Momentum, the Weekly Newsletter from the Middle East Council of Churches
In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find a video word delivered by His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family, on the occasion of announcing the theme of the “Season of Creation” 2024 around the world, which is “To Hope and Work with Creation”. His Beatitude stressed that the “Season of Creation” is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all of Creation through celebration, conversion and commitment together. You can also find details about this theme and the activities that will be implemented in the world in celebration of the “Season of Creation”.
As well as, the issue includes the message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs which is entitled this week “Common life and human fraternity, The role of the Middle East Council of Churches as a model”. It was the speech that Dr. Abs delivered at the Human Fraternity Meeting: A Journey and Participation, on Saturday 3 February 2024, in Al-Zahraa Hall - Haret Hreik, Lebanon.
On the first commemoration of the earthquake that struck the North of the Antiochian Levant on 6 February 2023, the issue presents a video that sheds light on the difficult conditions that Syria is still going through, in addition to the relief and field work of the Middle East Council of Churches to support the affected people and help them overcome this tragedy.
In addition, the issue includes a video report about the Prayer Service that was held on the occasion of the ending of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, on Sunday 28 January 2024, hosted by the All Saints Evangelical Episcopal Anglican Church in Beirut. The Prayer was part of the celebrations which were organized in Lebanon by the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Relations at the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon, in partnership with the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).
In this context, you can find the invitation of the Saint Mark's Cathedral in Abbasiya - Egypt, to participate in the opening of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024 in Egypt, during the weekly Sermon of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, on Wednesday 13 March 2024, in the presence of the Heads of the Churches and their representatives. You can also find the program of celebrations that will be held for the Week of Prayer in Egypt between Wednesday 13 March and Friday 22 March 2024, at the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches and the Egyptian Council of Churches.
Moreover, the issue presents details about the meeting held on the occasion of the International Day of Human Fraternity, at the invitation of the Head of the Episcopal Committee for Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Lebanon His Eminence Bishop Mar Mathias Charles Mrad, on “Human Fraternity: Journey and Participation”. It took place on Saturday 3 February 2024, at the Islamic Cultural Center – the Two Imam Al Hussein Compound - Al-Zahraa Hall - Haret Hreik, Lebanon. Hence, you can find the video of the speech delivered by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs during the meeting.
As part of the “Reflection Sessions” series, the journal “Ilmolmabdaa”, “Tahawoulat” (Transformations) Center and the Delta Center for In-depth Research have the honor to invite you to participate in the first episode entitled “The Values of the West in their Cognitive and Moral Integration” (Current Evidence). The episode includes two interventions with Professor Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and Professor Talal Atrissi, a Researcher and Professor of sociology. The episode is moderated and presented by the Researcher Sarkis Abou Zeid, and the two interventions are followed by an open discussion. The seminar will be held on Friday 23 February 2024, at 3 pm Beirut Time, at the headquarters of the journal “Ilmolmabdaa” - Sami El Solh Street - Badaro - from the side of Tayouneh Roundabout - opposite to Marsaco Company - Nouwaihed Building - sixth floor.
Furthermore, the issue includes details and photos about elderly activity implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches, Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, in collaboration with ABAAD association and the Lebanese University. This is in addition to details and photos about the new session of the “Trauma Healing and Spiritual Counseling” program held by the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department, in Syria, for a group of Churches’ ministers and their assistants, both consecrated and lay people, who lived harsh experiences due to the various crises and difficult conditions that the region is suffering from, or who are accompanying, in their turn, people who have experienced trauma in their lives.
You can also find the Ecumenical Calendar for February 2024, issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, as well as Ecumenical reports, the weekly Prayer, videos, and news of the Middle Eastern Churches. In addition to a socio-economic overview of the Middle East during December 2023 and the latest updates of the Coronavirus in the region.
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