Together to know God and make Him known
York Community Church -
FROM THE PASTOR – January 2011
I am not expecting to write a frequent or even regular article here, as if I were some local Rector scribbling in a Parish Magazine, though from time to time I may share my thoughts concerning YCC life ... future hopes and reflections on the present situation. The year is turning, January is once more with us, and although many of us lost interest in making New Year resolutions years ago, one can not avoid the feelings of reflection and expectation. As I transfer dates from the back page of my 2010 diary into the clean and crisp pages of 2011 diary (I resisted the desire to go digital, electronic and online ... ) I can’t help but feel I’m at that famous metaphorical doorway that leads into another year.
Though it’s January again, it’s never been this January before. Will this year be
filled with last year’s routines, with regrets or with ‘new things’..? Is this a
year of repeating or pioneering, failing or succeeding..? Now I don’t want to force
anyone to make a New Year’s resolution, or even worse, to set each other up to fail
by making resolutions we can’t keep. I’m not thinking about this week or next week
and trying to have five portions a day. I’m praying about this year, the whole twelve
months -
Ministerially I bring to this year three words: Prayer, Outreach and Pastoring. They’re
not special words or unique words, if anything, they’re foundational words for a
healthy church community. Last year we moved ‘physically’ -
So then, just as you receive Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in
him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and
overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-
Blessings in Christ Jesus,
Simon Rennie, January 2011
New Year’s Eve saw us grabbing a very late lunch in a local pub, a much needed break from the endless task of unpacking boxes. Ahead of schedule, we were in York – praise God – though way too exhausted to accept the invites to attend a New Year’s Eve party. Our baptism into YCC took the form of the church weekend in Scarborough the following week – how could I forget, it’s not every day you see frost on the beach.
Since our arrival (and even before) your welcome, love, support and encouragement has been overwhelming. In actual fact I had to explain the word ‘overwhelming’ to Dora Maria so she could add it to her vocabulary. If I had a list of favourite bible verses, then very possibly Ezekiel 3:15 would be on it. After Ezekiel’s open heaven experience (and some!), the prophet is brought to the Kebar River, where it says, “I sat among them for seven days – overwhelmed.” That one word brilliantly captures Ezekiel’s reaction. There have been times in the past five months when we have encountered such language of love that it has left us speechless. We thank you and pray that such love continues to bless all who encounter YCC.
Only five months. So what can I say in terms of an annual report? Within the first 100 days of my appointment, we had the joy of ‘The Induction’. I want to thank Terry Courtney for fronting that event and for everyone who participated visually, verbally, musically and behind the scenes. I know that the Colchester Crew who attended from Kingsland Church felt welcomed and left a little bit more assured that Dora Maria and I were in safe hands. Also in the first 100 days, the elders had a ‘strategic day’ to ponder aspects of YCC’s future and to hear of the things that were on my heart. On reflection, this meeting was held at a time when I was still just getting ‘a handle’ on things. The conclusion of the morning was more in regards to values than specific objectives. Now that I’ve been here for 150 days, I am sensing a growing clarity over some of the areas of ministry that YCC may need to explore in regards to our future mission. Language used by the elders and echoed at the induction, is that I have come to ‘stretch us, but not to break us’. This language reminds me of the constant (annual) need we have to rejuvenate old wineskins, so that they are able to handle the coming year’s new wine. As you massage a little oil into the hardened skin it becomes supple again and eventually able to expand and accept the new wine, without bursting. My prayer is that we can allow the Holy Spirit to massage us, so that we are able to handle the new and precious things God longs to pour into our lives.
“Very nice Simon, but what’s the vision...?!”
The conclusion from the elders’ strategy day can be summed in the word – DISCIPLESHIP.
Nothing astoundingly new there, though in actual fact this familiar word packs a
mighty powerful punch. Discipleship is an activity – it speaks of a task rather than
a status. If we define ourselves as being Christian, we run the danger of becoming
passive linking our status to a previous event – the moment we said ‘yes’ to Jesus.
Disciples are students (very apt for York), they follow, they grow, develop, mature,
experience, question, fail, learn, discover, ... note these are all non-
Pursuing discipleship will force us to ask difficult questions –
Questions about our personal walk with God
Questions about spiritual development and maturity
Questions about being equipped
Questions about mission, outreach and the power of our testimony
Questions about being ‘salt and light’ and incarnational
Questions about our dependence upon God
Questions about our ‘first love’, our passion and our values
Questions about structures, worship, children, small groups and leadership
Discipleship – it packs a powerful punch. Beware of over-
With excitement and expectation,
In Christ Jesus,
Simon Rennie (Revd.)
May 2009
I write this report at a time of significant transition – a period of uncertain change
that is probably uncomfortable for us all! Though we may not know the exact timing
of these changes and all the details involved, I am glad that the elders were able
to announce to the church (after congregational consultation) our commitment that
YCC should re-
Presently I’m immersed in a series of ‘Kitchen Table’ consultations – nine in all.
It has been richly rewarding to hear how people are clearly envisioned and excited
about how our strengths can best be used to equip and bless others. I continue to
discover the depths of ability that YCC congregants have – though sadly many have
been hidden under a bushel. It’s time to encourage one another all the more to use
the gifts God has given us and to create the space and opportunities for those gifts
to be used. I’m particularly encouraged by the reports I hear from a number of the
home groups, as leaders try new approaches to structuring the evenings, introducing
worship and more pastorally encouraging prayer – the results are clear from the weekly
testimonies I receive. I’m also blessed to hear that a new home group, less than
one month old, has already grown from four to nine, which includes totally new people
to YCC and even at least one ‘not-
Last year I summarised my own vision for YCC in one word: discipleship. Since the
beginning of this year, I launched the monthly School of Ministry. Each month an
average of 40 people attend. We’ve explored an array of subjects including: biblical
interpretation, spiritual gifts and prayer ministry. A participant commented at the
end of one session, ‘Oh Simon, there should have been a hundred people here tonight,
this stuff may be new to some of us, but they’d love it!’ We’ve also started the
Three Dimensional Christian -
I was invited to York Community Church back in November 2008 to ‘come and help’.
The invitation language used by one of the elders almost echoed the language of Acts
16:9 – the Macedonian call, a verse that has followed me around for 30 years of my
Christian walk and continues to do so. From the many comments I receive week by week,
it seems that I have started to bring some of that ‘help’. I am also aware that to
some I don’t fit the traditional mould of a church pastor, but that was clear when
the elders called me. Having been in church-
I write this report at a time of significant transition – a period of uncertain change that is probably uncomfortable for us all! But with faith, hope and love, we can move forward courageously into unknown territory for the glory of God and the edification of His church.
FROM THE PASTOR – Simon Rennie, June 2011
As I write my third annual report as the pastor of York Community Church, I want
to begin by giving thanks to God. I want to celebrate the triumphs of this congregation
under the headship of Christ our Lord. A church family that without a shadow of
a doubt is loving, caring, accepting, courageous and encouraging. I say this, because
I’ve witnessed it at first hand in both the joys of life (new arrivals, marriage,
salvations, baptisms,…) and during life’s darker moments: illness, uncertainty, broken-
If that’s not your testimony – then I encourage you to get involved: draw closer,
build friendships, connect with people on a Sunday morning, join a home group, get
along to lunch club, etc. etc. YCC remains and continues to grow as a multi-
I used the word ‘courageous’ in my first paragraph. Over the past 12 months we’ve
brought two congregations back together. On paper it made sense, strategically it
made sense, ministerial it made sense; but that doesn’t stop it being one of the
most courageous things a church can do. YCC has moved buildings in the past and I’ve
also uprooted and re-
It’s always dangerous to make special reference to certain individuals – but I’ll
take the risk. At a time of increased pressure upon their post-
Many of us rejoiced publicly with those who got baptised in the past 12 months (9 if my memory serves me right), but some of the other great triumphs of recent months cannot be recorded in a report. They involve personal stories of reconciliation, forgiveness and transformation. God has been doing His gracious work in the lives of broken and hurting people. For all the pastors, counsellors and intercessors, unnamed and working a way ministering to others and on the behalf of others: thank you. We’ve seen ‘some’ breakthroughs and we pray there are plenty more to come!
In the midst of all the change last year we said ‘goodbye’ to our children and youth worker, Jennie Manning. Back in December we thanked Jennie for all her work and I want to thank her again here for all she sowed into the youth & children, in particular the time invested in individuals, the value of which will never be truly known until we see the fruit in heaven. As I remember Jennie’s departure, I’m also grateful for all those who have rallied round to help in her absence, particularly at Boing and Ignite.
We also welcomed two new part-
What of the next 12 months? I’m particularly excited about the house groups. The
‘community group’ that launched in April 2010 has now multiplied into two – as was
its vision – Praise God for salvations. The Spanish-
The School of Ministry has morphed into a national accredited course in Active Christian
Training (ACT), with a number of possible spin offs: including a Gap Year (open to
all over the age of 16) and a proposed ‘ACT-
Then there’s the Broader Leadership Team … an all new leadership structure with a remit to aid transition. So who knows where we’ll be transitioned to? Just hold on and enjoy the ride. YCC – I never knew there was so much in it!