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 the message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs which is entitled this week “Mother tongue, multilingualism, and knowledge acquisition”, and it is for the occasion of International Mother Language Day which the United Nations has designated on February 21st. Hence, Dr. Abs talked about multilingualism and its importance in the progress of societies.

The issue also presents a news, videos and interviews about the gathering of the students of Theological Institutes in Lebanon organized by the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) under the title “The Deposit of Faith, So That We May Know What We Have Received and How to Transfer It.” It was held on Tuesday 20 February 2024, at La Sagesse University - Beirut.

As well as, the issue includes the invitation of the journal “Ilmolmabdaa”, “Tahawoulat” (Transformations) Center and the Delta Center for In-depth Research, to participate in the first episode entitled “The Values of the West in their Cognitive and Moral Integration” (Current Evidence), within the “Reflection Sessions” series. The episode includes two interventions with Professor Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and Professor Talal Atrissi, a Researcher and Professor of sociology. The episode is moderated and presented by the Researcher Sarkis Abou Zeid, and the two interventions are followed by an open discussion. The seminar will be held on Friday 23 February 2024, at 3 pm Beirut Time, at the headquarters of the journal “Ilmolmabdaa” - Sami El Solh Street - Badaro - from the side of Tayouneh Roundabout - opposite to Marsaco Company - Nouwaihed Building - sixth floor.

In the issue, The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has the honor to invite you to participate in its monthly webinar, entitled “Human Dignity of the Addicted Youth,” on Thursday 29 February 2024, at 7 pm Beirut Time. You can participate in the webinar via the following Zoom link https://shorturl.at/AJMR9, and live on the MECC Facebook Page. The webinar, that will include three interventions, will start with an opening speech by its moderator Dr. Lubna Tarabey, which will be followed with a speech by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Professor Dr. Michel Abs.

The issue includes a news about the meeting of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs with the Secretary General of the Bible Society in the Gulf Mr. Hrayr Jebejian, on Thursday 15 February 2024, at the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut. Attendees were also the MECC Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, and the Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar.

You can also find two interviews with Father Dr. Michael Kanbar, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel, and on Charity Radio TV, in which he highlighted the work of ATIME and its most prominent programs, and talked about the gathering of the students of Theological Institutes in Lebanon which ATIME held on Tuesday 20 February 2024, at La Sagesse University – Beirut.

In addition, the issue presents a video report about the theme of the “Season of Creation” 2024, which is “To hope and Act with Creation,” and launched by the international Laudato Si’ movement, emphasizing the importance of clinging to hope despite all the challenges that surround us, especially the environmental ones, and the necessity of working together to protect our common home and responding to the cry of creation. Noting that this Season extends between 1 September and 4 October of every year.

Moreover, the issue includes news about the various updates of the work of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department, and the MECC Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon and Syria’s Offices.

You can also find the Ecumenical Calendar for February 2024, issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, as well as Ecumenical reports, the weekly Prayer, videos, and news of the Middle Eastern Churches. In addition to a socio-economic overview of the Middle East during January 2024 and the latest updates of the Coronavirus in the region.