The Forest Parish: Above All Love

Summary:  In 1384 Wycliffe published a tract called The Seven Deadly Sins. Among the sins John Wycliffe examines envy, anger, and sloth as they corrupt the three parts of the Church — priests, noblemen, and common laborers. He argues that envy destroys love and unity within the Church, that sinful anger (rooted in pride) leads men to war and violence in direct contradiction to Christ's law of patience and peace, and that sloth in God's service opens the door to every other vice. Notably, Wycliffe takes a bold pacifist stand, contending that warfare under the New Covenant is unlawful unless directly commanded by God, and that Christ's kingdom advances not through the sword but through love, suffering, and the faithful preaching of the Gospel. Devotion:   Wycliffe wrote these words more than six centuries ago, yet they cut with startling freshness against our own age. He saw clearly what we so easily forget — that envy blinds us, anger enslaves us, and idleness em...

Summary:  John Wycliffe was known as the "Morning Star of the Reformation". The biblical background of the title "Morning Star" — is it was applied both to Satan in Isaiah 14:12 and to Jesus Christ in Revelation 22:16. Wycliffe had a historical role in restoring the gospel to the church in the centuries before the Protestant Reformation. Devotion:  The same title — Morning Star — belongs both to the one who fell in prideful rebellion and to the one who descended in humble redemption. What a striking contrast Scripture sets before us. Satan grasped at glory and was cast down; Christ, who possessed all glory, poured Himself out to lift us up. John Wycliffe, called the "Morning Star of the Reformation," was a man who pointed others toward that true Light in a dark age when the gospel had been buried under tradition and corruption. Like all faithful servants, his greatness lay not in shining for himself, but in reflecting the brilliance of the true Morning Sta...

Mencap Bronze Gateway Sunday check-in  — a quick 5-minute review of this week's evidence across all five areas. Here's what was captured for Week 5! 1 · Volunteering Walk for Autism 🦶 Evidence required:   2 · Fitness Nature Walk 🌿 Evidence required:   3 · Hobby The Digital Parish & Daily Office 🙏 Activity:  Daily prayer using the Northumbria Community Office, with reflections documented here on the blog. Today's morning meditation from Northumbria Community:  "Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace." (Frederick Buechner) This practice combines spiritual routine with creative writing — a meaningful double contribution to the Gateway. 4 · Personal Challenge Submitted ✅ + Bonus...

Used with kind permission from Included by Grace

Summary:  Written in 1849 by Rev. Amos Dresser, The Bible Against War is a thorough biblical and moral argument that all war — offensive or defensive — is incompatible with Christian teaching. Dresser contends that the Old Testament wars of Israel were not divine endorsements of violence but rather consequences of Israel's lack of faith, since God repeatedly promised to fight for his people if they would simply trust him and hold their peace. Drawing on the prophets, the teachings of Christ, the example of the early church, and the horrific human cost of war throughout history, Dresser argues that the gospel of peace, centred on Christ the Prince of Peace, leaves no room for Christians to justify taking human life under any military pretext. He also methodically addresses common objections such as Romans 13, concluding that submission to governing authorities does not require participation in war. Devotion:   "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called c...

Ash Wednesday, 2026 Today many churches mark the start of Lent. They put ashes on people's foreheads in the shape of a cross. They say: "Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return." Not everyone does this. Some Christians don't celebrate Lent at all. Some people find the ashes too much. Maybe it feels too busy, too public, or just not right for them. If Ash Wednesday feels like too much for you — that's okay. You don't need ashes on your forehead to know God loves you. But whether you do this today or not, there's something old and beautiful in this tradition. It's about being dust and being loved at the same time. The Tau Mark:   God Saves His People Long ago in the Old Testament, God showed the prophet Ezekiel a vision. Bad things were coming to Jerusalem. But before anything bad happened, God told an angel to do something important: Ezekiel 9:4 (Easy English Bible): "Go through Jerusalem city. Go among the people. Make a mar...

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​For a long time, I tried to fit into spaces that weren't built for me. My Personal Challenge for the Bronze Award is in part a commitment to stop masking and start seeking. ​By attending Dad & Me, I am seeking the community help I need to be a regulated parent (it is the February break in Midlothian and Solomon was a bit poorly so we did skip a week). By searching for an ASN-friendly church, I am seeking the spiritual help I need to practice my faith without burnout. This week we went local. These aren't separate tasks; they are two sides of the same journey toward Autism Acceptance. ​1. Volunteering: Walk for Autism ​Activity: Planning routes and tracking fundraising. ​Evidence:  ​2. Fitness: Nature Walk ​Activity: Daily walks for sensory regulation. ​Evidence: Snow, Cake-Topped Trees , and a Little Help from My Friends  ​3. Hobby: The Digital Parish ​Activity: Daily prayer using the Northumbria Office and blog reflections. ​Update: Shifting focus...

​I went for a wander today—though, if I’m being honest, it wasn’t entirely by choice! The roads were so tricky I ended up having to abandon my car and trek the rest of the way to my job at Vogrie. ​Luckily, the views made the hike worth it. The trees were absolutely caked in snow; on some branches, it sat so thick and white it looked exactly like delicious royal icing on a Christmas cake. Just as I was starting to feel the chill near Newlandrig, a kind parent saw me trudging along and offered me a lift. It was such a lovely reminder of how great our community is when the weather gets wild! Here are the shots I grabbed of our "sugar-coated" landscape along the way.

​📖 Reading Level: Easy English / Simple Language This post explains the history of the Oberlin Peace League using simple words and short sentences. In 1850, a group of people in Oberlin, Ohio, started a group called the Oberlin Peace League . They believed that war was completely against the teachings of Jesus. At a time when many people thought war was glorious, these people said that war was a sin that destroyed families and hurt the poor. They wanted to change the world by teaching people to love everyone as brothers and sisters, no matter what country they came from. ​Summary ​The Oberlin Peace League was a group that tried to stop all wars between nations. They wrote a set of rules (a constitution) to explain their goals. They wanted to teach people that war is expensive, foolish, and wrong. They also asked the government to solve problems by talking and making deals instead of fighting. They believed that if people stopped paying for war and started treating everyone like fam...

If you’ve ever been to Ps & Gs in Edinburgh, you know why it’s a beacon for families in the Lothians. Their ministry is, mega. From the dedicated ASN provisions to the vibrant energy of a city-centre church, they seem to provide a "gold standard" of inclusion that makes people feel seen, supported, and understood. We were going to go back there the last few Sundays, but it didn't work out.  ​For a time, we started to consider that "official provision" was the only way we could thrive as a family at church. We were willing to brave the A7, the Edinburgh parking hunt, and the sensory marathon of a large-scale service because we knew the support might be there. Then we started to remember why we left going to the city for worship.  ​We are now   feeling a different kind of pull. ​We’ve realized that while a flagship church offers a fantastic program , a local church offers a life and a community.  ​We are being drawn back to Gorebridge . On paper, our loca...

Focus: Active Seeking & Neuro-Inclusive Rhythm ​1. Volunteering (Walk for Autism) ​ Evidence:   ​2. Fitness & Nature (The Sensory Connection) ​ Activity: Nature walks + deepening the connection through literature. ​ Evidence: ​ Note: These books represent a rekindling of love for nature and serves as a tool for visual regulation/inspiration. I also ordered copies of BBC Wildlife which I use to buy as a teen.  ​3. Hobby (The Digital Parish) ​ Evidence: Continuing Daily Office,seeking membership of Friends ​ Link:  See  Blog Post: Thoughts on a Neuro-Inclusive Lent. ​4. Personal Challenge (The "Real Help" Evolution) ​ Concept: Merging the search for "Dad support" and "Spiritual support." Active self-advocacy to find spaces that actually fit. ​ Activities: Attended Dad & Me ; connected with Autism Consecrated. Evidence: Autism Consecrated Book: ...

Rembrandt van Rijn, The Return of the Prodigal Son (c. 1668), Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons. A shorter version of a message originally shared at Whyte’s Causeway Baptist Church: ​Years ago, during my time with the L'Arche community, I was sent on a silent retreat. After days of profound quiet, we gathered in a large hall for a final meeting. At the front of that room hung a massive reproduction of Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son . ​As I sat there, I witnessed something I’ve never forgotten: a Franciscan monk began to dance down the aisle. ​Watching him move in his habit with such uninhibited joy, I realized I was seeing someone who truly understood the heart of God. He wasn't just thinking about theology; he was experiencing the welcome of a Father. It was a physical manifestation of the joy of the Kingdom—the kind of joy that comes when you stop trying to earn a place at the table and realize you were invited all along. ​The True Self ​The late Br...

It might seem a bit unusual: I hold two Bachelor's degrees, I'm an autistic adult, and yet, I'm currently working on the Mencap Gateway Award. On paper, it looks like a "mismatch," but in reality, it's a perfectly logical step in my journey. ​Many neurodivergent individuals, myself included, experience what’s called a "spiky profile." This means our skills and development aren't uniform. We might have impressive strengths in academic areas—like my degrees demonstrate—but find other aspects of life incredibly challenging. Think of it like a beautiful mountain range: towering peaks in some areas, and deep valleys in others. ​University taught me how to research, write, and think critically. What it didn't teach me was how to navigate the overwhelming sensory input of a grocery store, manage executive dysfunction to maintain a consistent routine, or decode the nuanced social cues essential for building community connections. ​The Gateway Awar...

In a world where conflict often feels like an inevitability, we rarely look back to the radical voices of the past who believed a different way was possible. In 1843, a group of believers at Oberlin stood against the tide of nationalistic fervor to propose something revolutionary: a world governed not by the edge of a sword, but by the "great law of mutual love." As we revisit their visionary Constitution today, we find that their call for a "Congress of Nations" and a reliance on Divine Providence is more than just a historical curiosity—it is a timeless challenge to every follower of the Prince of Peace. ​ Matthew 5:9 — "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." ​Summary ​The 1843 Constitution of the Oberlin Peace Society outlines a radical commitment to Christian nonresistance, asserting that the spirit of war is fundamentally incompatible with the Gospel of Christ. The document argues that both individuals and nations are ...