A Round Table at the Invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches

Thursday 27 October 2022, at 10:15 am

As part of its monthly series of seminars, the Middle East Council of Churches invites you to a round table it organizes under the title "Women and Human Dignity", on Thursday 27 October 2022, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Beirut. You can participate in it via the following Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/2jb2y9vy, or live on the MECC Facebook page.

H.E. Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen: guaranteeing the religious freedom in Lebanon is good news for the country, the region and the world

Aiming at building Ecclesiastical bridges between the East and West, His Eminence Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro, visited the offices of the Middle East Council of Churches’ General Secretariat in Beirut, on Thursday 13 October 2022. He was accompanied by a delegation from the Diocese in the UK, including Rachael Varney, Executive Assistant, David Fieldsend, International Affairs Adviser, and Revd Etienne Van Blerk, alongside Dr. Mike Bassous, General Secretary of the Bible Society. At MECC, Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and a team from the Council's General Secretariat welcomed the delegation.

On the 16th of October, the founding day of the Food and Agriculture Organization, also called World Food Day, this organization is active in organizing advanced, rich and well-prepared events in order to raise awareness of food, food security, malnutrition, famine, rural migration and everything related to these phenomena.

In a related context, statistics from the various sites concerned with the subject overwhelm you with the problems faced by the oppressed subjugated people as well as subjugated classes in non-subjugated peoples, in terms of food, drink, housing, health care and other related matters...Statistical figures showing millions of people that are hungry, homeless and deprived of the minimum conditions of life as well as of the number of those who have no tomorrow, who do not know their fate and those who suffer from life problems, both physical and psychological, fill the pages of the institutions concerned with their issues and their pictures in their displacement, asylum and misery consolidate the image of the inhumane face of humanity and its eagerness to dance on existing pain.

Wednesday 19 and Saturday 22 October 2022

Let us participate together and via SAT7 in the rerun of the Ecumenical Prayer Service on the occasion of the “Season of Creation” closing, on Wednesday 19 October 2022 at 10 pm Beirut time, and Saturday 22 October 2022 at 5 pm Beirut time.

Noting that the Prayer was organized by the Middle East Council of Churches, and was held under the patronage and presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East; at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022.

The “Season of Creation” media coverage is still ongoing in the Middle East. Charity Radio TV broadcasted a special episode centered on this international season, within “Hawana Hawak” program. It was prepared and presented by Zouhour Abou Mansour.

The guest of the episode was the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department of the Middle East Council of Churches Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, who tackled the objectives of the season, its importance and all related details. Fr. Al Ahmar shed light also on the MECC work in launching the season in the region, as well as the events and celebrations which it organizes for the occasion.

A Special Statement from H.B. Patriarch Minassian and Interviews with Some Participants

The Eastern Ecumenical Family celebrated the “Season of Creation” 2022 closing. The Maronite Church hosted an Ecumenical Prayer service organized by the Middle East Council of Churches, under the patronage and presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. The celebration was held at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022.

The video presents a brief overview of the celebration in addition to a special statement from His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and MECC President for the Catholic Family. As well as interviews with many participants in the Prayer.

As part of the “Season of Creation” 2022 activities, SAT7 channel presented a special episode entitled "Listen to the Voice of Creation", prepared by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches and presented by Sirene Semerdjian. It was broadcasted on Monday 3 October 2022, and included many environmental and Theological segments, with guests from the world and the region, and from various fields.

The episode began with a special video from the member of the “Season of Creation” committee at the World Council of Churches Mrs. Joy Kennedy. The video focused on the “Season of Creation” launching in the Churches worldwide, in addition to the environmental challenges and ongoing preparations for the COP27 climate change summit.

Video - Message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs at the "Season of Creation" 2022 Closing

The Middle East Council of Churches concluded the “Season of Creation” 2022 with an Ecumenical Prayer service under the patronage and presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022. During the service, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs delivered a message entitled “Season of Creation, Church and Environment”, which you can listen to it and watch it in the following video.

An Ecumenical Prayer Under the Presidency and Patronage of H.B. Patriarch Al-Rai at the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke

H.B. Patriarch Minassian: I am sorry for losing human values today and forgetting our loving and merciful Creator

Dr. Michel Abs: The Church, the voice of the human conscience, and which glorifies and thanks the Creator for His gifts, cannot be silent and should react to end violence against the Creator’s creation

Under the patronage and presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Middle East Council of Churches concluded the “Season of Creation” 2022. An Ecumenical Prayer service entitled “Listen to the Voice of Creation” was hosted by the Maronite Church at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022.

Participants were His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and MECC President for the Catholic Family, His Beatitude Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, His Eminence Bishop Daniel Kourieh, representing His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Reverend Georges Mrad, representing the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). Participants were also Bishops from different Church families, apostolic and educational associations, fathers, nuns, monks and seminarians.

At the “Season of Creation” 2022 closing, the Middle East Council of Churches organized an Ecumenical celebration including the Season’s Ecumenical Prayer service, under the patronage and presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. The event was held at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022.

Report: September 2022

During this month, most Middle East nations succeeded in scoring positive results that would enforce their macroeconomic sustainability. Although the facts and figures look satisfactory, poverty is still an unsolved issue. Hopefully, the inbound investments and the job creation process can alleviate such a detriment. Also, this might help decrease the number of citizens attempting high-risk and illegal boat rides which end up sinking to the bottom of the sea.

The Recycling Project in the Patriarchal Maronite Eparchy Region of Jounieh, Lebanon

During the ongoing “Season of Creation” 2022, it is necessary to highlight some environmental initiatives so it may motivate us to work together for a clean environment and a safe common home. Hence, the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches presents in the sixth episode of the series of videos podcasts it has launched, the recycling project implemented by the Patriarchal Maronite Eparchy Region of Jounieh in Lebanon with the help of youth.

Celebrating the “Season of Creation” 2022, let us unite in Prayer for the creation and everything it includes. Let us listen to its voice and work together for the care for creation towards protecting our common home. We are part of the creation and our wellbeing is interwoven with the wellbeing of the Earth.

The video is produced by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department, in partnership with “Danmission” organization. It is prepared and presented by the MECC Eco Justice committee member Father Elias Marswanian, from the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, and edited by Ali Al Jarouch.

Cardinal Kurt Koch: Churches’ Unity Requires the Holy Spirit’s Work and Prayer

The Model of the Ecumenical Movement in the Middle East Must Be Produced Around the World and thanks to MECC

Interview by Huguette Salameh, Karlsruhe – Germany

The Eleventh General Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) was held in Karlsruhe, Germany, between 31 August and 8 September. An Assembly which gathered about 352 Churches from the four corners of the world and included various Evangelical, Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran and Baptist Churches... All these Churches were present except the Catholic Churches, which are unified in the St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, presided over by the Pope of Rome.

Building Bridges Between the East and West! Together for Environmental Advocacy and Awareness!

The MECC Communication and Public Relations Department was more than happy to meet the Communication Coordinator for the Climate Justice Program in “ACT Alliance” Mrs. Fiona Connelly. Discussions focused on ways of cooperation and strengthening the work mechanisms between both sides for media coordination, especially in environmental awareness and participation in the ongoing preparations towards COP 27 climate summit, which will be held next November in Sharm El Sheikh.

Monday 3 October 2022 - 10:30 pm and 5 am Beirut Time

At the “Season of Creation” closing, watch a special episode entitled “Listen to the Voice of Creation”, on Monday 3 October 2022, at 10:30 pm and 5am Beirut Time. Rerun on Tuesday 4 October 2022, at 2 pm Beirut Time. It is prepared by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches.

“A Rocha” and Its Environmental Work

The Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches releases the fifth episode of the series of videos podcasts it has launched on the occasion of the “Season of Creation” 2022. During the episode, the guest Father Nabil Shehadeh, Head of the international organization “A Rocha” in Lebanon, and from the Anglican Church, sheds light on the role of “A Rocha” and its environmental mission in protecting the nature. He also tackles the Eco Church in England and how can we implement such a project in the region, explaining how “A Rocha” can accompany Churches and Christians in Lebanon.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, the Council invites you to participate in the Ecumenical Prayer Service at the “Season of Creation” closing, on Monday 3 October 2022, at 6 P.M, in the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon. As well as, MECC invites you to its third monthly webinar entitled “Third Age: On Endangered Human Dignity And The Need For Reintegration”, on Thursday 29 September 2022, at 7 P.M. You can participate via the following Zoom link: https://shorturl.at/CMNQZ, and live on the MECC Facebook page. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Knowledge, machine and modern man”, on the International Day for Universal Access to Information, celebrated on September 28.

The video highlights the visit of an “ACT Alliance” delegation to Lebanon, with the support of the Middle East Council of Churches, between 18 and 25 September 2022, as part of its Gender Justice program and Humanitarian program teams’ annual meetings. What did the participants say? What are their opinions? Answers in the following video, prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

And Concludes the “Season of Creation” 2022 this Month in an Ecumenical Prayer Service in Bkerke, Lebanon

The Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of October 2022. It includes the Ecclesiastical and Liturgical feasts of the various families of Churches in the Middle East. In addition to international days identified by the United Nations, and which are related to the MECC identity and its spiritual and human mission. Noting that the remaining months of the year will be published consecutively.

As well as, the Middle East Council of Churches concludes the “Season of Creation” for this year in an Ecumenical Prayer Service which will be presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. It will be held on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022, at 6 P.M, in the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon.