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Above All Love: A Foundation of Faith Dear friends in Christ, Welcome. This space exists for one reason: love — the love of God poured out in Jesus Christ, the love we are called to extend to one another, and to the world. There are many voices clamouring for our attention. Here, you will find the rhythm of one heart seeking to follow the way of Love — a faith rooted not in tradition for its own sake, but in the living, active, self-giving love at the heart of the Gospel. Three truths have become my anchors. The first is the Living Word. Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. Apart from Him, the true God cannot be fully known. In Jesus, we see the face of a God who is Love, and whose Gospel is the path of Peace. The second is the Gift of Grace. Salvation is found by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. Grace is a gift — unearned, freely given, and life-changing. The third is the Way of Love. It is our joy and our calling to follow Him. Thou...
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🏅 Week 13 – Mencap Gateway Bronze Award Update

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🏅 Week 13  This is my weekly evidence check-in for the Mencap Gateway Bronze Award. Week 13 has been a big one — not just for the award, but for our family. Here's a round-up of everything covered this week. 1. Volunteering – Walk for Autism 🚶 Evidence submitted and completed previously. Nothing further to add — this section is wrapped up.  2. Fitness – Nature Walk 🌿 This week's fitness evidence is a nature photo.  This week's highlight: We had a caravan holiday with the family at an autism-friendly caravan site!  Time outdoors, time together, and a change of scenery — exactly the kind of nature activity that covers this section beautifully. 3. Hobby – The Digital Parish & Daily Office 📖🙏 Continuing with daily prayer but not exclusively Northumbria Community Office anymore though. I'm also documenting reflections here on this blog. This is an ongoing rhythm that feeds both the spirit an...
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Simply Fellowship — Episode 4: The Road to Emmaus

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    WELCOME Welcome to Above All Love. This is Simply Fellowship — the Good News, quietly told. This is a gentle space. No pressure, no performance. You don't have to have it together to be here. You don't have to be hopeful, or certain, or even feel particularly faithful today. You're welcome exactly as you are, wherever you are reading this. If you need to move, or step away and come back later — that's completely fine. There's no right way to be here. Just be here. HYMN We begin with a hymn verse. Read it slowly. You might want to sit with each line before moving on. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide; When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me. — Henry Francis Lyte PRAYER Loving God, Thank you that you walk beside us even when we do not know it is you. Thank you that you ask us questions and listen to our answers, and do not tell us off for getting things wrong. ...
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Weekly Progress Report: Mencap Gateway Bronze Award (Week 12)

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It’s Sunday again, which means it is time to check in on my progress for the Mencap Gateway Bronze Award . This week has been a whirlwind of advocacy, emotional deep-dives, and family time. Here is the breakdown of my evidence for Week 12. ​1. Volunteering: Walk for Autism ​ Status: Completed. I submitted the final evidence for this section last week. It feels great to have this milestone officially ticked off! ​2. Fitness: Nature Walk ​ Evidence: ​ Highlight: I spent some quality time at Newhailes Park with the kids this week while Sarah and Solomon were at a hospital appointment. It was the perfect opportunity to get exercise in and enjoy the fresh air. ​3. Hobby: The Digital Parish & Prayer ​ Activity: Daily prayer using the Northumbria Office has fallen by the way a bit. But, I dip into prayer, particularly about family health and peace in the world.  I have been in touch with a ministry about a pos...
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Simply Fellowship — Episode 3: The Woman Who Lost Her Coin

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WELCOME Welcome to Above All Love. This is Simply Fellowship — the Good News, quietly told. This is a gentle space. No pressure, no performance. You don't have to have it together to be here. You don't have to be eloquent, or certain, or spiritually sorted. You're welcome exactly as you are, wherever you are reading this. If you need to move, or step away and come back later — that's completely fine. There's no right way to be here. Just be here. HYMN We begin with a hymn verse. Read it slowly. You might want to sit with each line before moving on. Depth of mercy! Can there be Mercy still reserved for me? Can my God his wrath forbear? Me, the chief of sinners, spare? — Charles Wesley PRAYER Loving God, Thank you that you are the one who searches. Thank you that when we are lost — even when we don't know we are lost — you have not stopped looking. Help us today to hear the sound of that search reaching us where we are. And may we know that when we ar...
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Beneath the Rubble: Hearing the Voices of Palestinian Christians

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In the heart of the Holy Land, a community that traces its roots back to the very first disciples is crying out. Pastor Munther Isaac of Bethlehem recently issued a poignant challenge to the global church: "We are broken... Are you listening?" ​To understand the reality of the war and the yearning for peace, we must look beyond the headlines and listen to the people living it. Here is a collation of voices—from high-ranking clergy to the children of Gaza—speaking their truth. ​🏛️ From the Pulpit: The Moral Compass ​The spiritual leaders of Palestine view the current conflict not just as a political crisis, but as a profound theological test for the world. ​ Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac (Lutheran): "Gaza is the moral compass of the world. We either side with the logic of power and ruthlessness... or you side with the victims of oppression and injustice. It is a simple choice: you either support a genocide, or you cry out: No!" ​ The Patriarchs and Heads...
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The Fading Light: The Existential Crisis of Christianity in the Holy Land (part 2 of 2)

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The "Security" Paradox: Why the Christian "Third Way" is Disappearing ​The debate over the West Bank often hits a wall of very real fear: the concern that a power vacuum would inevitably be filled by Hamas. This is a security challenge that no one—regardless of their politics—can ignore. ​But as we move through early 2026, there is a perspective from the ground that is missing from this high-level debate. For the Christian community in the Holy Land, the current definition of "security" has become a vice, squeezing the life out of one of the world's oldest faith communities. ​1. The Paradox of Presence ​The military presence in the West Bank is often framed as a shield against a Hamas takeover. However, for those living there, this presence is resulting in the very thing security is meant to prevent: the loss of innocent life and the destabilization of daily existence. ​When snipers are positioned on the roof of a Christian school or tear gas cani...
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The Fading Light: The Existential Crisis of Christianity in the Holy Land (part 1 of 2)

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The "how" of war does not change the "what" of suffering. Regardless of the political lens through which one views the Middle East, a devastating reality has emerged in early 2026: we are witnessing the potential erasure of one of the world’s oldest Christian communities. ​From the besieged ruins of Gaza to the volatile streets of the West Bank and the rocket-strained Galilee, the word "safety" has become a relic of the past. ​Gaza: A Community on the Brink ​Before the current conflict, the Christian community in Gaza was already tiny—roughly 1,000 people . Today, that number is shrinking at a rate that signals an existential threat. ​ The Casualty Count: Nearly 5% of Gaza’s entire Christian population has been killed in just over two years. ​ Direct Military Action: Approximately 25–35 Christians have died due to airstrikes, shelling, or sniper fire. This includes the 18 people lost during the October 2023 strike on the St. Porphyrius Greek Orth...
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