Sunday 8th November

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 7th November

10.30 for 11am - Ladies Elevenses Time: Speaker Pam Rhodes 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 8th November

The Third Sunday before Advent / Remembrance Sunday

9am - Morning Worship – Looking Back - Looking Forward (Philippians 1: 3-14) – Michael Bishop

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: Holy Communion – Remembrance– Ben Williams

Services in the coming week

Wednesday 11th November

10am - Holy Communion – in church, followed by refreshments in the Hub

Sunday 15th November

9am - Holy Communion – Safeguarding Sunday - Love protects (1 Corinthians 13:1-13) Ben Williams

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

10.30am - Morning Worship – As above

7pm - Sundays@Seven: Safeguarding Sunday - Alan Cottenden

Church Family News

David Thomas: Our vicar David Thomas was taken ill on Monday 26th October whilst on holiday. He had surgery for a bleed on the brain that night and remains in a critical condition in hospital in Plymouth. We encourage you to hold David, Vikki, and all the family in your prayers, but ask that you give them space at this difficult time. If there is anything which you would normally go to David or Vikki about, please contact Ben (curate) or Pauline (Church Office).

Welcome: to The Bishop of St Albans, The Rt Rev Dr Andrew Rumsey who will be with this morning and presiding at our 10.30am Communion Service.

Safeguarding Sunday: is next Sunday (15th November) where there will be a chance to consider the theme 'Love Protects' at each of our services.

Car parking: Thanks to Castle Newnham School, the south site school playground is open for car parking Sunday mornings (9.30am to 1pm). To bless our neighbours, please use this or the church car park (Dudley Street) rather than parking on the narrow side streets and please always park with due care and consideration for others, not on the yellow lines. Thank you.

Thoughts from the Curate

This weekend, bugles and trumpets will sound across the country, and the nation will come to a stop as we pause to remember those who have died. But while we may be familiar with the sound of the Last Post and Reveille, we may not always think of the symbolism connected with these bugle calls. The Last Post would traditionally sound over army camp at the end of the day, signifying that the camp was ready to be locked up for the evening. It has also been used at the funeral of soldiers and on Remembrance Sunday, reminding us of those who have sacrificed so much in wars and conflict. As the haunting notes fade away into silence, we remember the courage of all those injured, and all those who never made it home. We are reminded to hold vigil for those who carry the scars of conflict, and those who continue to serve to bring peace in our world.

After the silence of the night, the Reveille (coming from the French meaning wake up) would sound. Traditionally, it would be played to announce the start of the new day, but for Christians it carries an additional, powerful message. That death has not had the last word. Just as the bugler wakes up the troops at the beginning of the day, so we look forward to the call of God’s eternal kingdom and the hope of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:52).

Together, these two calls hold something important for us on Remembrance Sunday. The Last Post invites us to remember with gratitude and sorrow; Reveille invites us to look forward with hope. Between them lies the silence in which we bring our memories, our prayers and our longing for peace before God. As we remember those who have died, may we also hear God’s call to work for a world where peace, justice and reconciliation may flourish.

For your prayers this week

Prayer for the Third Sunday before Advent: God, our refuge and strength, bring near the day when wars shall cease and poverty and pain shall end, that earth may know the peace of heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Please pray:

For those who are working for peace around the world today.
For those caught up in the midst of war and violence whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed.
Give thanks for all those who have served in our armed forces, and for all those who live with life changing injuries.
For David, Vikki, Noah, Grace and the whole family.

Children's Ministry and Events

THIS SUNDAY: 8th November

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

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

What is happening at Christ Church and beyond

Volunteer(s) wanted: Bedford Foodbank is currently looking for someone who is able to lift crates of food and drive the van for Christ Church as part of a rota, on a Tuesday approx. 11.30am-3.30pm. This would involve going to the warehouse in Murdoch Road to collect the van, setting up for and helping with the distribution and then reloading and returning the van to the warehouse. Ask one of the current Foodbank team or more details here

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 - 9.30pm 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.

Go4Gold: Soup and Social: Friday 13th November @ 12.45pm. There will be a choice of soups, bread rolls, cheese, yoghurts and fruit for a suggested donation of £2pp. This will be followed by a social in the Hub from 2-3.15pm (suggested donation £1pp). No booking is needed, you are welcome, just turn up to one or both events.

Packed Lunch Time: After the 10:30am service on the first and third Sundays in November we would like to invite people to stay for lunch in the hub after coffee. The next one is: Sunday 15th November. It will be a time to get to know people and make friends with others that you may not otherwise meet. Everyone welcome. This can be followed by the church walk (meet in the Hub at 2pm)

Hopeworks The Nearly Christmas Fair: Christmas shopping the local way on Saturday 21st November from 10am-2pm at 56 Harpur Street. For one day only, we'll be filling 56 Harpur Street with talented local sellers offering unique gifts, handcrafted products, festive treats and stocking fillers. Whether you're searching for the perfect present or simply want to enjoy a festive morning out, there's something for everyone. Enjoy a coffee in our café, find out about HopeWorks based within the building, and discover beautiful items created by HopeWorks clients and local stall holders. Activities available for children. Celebrate community. Get into the Christmas spirit. All welcome.

- Please note that Christ Church is not holding a Christmas Craft Day Event this year, but watch out for details for some craftwork for sale.

Quiz: On Saturday 21st November Christ Church is the venue for a quiz to raise money for the NSPCC and the organisers are looking for teams to participate. Why not test your brains and help keep children safe? Please see the poster below.

Christmas Lunch: Friday 11th December at 1pm. As we did last year we are holding a special Lunch Club for Christmas. If you, a relative, friend or neighbour, would like to come along to our Christmas Lunch for Seniors, tickets (£14 per person) are now on sale from the Christ Church Office. Please pay on booking, cash or card payments accepted.

Bedford Foodbank Shopping List: The most needed items at the moment are: cup a soup, tinned fruit, vegetables, tomatoes and rice pudding, jars of coffee, long-life milk, sponge puddings and fruit juice, squash & can openers. Thank you for your donations.

08/11/2026

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)