Momentum, the Weekly Newsletter from the Middle East Council of Churches

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find two editorials from the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. The first one is entitled “Childhood, dignity and future challenges” and it was the speech he delivered at the seminar organized by MECC under the title “Protective Policies for Childhood Dignity”, on Thursday 28 December 2023. The second one is entitled “Ecumenical immunization of vulnerable areas... and the homeland”, and it was the speech he delivered at the Ecumenical Prayer held by Télé Lumière and Noursat, on the intention of peace in the South of Lebanon, at the Saint Maron Church – Bauchrieh, Lebanon.

You can also find the Christmas message addressed by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs under the title “The crime is the same and the victim is the same”.

As well as, MECC releases the Arabic version of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” booklet 2024, under the title “You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27), after it was translated into Arabic by the Council, as every year.

In preparation for the 50-Year Jubilee of the MECC founding, the issue presents news about the visit of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and an MECC delegation to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and a visit to His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch.

The issue also includes details about the Ecumenical Prayer held by Télé Lumière and Noursat group on the intention of peace in the South of Lebanon, at the Saint Maron Church – Bauchrieh, Lebanon. The Prayer was led by a group of Bishops and Priests from all Churches. Moreover, the Prayer included a welcome speech by the Director of Nour Al Chark Media Channel Marie-Therese Bacha Hnein, a speech by the General Manager of Télé Lumière and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Noursat Mr. Jack El Kallassi, and a speech by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs.

Furthermore, the issue includes a video message from the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs on the occasion of Christmas, New Year and the International Day of Peace celebrated on the 1st of January every year. The video was part of an episode of the “Initiatives” Program broadcasted on Voice of Van Radio, prepared and presented by the journalist Lea Adel Maamary.

In addition, you can find details and photos of the Christmas Spiritual Retreat held by the MECC General Secretariat’s team, at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut. The Retreat was under the theme “You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27).

Moreover, the issue presents a news about the round table held by MECC under the title “Protective Policies for Childhood Dignity”, on Thursday 28 December 2023, with the participation of expert speakers from various fields and with the attendance of guests, specialists and interested people in the topic at hand, who participated at the headquarters of the MECC’s General Secretariat in Beirut, or online via Zoom. The seminar was broadcasted live on the MECC Facebook page, and included two sessions and segments for discussions. It started with an opening and welcoming speech addressed by Dr. Laure Abi Khalil. Then, the seminar began with a speech delivered by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, under the title “Childhood, Dignity, and Challenges for the Future”.

In the issue, MECC launches its new WhatsApp channel. Hence, we invite you to join this channel for free by clicking here, where you can follow all the activities of the Middle East Council of Churches and its Ecumenical and humanitarian mission, as well as the news of all Church families in the Middle East. This is in addition to various Ecumenical topics, special reports and videos and other communication materials.

You can also find Ecumenical reports, the weekly Prayer, videos, and news of the Middle Eastern Churches. As well as a socio-economic overview of the Middle East during November 2023 and the latest updates of the Coronavirus in the region.