Preparations for the MECC Fifty-Year Jubilee

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, heading a delegation from MECC, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Holy See of Cilicia, on Saturday 23 December 2023, at the headquarters of the Catholicosate in Antelias - Lebanon.

The MECC delegation included the MECC Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, and the Coordinator of the Ecumenical Musical Event that MECC will hold in 2024 Mr. Marc Merhej.

The crime is the same and the victim is the same

Christmas Message 2023 from the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs

In this time of extermination of children, we shall begin our Christmas message, in the time of Advent, with verses from the Gospel that were said by the Incarnate Word.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a millstone was hung around his neck and that he was drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)

“Whenever you did any of these things to one of the least of these my brothers, you did them to me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Once again comes Christmas, the glorious birth of the Incarnated Lord, and our region is suffering under the weight of well-planned conspiracies, destruction, killing, and displacement, and our people are sinking more and more in their daily life and existential problems, and do not see an end to the dark tunnel into which the intrigues and loss of sovereignty, over the land and destiny, have led them.

A Word From Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, MECC Associate Secretary General

The “Messages of Hope During Christmas” program is a Christmas program prepared by the Media and Communication team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through which clergy and laypersons, Members of the MECC Executive Committee, deliver Christmas messages that highlight the human meanings of Christmas, love, service, giving and mercy despite the harsh conditions that our region is passing through. Thus, they confirm, via these messages, that we are children of the light and hope.

A Word From Dr. Aude Kawas, MECC Executive Committee Member

The “Messages of Hope During Christmas” program is a Christmas program prepared by the Media and Communication team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through which clergy and laypersons, Members of the MECC Executive Committee, deliver Christmas messages that highlight the human meanings of Christmas, love, service, giving and mercy despite the harsh conditions that our region is passing through. Thus, they confirm, via these messages, that we are children of the light and hope.

A Word From His Grace Mousa Al Khasi, Auxiliary Bishop to His Beatitude, with the title of Bishop of Larissa (Shaizer)

The “Messages of Hope During Christmas” program is a Christmas program prepared by the Media and Communication team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through which clergy and laypersons, Members of the MECC Executive Committee, deliver Christmas messages that highlight the human meanings of Christmas, love, service, giving and mercy despite the harsh conditions that our region is passing through. Thus, they confirm, via these messages, that we are children of the light and hope.

Since its establishment in 1974, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in parallel with its mission in enhancing the Ecumenical spirit in the Middle East, has also sought to carry out its humanitarian mission in various countries of the region through the programs of the Diakonia and Social Service Department. This is in order to support the neediest and most vulnerable people and help them overcome daily challenges, especially with the worsening crises, conflicts and wars in the region.

The Lebanon’ Office in the Diakonia and Social Service Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) works hard to preserve the human dignity and rights. In this context, you can find in the video an interview with Ms. Nina Hallak, the Director of the Lebanon’s Office of the Diakonia Department, during which she sheds light on the Department’s work and humanitarian, social, health, cultural and educational programs that are implemented in various Lebanese territories without discrimination.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, heading a delegation from MECC, visited His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Catholic Family, on Tuesday 19 December 2023, at the Patriarchate’s headquarters in Achrafieh - Lebanon.

The MECC delegation included the MECC Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, the Financial Director Ms. Laudy Al Khoury, the Social Media Officer Sub-Deacon Chady Chata, the Coordinator of the Ecumenical Musical Event that MECC will hold in 2024 Mr. Marc Merhej, and a Chorist in the recital Ms. Rita Kouroumilian.

“Protective Policies for Childhood Dignity”

Thursday 28 December 2023 - From 9:30 am to 2:30 pm

As part of its series of monthly seminars, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has the honor to invite you to a new round table entitled “Protective Policies for Childhood Dignity”, on Thursday 28 December 2023, from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, at the headquarters of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut. You can participate in it on Zoom via the following link: https://shorturl.at/jszP0, or live on the MECC Facebook page.

The round table will start with an opening and welcome speech by Dr. Laure Abi Khalil, which will be followed by the speech of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs.

“Christmas is quite difficult, we are worried about our fate, and we see the image of Christ in every child who is killed”

Exclusive: Media of the Middle East Council of Churches

In a time when the world is floundering with various updates and scenarios, and amidst the lack of accountability and silence about what is happening in Gaza and the fear that this barbaric war and genocide will spread to more than one place, Christmas is quite difficult in Palestine, the Cradle of Christ, where children are killed, and families are displaced and starved to death without any accountability and punishment of the murderer. Enough war and genocide.

Amidst this pain and suffering and in light of harsh human circumstances, Reverend Dr. Munther Isaac, Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, spoke about the painful reality that Palestine is passing through today, which has led to the cancellation of all aspects of Christmas celebrations and decorations. Only Prayers will sorrow hope and will help people to seek solace in God.

He added:"

The nativity scene this year 2023 has expressed the reality of children being killed under the rubble, as well as the destroyed homes and displaced families, while the world continues to justify the killing of these innocent children. Therefore, our message in this time is a message of solidarity with the oppressed people, a message in which we affirm that God is with us, in our pain, sorrows, and suffering, even if Christ will be born under the rubble in Gaza.

A Word From Dr. Jean Salmanian, MECC Executive Committee Member

The “Messages of Hope During Christmas” program is a Christmas program prepared by the Media and Communication team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through which clergy and laypersons, Members of the MECC Executive Committee, deliver Christmas messages that highlight the human meanings of Christmas, love, service, giving and mercy despite the harsh conditions that our region is passing through. Thus, they confirm, via these messages, that we are children of the light and hope.

A Word From Lawyer Professor Ibrahim Traboulsi, MECC Executive Committee Member

The “Messages of Hope During Christmas” program is a Christmas program prepared by the Media and Communication team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through which clergy and laypersons, Members of the MECC Executive Committee, deliver Christmas messages that highlight the human meanings of Christmas, love, service, giving and mercy despite the harsh conditions that our region is passing through. Thus, they confirm, via these messages, that we are children of the light and hope.

A Word From His Eminence Mor Nicodemos Daoud Matti Sharaf, Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Mosul, Kurdistan & Environs

The “Messages of Hope During Christmas” program is a Christmas program prepared by the Media and Communication team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through which clergy and laypersons, Members of the MECC Executive Committee, deliver Christmas messages that highlight the human meanings of Christmas, love, service, giving and mercy despite the harsh conditions that our region is passing through. Thus, they confirm, via these messages, that we are children of the light and hope.

A Word From Fr. Rifaat Bader, Head of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media and Publisher of Abouna Website

The “Messages of Hope During Christmas” program is a Christmas program prepared by the Media and Communication team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through which clergy and laypersons, Members of the MECC Executive Committee, deliver Christmas messages that highlight the human meanings of Christmas, love, service, giving and mercy despite the harsh conditions that our region is passing through. Thus, they confirm, via these messages, that we are children of the light and hope.

A Word From His Grace Archbishop Hermina, Coptic Orthodox General Bishop of East Alexandria

The “Messages of Hope During Christmas” program is a Christmas program prepared by the Media and Communication team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through which clergy and laypersons, Members of the MECC Executive Committee, deliver Christmas messages that highlight the human meanings of Christmas, love, service, giving and mercy despite the harsh conditions that our region is passing through. Thus, they confirm, via these messages, that we are children of the light and hope.

A Word From Mgrs. Habib Mrad, General Patriarchal Economus & Patriarchal Secretary of the Syriac Catholic Church

The “Messages of Hope During Christmas” program is a Christmas program prepared by the Media and Communication team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through which clergy and laypersons, Members of the MECC Executive Committee, deliver Christmas messages that highlight the human meanings of Christmas, love, service, giving and mercy despite the harsh conditions that our region is passing through. Thus, they confirm, via these messages, that we are children of the light and hope.

A Word From his Eminence Bishop Basilios Yaldo, Auxiliary Bishop of the Chaldeans

The “Messages of Hope During Christmas” program is a Christmas program prepared by the Media and Communication team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through which clergy and laypersons, Members of the MECC Executive Committee, deliver Christmas messages that highlight the human meanings of Christmas, love, service, giving and mercy despite the harsh conditions that our region is passing through. Thus, they confirm, via these messages, that we are children of the light and hope.

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 “Between safe migration and despair suicidal migration...a homeland”, for the occasion of the International Day for Safe Migration, designated by the United Nations on December 18 every year. In its word, Dr. Abs talked about the phenomenon of migration and its risks, and highlighted the Lebanese situation amidst the increase of the migration rate.

A Word From Reverend Nadi Labib, Head of the Evangelical Synod of the Nile in Egypt

The “Messages of Hope During Christmas” program is a Christmas program prepared by the Media and Communication team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through which clergy and laypersons, Members of the MECC Executive Committee, deliver Christmas messages that highlight the human meanings of Christmas, love, service, giving and mercy despite the harsh conditions that our region is passing through. Thus, they confirm, via these messages, that we are children of the light and hope.

A Word From His Eminence Joseph Mouawad, Bishop of the Maronite Eparchy of Zahle

The “Messages of Hope During Christmas” program is a Christmas program prepared by the Media and Communication team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through which clergy and laypersons, Members of the MECC Executive Committee, deliver Christmas messages that highlight the human meanings of Christmas, love, service, giving and mercy despite the harsh conditions that our region is passing through. Thus, they confirm, via these messages, that we are children of the light and hope.

A Word From Reverend Rifaat Fikry, MECC Associate Secretary General

The “Messages of Hope During Christmas” program is a Christmas program prepared by the Media and Communication team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through which clergy and laypersons, Members of the MECC Executive Committee, deliver Christmas messages that highlight the human meanings of Christmas, love, service, giving and mercy despite the harsh conditions that our region is passing through. Thus, they confirm, via these messages, that we are children of the light and hope.