Christmas 2024 Edition

"O Child of the Cave"

Around Your cradle, nations gather, extolling Your Incarnation
as the beginning of Your salvific mission,
From the ends of Babylon, the Magi came to the coastline of Phenicia-Canaan to bow before Your humble throne,
The universe announced Your coming, heralding a new covenant for humanity,
Heaven and earth rejoiced at Your dwelling among us,
guiding humankind toward liberation,

O King of Glory,
By Your birth, You honored the children of the world,
and granted the act of birth a sanctity beyond human comprehension,
O Manifestation of Light,
From this humble cave, You sent forth a ray of brightness that illuminates human life.
O Epitome of Truth,
Your Mother’s Annunciation, Your Incarnation, and Your Birth
were preludes to betrayal, followed by the Crucifixion and then the Resurrection, the act of redemption,
so that all things might be fulfilled…

Health, peace and security... This is what our colleagues in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Office in Syria wished for, raising their prayers to God, the God of justice and peace, and looking forward to blessed seasons of hope.

From the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs and the MECC team, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs was a guest in an exclusive media interview on the Russian Sputnik Radio Channel, on Sunday, December 22, 2024. The episode included many topics related to the existential circumstances, as well as his message in the Christmas season, in addition to the calendar of work of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

You may find some excerpts from the episode in the video, and you may click here to watch the full episode.

A Meditation Produced by the Middle East Council of Churches

Produced by the Middle East Council of Churches

Professor Dr. Michel Abs

Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

Before the doorway of the altar of the King of Glory stood His Beatitude John X, Thirteenth among the holy apostles, to speak words suited to both the place and the time, at this era of great transformations through which the Antiochian Levant is passing.

The Patriarch addresses history, and the first people he speaks to are his own: the people of the Levant, all the people of Syria, whose population is experiencing some of the most dangerous changes in its modern history.

He recalls the roots; he says to near and far alike: “We Christians are from the soil of Syria and from the cedars of Lebanon; from the majesty of Qasioun Mountain, the expansiveness of Homs, the legacy of Aleppo, the waterwheels of Hama, and the gushing springs of Idlib, from the sea of Latakia and the Euphrates of Deir ez-Zor.” His Beatitude affirms that we hail from the very essence of this land and its foundational civilizations, adding, “We are not guests in this land, nor did we come to this land today or yesterday. We are from the ancient roots of Syria and as old as the jasmine of Damascus.” He also emphasizes the universality of our mission by saying, “We are from Apostolic Antioch, from this land that has adorned the world with the name of Jesus Christ.”, for the holy apostles fulfilled the Lord’s command: “Go forth, preach to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Holy Trinity,” starting from the hills of al-Sham and the coasts of Phoenicia-Canaan to all the world.

For Her Humanitarian and Media Excellence

Amidst a distinguished presence of media and social personalities, the Heart of Giving Association, Masaya TV, and a number of media outlets in the Arab world honored the Director of the Platform of the Word and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Lea Maamary. She was chosen as the Personality of the Year 2024 due to her excellence and superiority in the humanitarian and media fields.

In her heartfelt speech, the Journalist Lea Maamary thanked the President of the Heart of Giving Association Mrs. Raifa Al-Daouk, and the media outlets who made the honorary initiative, and considered: "This honor is dedicated to everyone who believes in the humanitarian and media message,” stressing that she considers the “media an issue for her that she has carried for more than 18 years and through which she has established the principles of humanity, mercy, and limitless giving."

The Journalist Lea Maamary received another honorary certificate from the Council of Ambassadors of the Board in Europe in appreciation of her contributions and excellence.

This report, produced by Télé Lumière and Noursat, presents details about the training implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in the Governorate of Akkar, under the title “Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response” with the support of Tearfund. During the training, many lectures and workshops were held by Father Spyridon Tannous, Father Basilios Ghafari, and the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Director of “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the MECC.

Wishes, aspirations and Christmas messages of hope were carried by colleagues in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) with hearts ready to welcome the Jesus Christ. With the beginning of the New Year, their hope is embodied in days full of health, peace and security.

From the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs and the MECC team, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Birth of Peace Is Coming!

Details in this video!

This report sheds light on the objectives of the new training course as part of the program "Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response", which was implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department – Lebanon’s Office, with the blessing and presence of His Eminence Bishop Michel Kassarji, Head of the Chaldean Community in Lebanon, and in partnership with the TearFund organization. It was held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at the Chaldean Archdiocese of Beirut, Hazmieh - Lebanon.

The Fourth Episode of the Program “And the Family Remains”

Produced by “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches

As part of its new program network, “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) presents the fourth episode of the program “And the Family Remains”, under the title “Children and Christmas”.

The program raises issues related to the family, motherhood and childhood, in addition to the Church’s view and response to the challenges, especially in light of the difficult living conditions that the region is passing through.

Launching of the Documentary "Presence and Witness" On the Occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding

In preparation for the Glorious Christmas, the team of the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), headed by the Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs, met in a Christmas gathering full hope, on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, with the online participation of colleagues in the MECC Office in Syria.

The gathering began with a time for Prayer that included hymns, meditations and Christmas readings, which were culminated with a reading from the Gospel of John 1: 1-18, followed by a spiritual word delivered by the Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar.

In his turn, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs addressed the team with a heartfelt word, wishing them continued health, success and prosperity for the good of the Church and society. He also stressed the need to hold on to hope and faith, preparing to welcome Jesus Christ, the God of Justice and the King of Peace.

The MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs Stresses the Importance of Consolidating the University’s Values ​​and Strengthen the Spirit of Belonging to It

At the request of the Father General of the Society of Jesus and on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the Founding of the Saint Joseph University (USJ) in Lebanon, the University held many discussion sessions for exchanging experiences, with all its employees including administrators and professors, as well as students, alumni and members of the Board of Trustees. The meetings aimed at conducting a self- assessment of its principles and most prominent historical milestones in order to develop its work mechanisms for the coming period.

 In this context, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs participated in one of these sessions, where he stressed the importance of consolidating the values ​​​​and mission of the University in order to strengthen the spirit of belonging to it and work together to embody its mission in word and deed.

The Secretary General Professor Dr. Abs expressed his opinions based on his long-standing administrative and educational experience, as he had assumed several responsibilities at the University, accompanying the teachers and students since many years. Noting that he continues to enrich the University with his lectures and management of doctoral theses, reflecting the message of the Middle East Council of Churches and its ecumenical and humanitarian goals.

The MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs Participates in a International Meeting For the University’s Alumni

On the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the Founding of Saint Joseph University in Lebanon, and at the invitation of its President Professor Father Salim Daccache, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs participated in an online gathering for the USJ alumni from all over the world, on Saturday, December 7, 2024.

The meeting was a new opportunity to consolidate the bonds of love between all alumni, as it included several sessions that addressed the most important developments at Saint Joseph University and the concerns of its employees, in addition to the challenges of higher education in Lebanon and their repercussions on the life of the University.

The meeting also addressed the circumstances experienced by the alumni and their relationship with the University in which they grew up, as well as ways to develop the work mechanism of the Saint Joseph University Alumni Federation.

From Ms. Brigita Ra Skar Laras, Member of the Governing Board of the International ACT Alliance

From Mrs. Laurie Kraus, Member of the Governing Board of the International ACT Alliance

In light of the difficult living circumstances that Lebanon is passing through as a result of the security, economic, social and health crises that have cast their shadows on the country, men have become one of the most social groups that face daily pressures and challenges that hinder their usual activities. Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, implemented eight empowerment sessions for a group of men in order to support them and alleviate the despair surrounding them.

The sessions come at a time when many men have lost their source of livelihood. Therefore, they aimed to develop the participants’ capabilities and train them in new manual skills teaching them how by using a rope they can create products that can be used in day-to-day applications.