Video - The Third Monthly Webinar Organized by MECC

Dr. Michel Abs: Dealing with Elderlies Requires a Social Policy that Exceeds the Civil Authorities’ Capabilities

The Middle East Council of Churches is still holding the series of monthly webinars it has launched within 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”. Hence, MECC convened its third webinar, entitled “Third Age: On Endangered Human Dignity and The Need for Reintegration”, on Thursday 29 September 2022, which was also broadcasted live on the MECC Facebook page.

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 United Nations has designated the 28th of September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.

How dangerous is the expression “information” and how dangerous are the dimensions associated with it, whether at the technical level or at the level of its human consequences.

We read or hear daily articles and lectures about information, informatics, artificial intelligence, computers, software and applications, and these concepts invade our world and our daily lives, in addition to violating our privacy.

The importance of information, knowledge and codification is not the subject of controversy. This need has accompanied man since the beginnings of civilization, when the cuneiform letters were first invented in Sumer, Mesopotamia. Blogging reaches as many subsequent generations as possible.

With the progress of civilization, the material of codification developed and we saw the emergence of the Phoenician alphabet from Byblos, Byblos, Ugarit, Ras Shamra, both of which are Phoenician cities on the Canaanite coast that connects Gaza with Antioch.

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.

Télé Lumière and Noursat broadcasted the second episode of the "Season of Creation" series of episodes, entitled "Listen to the Voice of Creation", on Sunday 25 September 2022. It was prepared by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches and presented by Ralph Tawitian.

The first segment revolved around the theological view of land, nature and environment in the Orthodox Church, in addition to many environmental issues. The guest was Father Bassam Nassif, Professor of Pastoral Theology at the University of Balamand - Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology.

On the occasion of the “Season of Creation” 2022, and as part of the special episodes organized by the Middle East Council of Churches, Télé Lumière and Noursat dedicated an episode entitled “Listen to the Voice of Creation”. It is prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department and presented by Ralph Tawitian.

The episode was broadcasted on Wednesday 21 September 2022, and included many environmental, theological and youth segments and reports, with guests from various fields. In the first segment, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs highlighted the MECC work in launching the “Season of Creation” in the Middle East, and tackled the importance of the creation and environment, especially in the Ecumenical movement, in addition to the activities organized by MECC to celebrate this international event.

Rehabilitation of the St. Elias Home for Elderly in Aleppo

The Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches presents a video about the restoration and rehabilitation work implemented in the St. Elias Home for Elderly in Aleppo, which came back to life again. The project is within the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria” program implemented by MECC in cooperation with Kerk in Actie in Netherlands, in various Syrian governorates. The video was prepared and filmed by the Middle East Council of Churches in Syria.

H.E. Archbishop Joseph Jabara: Creation has no mouth to speak, but it groans and needs someone to listen to it

Rev. Georges El Copti: When the Lord created us, He formed us with dirt and water and entrusted us with the care for creation

The Middle East is still celebrating the "Season of Creation" 2022, stressing the need to pray and work together for the protection of the creation and everything it includes.

In Jordan, the Churches celebrated the Season with an Ecumenical Prayer service held at the Redeemer Church for the Arab Evangelical Episcopal Church in Jabal Amman, in the capital of Jordan, on Monday 26 September 2022, 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). The event was 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, on the occasion of the “Season of Creation” 2022.

Positive parenting is something every mother aspires to implement while taking care of her children. In order to raise the awareness of parents on how to build a strong and healthy relationship with their children, MECC implemented positive parenting sessions targeting 300 mothers in Damascus and Rural Damascus.

During the three-day training, the mothers were introduced to parenting styles, the importance of positive parenting, the correct methods of dealing with exhaustion and self-care, the characteristics of different age groups, active communication, problem-solving, and how to provide support and motivate children.

As part of the series of celebrations organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in partnership with the “Danmission” organization, in various countries of the region, marking the “Season of Creation” 2022, the MECC and the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East/ Diocese of Jerusalem, held the “Season of Creation” Prayer service in Jordan 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).

The prayer was held on Monday October 26, 2022 at the Redeemer Church for the Arab Evangelical Episcopal Church in Jabal Amman, Amman. In attendance were clergymen, public figures, as well as people concerned with environmental affairs.

The Diakonia Department in Beirut Supports Refugee Children Psychologically

According to a UNICEF report, Lebanon has significantly lost its progress towards achieving children’s basic rights, especially their right to health, education, protection, play and entertainment. The report issued in August 2022, based on a UNICEF study on child poverty and a child-focused rapid assessment (CFRA), mentioned that reasons are due to the economic crisis and the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. As well as, the report noted that children in Lebanon are witnessing the crises’ repercussions on their lives, so they lost their hopes in a better future and even in their dreams. Children are thus suffering from mental health problems as they are not receiving the necessary care.