Fifth Episode - "Stability and Social Progress"

Prepared and Presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

Produced by MECC

A New Workshop Entitled "Connecting Hearts and Minds"

Amidst the difficult circumstances affecting the people of Lebanon and the region, the Diakonia and Social Service Department – Lebanon’s Office at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) seeks to raise mental health awareness in various communities to alleviate daily pressures and psychological burdens.

In this context, the Department, in partnership with Tearfund organization, organized a new workshop entitled "Connecting Hearts and Minds." Participants were humanitarian and social workers, and MECC volunteers, from different Church Families. It took place from August 4 to 7, 2025, in Beirut.

We Pray and Work Together for "Peace with Creation"

As September approaches, the Ecumenical family around the world prepares to celebrate the “Season of Creation” with hearts filled with hope, faith, and determination to work together to protect God's creation. This year's season bears the theme “Peace with Creation” and the symbol of “Garden of Peace”, inspired by Isaiah 32: 14-18

It is worth noting that the Season represents an Ecumenical, Christian, and environmental station that begins each year on September 1, with the Feast of Creation, and ends on October 4, with the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron saint of ecology.

On this occasion, the Season of Creation Committee is organizing an international online Prayer Service, coinciding with Creation Day, to Pray, praise, and thank the Lord, the Creator, for all His abundant gifts and blessings. This service will be held on Monday, September 1, 2025, at 3:00 pm CEST, with the participation of Church Leaders from around the world.

Let us participate together in this celebration, the link to which we will be soon published, and unite in Prayer on the intention of creation and our common home, hoping to achieve peace, truth and justice in the Middle East and the world.

Its General Secretary and Executive Director Dr. Mike Bassous in the "Ecumenical Horizons" Program Produced by MECC:

"The Word of God belongs to everyone and it is what unites us... The Ecumenical journey is essential for the Church's presence in the Middle East"

Since its founding, the Bible Society has sought to strengthen the Ecumenical spirit and work to spread the message and culture of the Bible to all generations. This is achieved through partnerships with all Churches and Christian institutions, supporting the Bible and advocating for its cause to uphold human dignity, encouraging reading and interacting with the Word of God, as well as translating and spreading the Bible through print, audio visual, and digital media.

This year, the Bible Society celebrates its Diamond Jubilee, carrying within its vision more hope and cooperation with Churches and Church and Ecumenical organizations in order to meet the various needs of communities through the powerful Word of God.

In a special interview within the "Ecumenical Horizons" program, produced by the “Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Secretary General and Executive Director of the Bible Society Dr. Mike Bassous highlighted the series of activities that the Society will implement to mark its Diamond Jubilee, emphasizing the importance of spreading the Word of God throughout the world.

Produced by the Middle East Council of Churches

“Ecumenical Horizons” is a weekly program that features spiritual, cultural, intellectual, educational, youth and environmental topics.

On their World Day, A Greeting of love and hope to all the Youth of the World!

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

A cry of love, fraternity, and peace... a cry of hope and faith... a cry of heavenly joy reflected by hundreds of thousands of young people who flocked from all corners of the earth to the city of Rome, carrying in their hearts much hope and life. They came as apostles of Christ from various countries and communities to unite in Prayer, live hope, and affirm with one spirit that what unites them is one name, the name of Jesus Christ.

The eyes of the entire world have recently turned to Rome, which witnessed an international Church event manifested in the Youth Jubilee within the framework of the Catholic Church's Jubilee Year. The Jubilee was not merely a global youth gathering, but rather an oasis of Prayer, faith, and fraternity embodied in various spiritual celebrations and Prayers.

The meeting culminated in the words of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, who called on youth to be light, hope, and witnesses of Christ's peace and reconciliation, asking them to spread their enthusiasm and witness of faith.

An Episode Within the "Community Knowledge" Series

*Home care services are available at reasonable and discounted prices.

Stemming from its belief in the importance of serving with dignity, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) launched a new platform for homecare services in Lebanon, enabling service seekers to identify certified caregivers who have undergone extensive health training with Saint George Hospital University Medical Center (Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and Tripoli) and Khoury General Hospital (Zahle, Lebanon). Hence, the platform offers a variety of home services related to elderly care, mothers and newborn care, as well as babysitting and childcare.

In this context, the video sheds light on how this platform works and the details of its services.

“Momentum”

7-8-2025

This issue includes reports, videos, news, articles, and a full coverage of the latest developments of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), as well as the Church, Ecumenical, and social events…

This is in addition to the weekly word of the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs which is entitled in this issue “On Corruption, Social Structure, and Faith”.

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/9438a8453f12/momentum-mecc-weekly-newsletter.

You can also subscribe to the Momentum Newsletter via the following link: https://mecc.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?id=fd3381352a&u=1db32cafe9ea32b38eb90480a.

Professor Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches

Its name is corruption.
It began with the dawn of humankind; its existence recorded from the first moments of history.
It dwells in the hidden corners of human minds and souls. It knows how to disguise itself and emerges when the dominant ego feels the need to assert itself.
It spreads through society, hiding among people, especially since many have learned to market themselves as angels or saints.

Many know how to hide corruption well, projecting false impressions that are difficult to disprove.
The corrupt, the liar, the fraud, the traitor, all belong to the same semantic field revolving around corruption.
Corruption is a source of shame, and its derivatives are disgraceful. That’s why those who belong to it know how to hide it, though some have embraced it shamelessly, even proudly, dressing it up in all kinds of decorative, flattering labels.
Some call it "cleverness," others "savviness," and still others refer to it as "resourcefulness."

But all of them are justifying a terrifying and vile value: corruption, the cornerstone of betrayal…

A Meeting with the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs

What Are the Details?

His Eminence Metropolitan Elias Kfoury, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Tyre, Sidon and Dependencies, accompanied by Father Joseph El Khoury visited the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut.

The meeting included various Church and social issues. The attendees discussed the difficult circumstances that the region, and the south specially, are facing due to the security, economic and social crises, addressing the most urgent needs of the people of Lebanon and the region. They also discussed the role of the Church in supporting the neediest people, healing their wounds, and providing them moral and spiritual support.

A Mirror of the Society and a Loud Voice in the Wilderness

In a world dominated by injustice, violence, inequality, and hate speech, the “Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has launched a new program entitled "Important Files with the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs." The program reflects the reality and constitutes a loud voice in the wilderness, defending the rights of every human being on this earth.

"Important Files," prepared and presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media and Church Relations Coordinator at MECC, addresses weekly various Church, Ecumenical, national, social, and humanitarian issues. The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs discusses urgent and emerging issues from a sociological and social perspective, presenting his explanations, analyses, and aspirations at many levels.

Dr. Farah Atallah On a Visit to the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs in Beirut

Emphasizing the Need to Heal the Wounds of the Neediest People

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, received Dr. Farah Atallah, Member of the Central Committee of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) at MECC, on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut.

During the meeting, both parties discussed various current issues, as well as current development work and the most prominent activities implemented by the MECC, including DSPR programs.

Trainer Father Spyridon Tannous Emphasizes the Importance of Developing Skills and Capabilities with Creativity and Professionalism

Capacity building and skills development are among the most important goals of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), which it seeks to achieve with its team. Therefore, the MECC Communication and Media Department continues to organize a Graphic Design training, which it launched under the supervision of the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs.

The training is being held over several weeks with Father Spyridon Tannous, Parish Priest of Sharbila in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Akkar and its Dependencies, at the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut. The course is attended by the media team and colleagues from various departments in Lebanon and Syria, in person and online.

Fourth Episode - "Dialogue in Facing Intolerance"

Prepared and Presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

Produced by MECC

Video - His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan “From the Fruits of the Spirit”

"O Giver of Light, Glory to You…"

Troparion of the Transfiguration

The Video is Produced By MECC

Its New Executive Secretary Reverend Dr. Samuel Rozfy Ibrahim in a Special Episode for the “Platform of the Word” at MECC:  

"ATIME’s vision lies in strengthening cooperation between Theological Academic Institutes in the Middle East and instilling the Ecumenical spirit among their students"

What Are the New Activities that He Revealed?

Exclusive: Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) 

From the Cradle of Christianity to the entire world, and from the Middle East, a region that clings to its hope, to all corners of the globe, its mission is one: witnessing to faith and unity, and promoting the Ecumenical spirit in the region. It is an Association of fraternity, education, respect, and, most importantly, exchanging experiences and aspirations for a one, unified Theological future for all.

It is the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), which has always sought to be a reference for students of Theological Institutes in the region. A Theological, cultural, and educational reference for future Church Leaders by contributing to the development of their capabilities and skills. How was ATIME established? What are its objectives and frameworks?

Produced by the Middle East Council of Churches

“Ecumenical Horizons” is a weekly program that features spiritual, cultural, intellectual, educational, youth and environmental topics.