - The Great Commission (Acts 26:12-18) – Hannah Applegarth

Services in the coming week

Wednesday 28th October

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

Sunday 1st November

9am - Holy Communion – All Saints’ Day (Matthew 5.1–12) – Caroline Coster

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

10.30am - All Age – As above – Julie Bradshaw

7pm - Sundays@Seven – All Saints’ Day – Sarah Harris

Church Family News

Sidney Miller: The service of thanksgiving for the life of Sidney will take place on Friday 6th November at 11:30am at Christ Church. You are invited to wear colourful clothes. This service will be livestreamed on the Christ Church YouTube channel. Please continue to hold Judy & all of Sidney’s family & friends in your prayers at this difficult time.

Word for Today: for November to January. Copies are now available to collect from Church.

Thoughts from the Curate

On Monday the church celebrated the festival of Luke the Evangelist, the writer of the gospel which bears his name, as well as the writer of the book of Acts (which together accounts for approximately 25% of the New Testament). While we often think of Luke as a writer, we don't always remember that he also was a companion of Paul. During Paul's missionary journeys, Luke joined Paul in travelling around sharing the good news of Jesus. This is perhaps because Luke is only mentioned 3 times in Paul's letters, and never explicitly in Acts.

Despite this, as a doctor, it is sometimes said that Luke brought healing not only physically, but spiritually as he shared the good news of Jesus. Similarly, we are encouraged to continue the work of Luke as we tell others about the hope we have in God. While there are many ways we can do this, in the reading set for the Festival of Luke, Jesus tells us that there are many who need to hear the good news and encourages us first and foremost to pray for workers for the harvest (Luke 10:2). As a church, I believe we are being called to pray not only for workers, but also that God help would us to respond to this call and to join in God’s mission to declare the hope of the gospel. There are several prayer spaces throughout the week, including a new monthly time starting on Thursday. As the collect for the festival of Luke says:

“Almighty God, you called Luke the physician, whose praise is in the gospel, to be an evangelist and physician of the soul: by the grace of the Spirit and through the wholesome medicine of the gospel, give your Church the same love and power to heal; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”

For your prayers this week

Prayer for the Last Sunday after Trinity: Merciful God, teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty, that trusting in your word and obeying your will we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please pray for:

Deanery Synod taking place on Thursday, that God would help unite us in our mission.
The different activities for children and families during half term, including The Light Trail, Jam Packed, the Light Party and Open Church, that these would be safe spaces for children and families, and opportunities to share about to the light of Christ.
Children, parents and teachers, that half term may be a time to rest and recover.
Those involved in the recruitment process for the new Centre Manager and Cleaner roles.

Children's Ministry and Events

THIS SUNDAY: 25th October

MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDREN’S MINISTER:

THIS WEEK IS HALF TERM:

Our regular groups are on a half term break but we have different events for you.

Please click on the pictures to book for any of these half term events.

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 Youth Café or Friday Night Youth at Christ Church this coming week due to Half Term

Coming up on 31st October

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.

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.

Poppy Time: Thank you to all our Poppy makers. Please could all poppies being made at home be delivered to the hub by Sunday 1st November. Thank you .... The Craft Group.

Services of Thanksgiving for those we love who have died: This year Christ Church will be holding an act of Thanksgiving for those we love who have died as part of our regular Holy Communion Service at Christ Church on Wednesday 4th November at 10am. During this season our neighbouring churches are also offering such services over the next fortnight. You would be very welcome to attend any of these services: St Mary's Goldington – Sunday 25th October at 2.30pm; St Andrew's – Sunday 25th October at 4pm; St Paul's – Sunday 1st November at 5.30pm, St Peter's – Sunday 8th November at 3.30pm.

Monday Social Coffee Time: 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.

Prayer/ Praise meeting: every Thursday 8pm - 9.30 pm in room 4. Time to pray for our church community & town. Discerning how God wants us (His church) to serve within Christ Church & within our local community. Please come & join us grow, Mhairi Brown.

Go4Gold Film Club: Friday 30th October @ 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).

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

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.

There is a thank you letter from Foodbank, for the items we have donated as part of our Harvest celebrations, on the noticeboard opposite the glass screen.

25/10/2026

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)