Bushfires and Tips to Avoid Fire Risk

On the occasion of the “Season of Creation” 2022, the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches has launched a series of podcast, in partnership with “Danmission” organization. Hence, it releases now the second episode, which you can watch it below. The guest was the volunteer in the Lebanese Civil Defense - Zouk Mikael Center Charbel Salameh, who is also specialized in bushfires. He sheds lights on the causes of forest fires, emergency evacuation before the arrival of the civil defense members, and bushes recovery. He also presented some tips to reduce these fires.

Standing Together and Supporting the Most Vulnerable People

Homeless families, poor people, uprooted refugees... are living amidst daily ongoing pressures. Therefore, the programs of the Service and Relief - Diakonia Department of the Middle East Council of Churches have an important role in preserving human rights and dignity, and embracing the neediest. The service work stems from our firm Christian belief that Christ himself founded this service through His healing of physical and psychological diseases, calling on every believer to serve his fellow.

Episode 1 On the Importance of Bees Towards the Environment

The world and the Middle East is now celebrating the “Season of Creation,” an annual Christian environmental season to pray and work together for the care for our common land and home. For the occasion, the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, in partnership with “Danmission” organization, has launched a new series of videos podcasts about various environmental Christian topics with guests from many fields.

“Third Age: On Endangered Human Dignity And The Need For Reintegration”

Thursday 29 September 2022 at 7 P.M

The Middle East Council of Churches invites you to participate in 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.

This webinar is part of the series of monthly seminars launched by MECC, within the framework of the “Human Dignity Project” as part of the work of a department that is being developed in MECC under the name of “Dialogue and Social Cohesion-Social Capital Rehabilitation”.

You can participate in the webinar via the following Zoom link: https://shorturl.at/CMNQZ, and live on the MECC Facebook page.

Monday 26 October 2022 in the Redeemer Church for the Arab Evangelical Episcopal Church in Jabal Amman

“I have heard them crying out… I am concerned about their suffering… So now, go. I am sending you… I will be with you” (EX 3: 1-12)

As part of the series of celebrations organized by the Middle East Council of Churches, in partnership with the “Danmission” organization, in various countries of the region, on the occasion of the “Season of Creation” 2022, MECC and the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East/ Diocese of Jerusalem, invites you to participate in the “Season of Creation” Prayer service in Jordan. It will be held under the title of “I have heard them crying out… I am concerned about their suffering… So now, go. I am sending you… I will be with you” (EX 3: 1-12), on Monday 26 October 2022, at 6 P.M, in the Redeemer Church for the Arab Evangelical Episcopal Church in Jabal Amman.

H.G. Bishop Mousa Al-Khasi: the circumstances we are witnessing shouldn’t be a cause for despair, but an opportunity for us to be responsible towards God by protecting His world

On the occasion of the “Season of Creation” 2022, the Orthodox Church celebrated the Season in a Holy Mass, held at the Holy Cross Church in Damascus, Syria, on Sunday 18 September 2022. It is part of the series of celebrations organized by the Middle East Council of Churches, in partnership with “Danmission” organization, in various countries of the region.

Monday 3 October 2022, at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon

Under the patronage and with the presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Middle East Council of Churches invites you to participate in the Ecumenical Prayer Service at the “Season of Creation” closing. The Prayer will be held on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022, at 6P.M, in the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon.

You may participate in the Prayer via the MECC Facebook page and YouTube channel, and live on Charity TV and NourSat/ Télé Lumière.

The ongoing “Season of Creation” 2022 in the Middle East and the world, is a season full of hope towards reducing the environmental dangers, and thus praying and working together for a safer common home. The theme for this year’s environmental and international season is “Listen to the Voice of Creation”, and its slogan is “The Burning Bush”. What does the slogan symbolize? And what are its meanings? The following video sheds light on the slogan and stresses the importance of preserving our sacred land.

The whole world is praying for creation and the protection of our sacred Land in an annual Christian environmental season. It is the "Season of Creation" which starts on 1 September and ends on 4 October, of each year, in the Middle East and the world. The theme of this year’ season is “Listen to the Voice of Creation” and its slogan is “The Burning Bush”. The video explains the meanings of the theme and highlights its importance in our Christian life.

New Cooperation Towards the Support of the Most Vulnerable People

In response to the call of God the Creator to stand next to the most vulnerable and neediest, the Middle East Council of Churches has always sought, since its establishment, to accompany the most marginalized and affected people due to the difficult living conditions. MECC aims to preserve their rights and dignity, in various countries of the Middle East. Within this context, the MECC Jordan office is implementing many programs to support Syrian and Iraqi refugees as well as vulnerable people from Jordanian host communities.

In this framework, the MECC Jordan’s Office, represented by its Director Mrs. Wafaa El Ghousous, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) – Amman, represented by the Associations’ President Mrs. Hania Kakish. The MoU aimed at strengthening the cooperation towards the implementation of various training courses. It was signed on Wednesday 14 September 2022, at the headquarters of the Association.

Together Towards Environmental Advocacy and Awareness!

The international Climate Summit COP27 on climate change will be held very soon between 6 and 18 November 2022, in the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh, and the preparations have begun. Hence, the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department participated in an international online meeting at the invitation of ACT Alliance Communication Department, and with the participation of other international organizations, on Wednesday 14 September 2022.

The meeting aimed at exchanging ideas and suggestions, as well as discussing experiences and opinions in order to prepare and implement online marketing campaigns as part of the COP27 summit’s activities. Topics of discussions were centered around issues related to the environment and justice. It was also an opportunity to build new relationships between employees in the fields of communication, media and programs in various organizations.

During my attendance at the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches between August 30 and September 8 in Karlsruhe, Germany, I held some meetings with Christian religious leaders from different countries of Europe, during which we discussed the path of European Christianity and its current status in light of the social changes taking place in the ancient continent.

What I deduced from the discussions and from field observations, which I added to the readings I make during my work as General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches, brought me to a conclusion that I can neither say is satisfactory nor positive for Christianity in Europe.

Municipal records, where European citizens apply for their Christian religion to be removed from their personal record, churches that are closing, sold or rented, Christian institutions that are declining and the level of donations is declining, are all indications of a shrinking Christian extent in the faith map in Europe.

This shrinkage is not the result of competition between religions, nor of a religious campaign carried out by one religion against another, nor of the temptations offered by the missionary institutions to attract people from Christianity to it.

Fadi Al Halabi: “Nothing about us without us”

Let us break barriers and raise awareness on the role of persons with disabilities in the Church

The Middle East is still far from any type of inclusion!

Their rights are not different from the rights of other citizens, and their effective participation in spiritual, social and economic life... is necessary. Persons with disabilities are important for building and developing societies. But why are they marginalized today? Answers for the question are many. But, what is surely important is the hope they sorrow through their talents and blessings amidst all despair and challenges. Through their continuous determination, persons with disabilities are able to reduce discrimination and emphasize their presence and special role in the Church and society.

Shouldn't the Church be more inclusive by integrating all people, no matter how different they are! Within this context, the World Council of Churches (WCC) launched the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network (EDAN) in its 8th General Assembly. Its vision is “A church of all and for all, an epitome of a truly inclusive society”. EDAN aims at improving the livelihoods of persons with disabilities through advocating for their inclusion, and active participation in all spiritual, social, economic and structural lives of Church and society.

On the commemoration of the 100th years after the Burning of Smyrna, Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, MECC President for the Evangelical Family, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, and President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, invites you to a lecture he will held about this painful event and the remembrance of Rev. Hagop Yeranian. The lecture will be convened on Tuesday 20 september 2022, at 7 P.M, in Haigazian University Auditorium.

In order to strengthen the support of the Middle East Council of Churches’ partners, a delegation from the international Church organization “Act Church of Sweden” visited the headquarters of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, on Monday 12 September 2022.

The delegation met with the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs online, along with members from the General Secretariat who participated in the meeting in person and online.

Simon Awad: We cannot achieve food security and our land is still in danger!

People in the Holy Land are prevented from the access to water resources and renewable energy in order to kick them out from their land

“For this is what the Lord says — he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited— he says: I am the Lord, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:18). God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them for the good of the world and mankind. He infused His creation with goodness, and provided in such a way that mankind's success could be guaranteed. God's creation glorifies His name. How beautiful is the work of His hands! The Church blesses all God’s creatures, prays for their protection, praises the Creator and thank Him for all the blessings. The role of Man at the center of the Church and the world is essential for the care for God’s blessed creation.

Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca to the Family of Late Gabi Habib and the Middle East Council of Churches

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has embarked on a wide-ranging Season of Creation campaign this year. Thanks to their efforts, the Season of Creation Celebration Guide has been translated into Arabic, and is available on their website along with Spanish and English versions. MECC is also planning a series of activities to mark the Season of Creation, which begins September 1, the Day of Prayer for Creation, and ends October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology.

“Our campaign includes prayer services in the entire Middle East with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon as highlights,” says Rev. Dr. Rima Nasrallah of MECC’s Eco-Justice Unit and a member of ACT’s Governing Board. “There are also youth-oriented activities and forestation projects.” Short videos, podcasts and interviews will be aired on regional television and social media.

To find out more about Middle East Season of Creation activities, follow the hashtag #SeasonOfCreationME on Twitter (MECC, @MECChurches) and Facebook (@MECChurches). ACT’s Twitter account will share MECC’s Season of Creation activities.

The last week has begun in a special way in Jerusalem. A festive procession of priests, monks, nuns and people young and old filled the streets of Jerusalem's Old City, joyfully singing and dancing and waving basil branches as they brought the icon of Mary from her tomb at Gethsemane to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Christian quarter of the Old City was lovingly decorated with lots of greenery. His Eminence the Archbishop Dorotheos of Avela - from the Greek Orthodox Church - carried the icon of Mary in front of his chest all the way from Gethsemane to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

It is beautiful to see important cultural rituals and traditions being carried out in a dwindling Palestinian Christianity, allowing the rising generations to integrate them into their lives and preserve their Christian identity. Apart from the religious significance, these special celebrations far away from the hardships of everyday life are also important to find new energy for life again. Mary, who grew up in simple circumstances, knew flight and rejection, as well as prejudice and hostility.

Joy Kennedy: Como abuela, digo que el cambio climático pone en peligro a hijos y nietos

La época de la creación está llena de esperanza y las iglesias deben trabajar por la justicia climática

Antes de la COP 27 en Egipto y la COP 28 en Dubai, muchas promesas aún no se han cumplido

Huguette Salameh, Karlsruhe - Alemania

El mundo sufre hoy muchas crisis sociales, de vida, de salud y de seguridad... pero los problemas medioambientales y de cambio climático hacen sonar la alarma. La humanidad se enfrenta así a un futuro desconocido. Por lo tanto, es necesario escuchar a los grupos más necesitados y vulnerables, y acompañarlos en medio de nuestra crisis ambiental global. De ahí que las Naciones Unidas estén trabajando, a través de sus diversos programas y asociaciones internacionales, para lograr la justicia climática hacia un futuro mejor.

En este contexto, la Iglesia también tiene un papel importante, especialmente en la sensibilización y el trabajo para la protección de sus hijos contra las repercusiones del cambio climático. Señalando que la Iglesia celebra el «Tiempo de la Creación» y subrayando la importancia de preservar nuestra casa común. Por su parte, el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) trabaja por la justicia climática, ya que el cuidado de la creación es una de sus prioridades más importantes. De hecho, la Biblia enseña la integridad de la creación y nos llama a cuidar el jardín del Edén (Gn 2,15). El Dios de la Biblia es un Dios de justicia que protege, ama y cuida a los más vulnerables entre sus criaturas.