Bedford Passion Play 2016

Some members of our Church participated in the Bedford Passion Play 2016 this Easter. Janet Fardell said: The play was super, we were so glad to have been part of it all,meeting new friends from different churches and feeling moved by the Easter story being depicted this way.

Lent Course on The Psalms

The ancient poems we call Psalms have stood the test of time, for they address many of the problems we still face: violence, injustice, anger – and bewilderment. Why do the wicked prosper? Where is God when we suffer? Church Barn on Thursdays, 11, 18, February, 3, 10, 17 March at 7:30 p.m. Do please join us and sign up to the list in church so we can provide enough booklets.

Nativity 2015

Just to say thank you to all the children that took part in the Nativity. I know that everyone enjoyed the drama and how well everyone took their parts. Jennifer was excellent as a Narrator and worked really hard to be word perfect and I know everyone heard every word. Grace and Riley took their parts as Mary and Joseph very seriously and were also excellent. The Inn Keeper was also very convincing in her role. A thank you to Holly who also took her part very seriously and made a wonderful Gabriel and looked after all the younger but very beautiful Angels. The shepherds acted well and the Kings bowed very regally as they gave Jesus the gifts of Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh. I would like to thank all the Mums and Dads who brought them to rehearsal and for the support with Costumes and Props. Special thanks to Helen, Emily and Madelin who produced such a beautiful Star for the Nativity and also being helpful with all the Props. This wouldn't have happened unless I had the continued [Read more...]

The Bishop’s Harvest Appeal

This year, the Bishop's Harvest Appeal, working in conjunction with Mission Direct, is aiming to support children with disabilities in Uganda to access school and so give them greater opportunities and a new hope for their future. Most children with disabilities in Uganda not only face exclusion from school and isolation because of their difficulties with mobility but they also have to endure the stigma that goes with that. The Chilli Children Project seeks out disabled children in South West Uganda and tries to help them by giving them access to education, surgery, rehabilitation and medical clinics. Through chilli growing, families are enabled to provide a sustainable income for all their children. Mission Direct, supported by the Chilli Children Project, have started to build special classrooms with dormitories, attached to a mainstream school. The dormitories provide security for vulnerable children and the classrooms are specially adapted so that children can access them in their [Read more...]

Cluster Quiet Day

We will be holding a Quiet Day for all the churches of the cluster, including St James and All Saints, on Saturday 26th October from 10.00am until 4.00pm at the Forest Centre in Marston Moreteyne led by the Revd Roger Wood. The theme will be our Spiritual Journey. The cost is £12. Tea and Coffee will be provided but you should bring a packed lunch. All are welcome. Please sign the list in church if you would like to come. Stephen

Pilgrim Course on the Lord’s Prayer

This autumn, we will be holding a Pilgrim Course on the Lord's Prayer. This will be very accessible for those interested in exploring the Christian Faith as well as for those who want to deepen their faith. Do think about bringing a friend who might be interested. There will be six sessions based on the various phrases of the Lord's Prayer on Mondays at 7.30pm at All Saints Church Hall in Church End, Kempston. The dates are 21 & 28 September and 5, 12, 19 & 26 October. All are welcome. Please sign up on the list in church. Stephen

Lent

Lent is that season in the Church's Year when Christians prepare themselves for the celebration of Easter by identifying themselves more closely with Christ's sacrifice and Passion, and in earlier centuries it was the season of preparation for Baptism. Over the years, Lent has become mainly associated with fasting or giving up things. Originally, fasting was concerned with not eating until after Vespers in the evening and with abstaining from certain foods like meat, eggs or milk products. Gradually this fast was relaxed, but Lent is still primarily linked in the popular mind with giving up things. This can be in danger of seeming either trivial, negative or outdated, and yet it still carries a powerful message for us in today's obsessively consumerist and materialistic society. We live in a world that has exalted work and meetings as well as wealth and material possessions to an almost divine status, so that many people are working all the hours God sends to maintain a decent standard [Read more...]

Holy Week and Easter Services

We are delighted to welcome Fr. Dennis Berk of the Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield who will be spending Holy Week and Easter with us this year. He will be staying at the Vicarage but I hope that people will feel able to offer him hospitality in the form of inviting him to share a meal with them. He will be giving the addresses from Palm Sunday evening until Good Friday afternoon and on Easter evening. Palm Sunday (29 March) 10.30am Blessing of Palms and Parish Eucharist 6.00pm Joint Choral Evensong at All Saints Monday in Holy Week (30 March) 8.00pm Compline and Address at St James Tuesday in Holy Week (31 March) 8.00pm Compline and Address at All Saints Wednesday in Holy Week (1 April) 8.00pm Compline and Address at St James Maundy Thursday (2 April) 8.00pm Sung Eucharist and Vigil of Prayer at All Saints Good Friday (3 April) 10.00am United Service at the Transfiguration and Act of Witness 10.30am Children's [Read more...]