21 September 2022 – 7 P.M, On Télé Lumière and Noursat

Watch a special “Season of Creation” episode entitled “Listen to the Voice of Creation”, tonight Wednesday 21 September 2022, at 7 P.M, on Télé Lumière and Noursat. Rerun on Saturday 24 September 2022. The episode is prepared by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches.

A Salute to the Peacemakers, But…!

Amidst the outbreak of non-ending conflicts and wars which have a lot of repercussions and impacts on the world and on all levels, many initiatives are made for peace building.

Here comes a question: is there any outcome for peace initiatives? is it possible to achieve peace despite all obstacles? In fact, answers remain ambiguous, but it is certain that efforts need support and an international solidarity, in order to achieve results.

More needed work than expected is required towards the desired peace. This can be done through facing all types of racism and discrimination, promoting tolerance and rejecting violence, hate speech and intolerance. Hopefully, decision-makers and political parties may listen to their people and learn from their initiatives and endeavors! Participation of official parties is also essential in the path towards peace, in order to end conflicts and wars peacefully.

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.

Lebanon is Witnessing Medicine Shortages

With the exacerbation of the medicine crisis in Lebanon, Lebanese people are seeking to secure urgent life needs, especially at the health level. Therefore, the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, of the Middle East Council of Churches, continues its assistance to the most affected families due to the difficult living and economic conditions.

In August 2022, and within the ACT Leb 211 appeal, the department distributed 156 medicines vouchers amounting each 500,000LBP. Hence, 100 people were able to collect their vouchers and go to the pharmacy directly, and for the remaining 56 people, the dispensary’s nurse gathered their prescriptions and collected the medicine for them. In addition, the department distributed dignity and hygiene kits for women, children and youth, in partnership with the international humanitarian organization Norwegian Church Aid - NCA. The Diakonia Department also continued vaccination campaigns for children at Our Lady Dispensary in Sabtieh – Lebanon, and affiliated to MECC.

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.

Durante mi asistencia a la Asamblea General del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias entre el 30 de agosto y el 8 de septiembre en Karlsruhe, Alemania, mantuve algunas reuniones con líderes religiosos cristianos de diferentes países de Europa, durante las cuales discutimos la trayectoria del cristianismo europeo y su estado actual a la luz de los cambios sociales que se están produciendo en el viejo continente.

Lo que deduje de las discusiones y de las observaciones sobre el terreno, que añadí a las lecturas que hago durante mi trabajo como Secretario General del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio, me llevó a una conclusión que no puedo decir que sea satisfactoria ni positiva para el cristianismo en Europa.

Los registros municipales, en los que los ciudadanos europeos solicitan que se elimine su religión cristiana de su expediente personal, las iglesias que se cierran, se venden o se alquilan, las instituciones cristianas que disminuyen y el nivel de donaciones se reduce, son todos ellos indicios de una disminución de la extensión cristiana en el mapa de la fe en Europa.

Fadi Al Halabi: «Nada sobre nosotros sin nosotros»
Rompamos las barreras y hagamos conciencia sobre el papel de las personas con discapacidad en la Iglesia
Oriente Medio está todavía muy lejos de cualquier tipo de inclusión

Sus derechos no son diferentes de los de los demás ciudadanos, y su participación efectiva en la vida espiritual, social y económica... es necesaria. Las personas con discapacidad son importantes para la construcción y el desarrollo de las sociedades. Pero, ¿por qué se les margina hoy en día? Las respuestas a esta pregunta son muchas. Pero, lo que sin duda es importante es la esperanza que aportan a través de sus talentos y bendiciones en medio de toda la desesperación y los desafíos. A través de su continua determinación, las personas con discapacidad son capaces de reducir la discriminación y destacar su presencia y su papel especial en la Iglesia y la sociedad.

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.