Address by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches
Professor Michel Abs
at the Celebration of the Season of Creation

Sunday, September 6, 2026
National Evangelical Church of Beirut

Your Eminences and Reverend Fathers,

Your Eminences and distinguished religious leaders,

Dear sisters and brothers,

We gather today at the National Evangelical Church of Beirut to inaugurate together the Season of Creation, this time during which the Church invites us to reconsider our relationship with creation—not merely as the material setting in which we live, but as a gift from God and a trust placed in our hands by the Creator, so that we may use it wisely, preserve it, and pass it on to generations yet unborn.

At the heart of our reflection this year stands water—that substance which appears so simple, yet is so profound in meaning, and without which life cannot exist.

But before speaking about water, we must stand in reverence before the majesty of the Creator and the greatness of the very act of creation. Creation is not merely the shaping of what already exists. In the understanding of faith, it is the passage from nothingness into existence. That something should exist where previously there was nothing, and that life, order, beauty, and diversity should emerge, is a mystery beyond the human capacity fully to comprehend or grasp. When we contemplate creation, from the smallest cell to the vastest ocean, we are not simply contemplating silent matter; we stand before the traces of a divine act that brought existence out of nothingness and endowed life with the capacity to continue and renew itself…

Under the Theme “Living Water”

Beirut – Sunday, September 6, 2026

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) inaugurated the Season of Creation 2026 in Lebanon on the evening of Sunday, September 6, at the National Evangelical Church in Beirut, through an Ecumenical Prayer Service held under this year’s theme, “Living Water.” The Service brought together representatives of various Church Families in an encounter of Prayer, fellowship, and reflection on the gift of water and humanity’s responsibility to care for creation.

The celebration was attended by Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and MECC President for the Evangelical Family, and the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, along with Bishops, Priests, Pastors, Monks and Nuns, Representatives of Churches, organizations and youth movements, as well as many believers.

The Prayer Service included hymns performed by choirs and chanters from different Christian traditions: the Laudato Si’ Choir with Subdeacon Charbel Bou Machrek Chanter Deacon Ghazar Koushkrian, accompanied on the piano by Hampik Marderosian, a choir from the National Evangelical Church’s youth, and the St. Theophan the Hymnographer Choir. Together, they presented a rich musical tapestry reflecting the diversity of Christian traditions in the unity of Prayer and praise.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) concluded the Ecumenical Youth Camp in Lebanon, organized as part of the Youth Leadership Building (YLB) Program, in cooperation with the Bible Society, Ithraa’ Center, and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), with the support of Kerk in Actie. The camp brought together young men and women from various Christian Church Families.

The fourth and final days of the camp featured a diverse program combining learning and interaction, along with opportunities for participants to express their talents and exchange experiences.

With great hope, the third day of the Ecumenical Youth Camp in Lebanon was held as part of the Youth Leadership Building (YLB) Program, organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Bible Society, Ithraa’ Center, and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), with the support of Kerk in Actie. The camp brought together young men and women from various Christian Church Families.

The third day of the camp had a spiritual, training, and interactive atmosphere. The program included times of Prayer and reflection, providing a spiritual foundation for the various themes addressed throughout the day.

The young participants also took part in a training session led by Mr. Naji Fakhoury from the Bible Society, in which he presented many topics related to leadership, its importance, and ways of strengthening leadership skills. In addition, a Bible study session was led by Pastor Asadour Mncherian, providing an opportunity for dialogue and deeper reflection on the Word of God, as well as connecting the Biblical text and its teachings to everyday life. The program also included a personal testimony, during which one of the leaders shared his story and personal experience.

And Celebrates the "Season of Creation” During this Month

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of September 2026. 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.

As well as, MECC celebrates the “Season of Creation” between September 1 and October 4, bearing this year the theme “Living Water” and the symbol “Immersion in Living Water,” inspired by Ezekiel 47:9 and 12.

Professor Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has maintained a longstanding commitment to the Palestinian people, rooted in the history of the ecumenical movement in the Middle East. This relationship predates the formal establishment of the MECC in 1974 and began through Christian churches and ecumenical organizations responding to Palestinian displacement following the Nakba.

For the MECC, the Palestinian cause is therefore not an external political issue but part of its historical memory, pastoral responsibility, humanitarian mission, and Christian witness. Its engagement has developed through three interconnected dimensions: service, advocacy, and awareness building.

Humanitarian service began through church-related committees assisting displaced Palestinian communities in Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank, Nazareth, Amman, and Beirut. These initiatives eventually developed into the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), which continues its work today with autonomy. During the Lebanese war, MECC-related programs provided assistance to Palestinians in refugee camps while also responding to the suffering of Lebanese communities. Over time, the Council's humanitarian mission expanded to other displaced populations, including Iraqis and Syrians, while Palestine remained a central concern…

The MECC Media Team Honored by His Beatitude

At the invitation of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Catholic Family, and in the presence of the Lebanese First Lady Mrs. Nehmat Aoun, and His Excellency the Lebanese Minister of Information Lawyer Dr. Paul Morcos, a dinner was held in honor of the Lebanese media, in recognition of journalists’ efforts and their humanitarian mission in serving people and society.

The dinner took place on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Achrafieh, Geitawi, Lebanon.

The gathering was attended by many official, cultural, and social personnalities, as well as the Media Team of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), including the Coordinator of Media and Church Media Relations Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Social Media Officer Johnny Anton, Communication and Media Officer Elia Nasrallah, and Documentation Officer Charbel Bastoury who was among the organizers of the event. Attendees were also journalists and representatives of media institutions.

The activities of the second day of the Ecumenical youth camp in Lebanon continued as part of the Youth Leadership Building (YLB) Program, organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Bible Society, Ithraa’ Center, and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), with the support of Kerk in Actie. The camp brought together young men and women from various Christian Church Families.

The second day’s program included group and individual Prayers and reflections, as well as interactive games. It also featured a training session on leadership and its concepts, led by Mrs. Rita Zakhour from the Bible Society. In addition, Pastor Asadour Mncherian delivered a session on leadership from a Biblical perspective. Participants also took part in a session during which they listened to a personal life testimony highlighting the importance of leadership and its impact.

It is worth noting that the second day was attended by the Secretary General and Executive Director of the Bible Society Dr. Mike Bassous, and the Regional Secretary of the World Student Christian Federation Ms. Melissa Bridi.

مرصد فلسطين – تقرير الجمعة 4 أيلول/ سبتمبر 2026

In light of the worsening humanitarian and social conditions in the region due to the escalation of security operations, the Middle East Council of Churches presents a weekly report entitled "Palestine Observatory," which includes the latest developments in Palestine, especially amid the deteriorating living, social, and security conditions in the country. Some texts will be in Arabic, and some others in English, depending on the source.

في ظلّ تفاقم الظروف الإنسانيّة والاجتماعيّة في المنطقة جرّاء تصاعد العمليّات الأمنيّة فيها، يقدّم مجلس كنائس الشرق الأوسط تقريرًا أسبوعيًّا بعنوان "مرصد فلسطين" حيث يتضمّن آخر المستجدّات الّتي تشهدها فلسطين خصوصًا وسط تدهور الظروف المعيشيّة والاجتماعيّة والأمنيّة في البلاد. ستكون بعض النصوص باللغة العربية، وبعضها الآخر باللّغة الإنكليزيّة، وذلك حسب المصدر.

The first day of the Ecumenical Youth Camp in Lebanon, organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) as part of its Youth Leadership Building (YLB) Program, took place, bringing together a group of youth from various Church Families.

The program is implemented in cooperation with the Bible Society, Ithraa’ Center, and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), with the support of Kerk in Actie.

The day began with the arrival of participants, introductions, and a welcome, followed by an overview of the camp’s rules and teams’ organization. The program also included several icebreaker activities and team building games designed to help participants get to know one another, contributing to stronger communication and cooperation among the youth.

The Middle East Joins the Prayers with Great Hope

The 2026 “Season of Creation” was inaugurated under the theme “Living Water” and the symbol “Immersion in Living Water,” inspired by Ezekiel 47:9 and 12, through a global online Prayer gathering held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, which also coincided with the Feast of Creation. The gathering was organized at the invitation of the Season of Creation Global Steering Committee, which includes members from various Ecumenical bodies, including the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and other international organizations.

The gathering brought together Church and Ecumenical Leaders, faithful, and representatives of Church Families, institutions, and organizations from around the world. It featured various Prayers, reflections, and readings centered on the Season of Creation, calling participants to glorify, praise, and give thanks to the Lord for all His blessings and gifts. The gathering also emphasized the importance of responsibility towards creation and of strengthening efforts to care for our common home.

MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs:

“Water-related topics must be integrated into school curricula and public awareness campaigns to cultivate citizens who are concerned about the future of humanity through their concern for water”

As the 2026 Season of Creation is celebrated, believers from various Church Families in the Middle East and the world come together in Prayer, reflection, and action to protect God’s creation. This year, the Season of Creation takes place at a time when the world is facing increasingly severe environmental and climate crises. Therefore, this Season calls for greater care for the environment and creation, with all that it encompasses, in order to ensure a safer future for the inhabitants of the planet.

On the occasion of the Season of Creation, which this year carries the theme “Living Water” and the symbol “Immersion in Living Water,” the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, addressed a message published in the global Season of Creation guide for this year, alongside messages and reflections from Religious and Ecumenical Leaders from around the world. These contributions affirm that caring for creation is not merely an environmental issue, but a shared faith-based and human responsibility.

From the heart of the Middle East, Professor Michel Abs noted in his message that “the Good Friday hymn proclaims, “Today He who hung the earth upon the waters was hung upon the cross,” alluding to the primacy of water over all other elements of nature during creation. Furthermore, the incarnate Lord declared, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” He was baptized in the Jordan River, an act we consider foundational to the doctrine of salvation”…

“For the MECC, the Palestinian cause is part of its historical memory, pastoral responsibility, humanitarian mission, and Christian witness”

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Professor Michel Abs, delivered a lecture entitled “MECC and the Palestinians”, as part of a webinar entitled “Faith is Action, Conversations on Palestine,” organized by “Orthodox Christians for Palestine.”

The webinar was held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, in the presence of the MECC Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, colleagues from the General Secretariat team, as well as specialists, experts, and attendees concerned with the topic from various countries across the region.

Following an introduction by Dr. Anna Habib, daughter of the Former MECC Secretary General Mr. Gabi Habib, Secretary General Professor Michel Abs spoke about the fraternal relationship that connected him with the Former Secretary General Gabi Habib. He conveyed a message of peace for his soul and recalled his active role in the Middle East Council of Churches and in the Ecumenical movement.

During his lecture, Professor Abs addressed the role of the Middle East Council of Churches with regard to the Palestinian cause, highlighting the responsibilities of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees, as well as the Council’s work in accompanying Palestinians on Theological, Ecumenical, humanitarian, social, and media-related levels.

Are Pleased to Invite You to the Ecumenical Prayer Service

Celebrating the Season of Creation 2026

Guide of the Season of Creation 2026 Celebration in Arabic and English: https://www.mecc.org/mecc/2026/6/23/the-middle-east-council-of-churches-issues-the-season-of-creation-2026-guide-in-arabic.

Produced by MECC

An Interview with Father Antoine Al-Ahmar, Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department, About the Season of Creation and the Feast of Creation

Together We Unite in Prayer and Supplication to God the Creator

As every year, the Ecumenical family in the Middle East and the world comes together for an environmental and Ecumenical occasion which is the “Season of Creation.” This is a time dedicated to Prayer, reflection, and action for the care of Creation and the preservation of our common home.

The Season extends from September 1, the Feast of Creation, to October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron saint of ecology.

As part of the celebration of this Season, you can find the text of the “Season of Creation” 2026 Prayer.