Event Date: 10/03/2012

9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Saturday 10th March at Trinity Methodist Building, Monkgate, York.

A morning of learning more about what it means to:

- Walk in the light of Jesus together

- Be set free from the things that hold us back

- Grow in confidence in our identity with Jesus

Event Date: 17/03/2012

A day to get inspired about Jesus' mission to fill Norway with his glory through church planting

After 10-plus long years of association with York St John University, York City Church are on the move! On 8th January 2012, the door opens to a new chapter in our life as a community as we host our first two Sunday meetings at the Upstage Centre in York (home of Upstage Youth Theatre Company).

So we say, “Thank you, York St John, for having us, but we must be off now!” as we step into the uncertainty and newness of a change of venue.

We say, “Thank you for the memories!” as we surge forwards in search of a whole bunch of new ones.

We sing, “Let God arise!” as we reckon with the fact that God is in the midst of us and this move is more than just a practical step but a God-ordained missional moment!

If we’re on the move then it must mean that God is on the move too. As Jed Bartlett in West Wing says,

“When I ask ‘What’s Next?’ it means I’m ready to move on to other things. So, what’s next?”

I think God loves it when we ask that question, because it shifts our focus away from settling and onto momentum, away from preservation and onto destination - So, ‘What’s next, Lord?’

For those of us more inclined to ask, ‘What’s in it for us?’ here are some things we immediately gain from this move…

1. We get to have hot drinks on Sunday mornings again (finally!)

2. We get to burn/trash/launch-Top-Gear-style-at-a-caravan the wretched trailer!

3. All our operations as a church will now be on one site!

4. We won’t have to hop from place to place every three weeks anymore!

Nobody thinks that this will be a permanent step for us as a church, but as a next step it has a great feel about it and has the potential to work well as our home until we hit 250 or so on a Sunday. We don’t know how long it will take to get to that point but we know that when we do, our faithful God will open up a way where there seems to be no way
(after all, the God of ‘What’s next?’ has a little
‘previous’ where that that sort of stuff is concerned!)

So pack your bags, get your stuff together and let’s leap expectantly into the new opportunities that this move will open up for us!

“What to write about?”

I’ll freely admit that the thought of writing this didn’t fill me with joy.

Lots of ideas came to mind, but nothing really worth writing down; ‘Who’s going to be interested? Or even take notice? What I’ve got to say isn’t really worth saying.’

By thinking that my words don’t count I instantly rob them of any worth or authority.

I’m in Christ, I’m a Christian. Everything I do (and say) says a lot. Jesus has a lot to say and he says it with words, actions and his people. When I was 14 and had starting going to my friends church, we were told that people would become Christians because of us. I remember that I thought, “if Jesus really knew me, he’d know I can’t do this!” I disqualified myself and then I hid with my other mates drinking, smoking etc.

God didn’t give up on me then, and he hasn’t given up on me now. He pursued me and 15 years later I realised that I was no longer on the outside wanting in: I am accepted for who I am and he qualifies me.

Do you realise that as a Christian you have the authority to speak on Jesus behalf? You have a lot to say. Your opinions and thoughts count. Yes, you count. If you still don’t believe that God can use you, then take confidence from the fact that you are not alone. Moses, David, Esther, Jesus disciples even Saul were chosen by God to be his instruments. A murderer in hiding, a shepherd boy, a Jewish woman, fishermen, a tax collector, a group of men who’s professions were unknown and a persecutor of Christians. God doesn’t look at us as this world does, he looks at our hearts.

What does your heart say about you? God qualifies you to act on his behalf, to speak on his behalf.

I’m not saying that you’ll always be right and that you’ll never be challenged or that everything you say will be met with rapturous applause, or even a miracle but staying quiet and thinking you’ve got nothing to say could rob you of maybe planting a seed of faith, seeing a person healed or even perhaps seeing your friends become Christians.

I believe that if you don’t ask you don’t get. If you want to be able to speak on His behalf ask Him for the opportunity. I have, and I’ve had the chance to pray for my colleagues at work. I was bold and asked for a sabbatical so that I could do Frontier Project. I’ve been healed, received a fireplace, my Husband has become a Christian…the list goes on! I’ll keep asking him for something to say.

What will you say next?