Heads of Churches of the Region and About 10,000 Believers

An Ecumenical Musical Event on the Occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: We declare that we are one... Our chanting tonight is risen to heaven, with the power of the Spirit that unites us, and is, in this afflicted region, stronger than the shouts of haters and human killers, and louder than the blast of their bombs

In celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the Fiftieth year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and with the blessings and presence of the Presidents of the Middle East Churches, and the Heads of Churches of the Region, the Ecumenical musical event “Beirut 2024” was held on Saturday 20 January 2024, at the Forum de Beirut. The event constituted a recital performed by an Ecumenical choir that included more than 300 choristers and musicians belonging to all Church families and Lebanese regions. They presented a group of hymns and melodies representing various Liturgical and Church rituals and traditions, emphasizing the spirit of Christian unity and the richness in the diversity of all Churches. The event also included Prayer and reflections recited by the Heads of Churches in the name of all believers, on the intention of unity and peace in the Middle East and the world. The event was prepared by young believers active in their Churches and under the auspices of the Maronite Diocese of Antelias in Lebanon.

Below you can find the Prayer of the Fifth day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2024, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.
 The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024 Booklet

The daily Prayers and meditations of the Week of Prayer 2024

Below you can find the Prayer of the Fourth day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2024, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

 The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024 Booklet

The daily Prayers and meditations of the Week of Prayer 2024

Below you can find the Prayer of the Third day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2024, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024 Booklet

The daily Prayers and meditations of the Week of Prayer 2024

On Suboro TV

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, was the guest in an episode within the program “Kel Yom Bi Yawmo” (which means “Day by Day”) broadcasted on Suboro TV, on Wednesday 17 January 2024, to talk about the Ecumenical musical event “Beirut 2024” and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

During the episode, which you can watch in the video, Dr. Abs highlighted the mission of the Middle East Council of Churches and the Fiftieth Year of its Founding, in addition to the preparations for the Ecumenical musical event and its goals. Dr. Abs also spoke about the importance of the Week of Prayer for Christian unity and working for this awaited unity.

Friday 19 January 2024 - 8:30 pm Beirut time

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Professor Michel Abs will be the guest of Father Joseph Salloum, in a special episode broadcasted on Télé Lumière – Noursat. The episode will be centered around the MECC’s journey and the stages it went through, towards to the Fiftieth Jubilee of its Founding.

Professor Michel Abs will also talk about the topic of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024, as well as the MECC’s projects and programs.

The episode will include special reports prepared by the MECC media team.

Watch this episode on Friday 19 January, at 8:30 pm Beirut time, and its rerun on Saturday, at 2:00 pm.

The episode will also be broadcasted on Noursat's Facebook Page and the MECC Page.

The choir of the Ecumenical musical event “Beirut 2024”, continues its rehearsals which began a year ago, in the Churches of Central Beirut. The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs visited one of the trainings, as the video shows, stressed the importance of singing together and motivated the choristers, who in turn emphasized the work of the Holy Spirit.

Below you can find the Prayer of the Second day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2024, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024 Booklet

The daily Prayers and meditations of the Week of Prayer 2024

Let us sing and praise the Lord together with one heart and great joy, glorifying His Holy Name!

We are saving the date for the Ecumenical music event “Beirut 2024” on Saturday 20 January 2024, at 5 pm, in the Forum de Beirut. An event that emphasizes the importance of Christian unity and the richness of diversity.

Below you can find the Prayer of the first day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2024, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024 Booklet

The daily Prayers and meditations of the Week of Prayer 2024

Like every year, the Week of Prayer for Unity arrives, bringing with it promises of togetherness and love that stem from the encounter of those who have embraced the faith of the beloved Redeemer. His message of salvation is so profound that no one has been able to surpass even a single letter of it.

Every year, Christians from all corners of the world gather around a text. This text, compiled and organized by a group of believers, is a testament to their decision to overcome doctrinal and jurisprudential differences and to act in accordance with the logic of the Savior’s unified church. This eternal pledge of allegiance, built on the rock, remains insurmountable despite persecutions, abuse, torture, and attempts at extermination, much like the Master whose kingdom knows no annihilation.

Each year, Christians produce a well-thought-out and well-coordinated biblical text. This text is translated into all the languages of the world and circulated among the faithful. It serves as a collective rallying point for hearts, minds, aspirations, and rules of conduct in everyday life, both near and far.

This year, the good news and the blessed text come from the “New Path” community in Burkina Faso, West Africa. This continent, brimming with faith, is home to faithful individuals who make precious efforts to preserve and disseminate their faith. The theme this year is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind, and love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Luke 10:27).

With the beginning of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024, let us unite together in Prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ, on the intention of Christian unity and for peace in the Middle East and the world, carrying in our hearts and deed this year’s theme “You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27).

Below you can find in Arabic the Prayer for Christian Unity.

The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024 Booklet

“You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27)

One of the most awaited Ecumenical occasions is starting. It is the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity”, a week which includes a Prayer Octave that extends between 18 and 25 January every year. During this week, we unite in Prayer, reflection and hymns to our Lord Jesus Christ, on the intention of a unity awaited since decades, through a special international booklet that the Middle East Council of Churches translates annually into Arabic. This year’s title of the booklet is “You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27).

In an episode on Suboro TV

Today, Wednesday 17 January 2024, at 5:30 pm Beirut time\

Watch the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Professor Dr. Michel Abs, in an episode within the program “Kel Yom Bi Yawmo” (which means “Day by Day”) on Suboro TV, today, Wednesday 17 January 2024, at 5:30 pm Beirut time. Dr. Abs will talk about the Ecumenical musical event “Beirut 2024” and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: Singing together constitutes a process of leaving the boundaries of the Ecclesiastical and Liturgical self that characterize every Church, to move towards other Churches and interact with them

Few days separate us from the Ecumenical musical event “Beirut 2024”, as the Ecumenical choir prepares for this spiritual meeting which is full of hope and praise. It will be held on Saturday 20 January 2024, at the Forum de Beirut, on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches.

Since a year and the Churches of Beirut witnessed with great joy the choir rehearsals, where the choristers and musicians raised their voices and melodies in glorification of God and in confirmation of the bond of love that unites them in unity in our Lord Jesus Christ. Noting that the trainings took place in the Churches of Central Beirut and the Monasteries therein, in an attempt to revive them on the pastoral and spiritual levels, and with the aim of introducing the choir members to these places, their history, and the Ecclesiastical heritage that distinguishes each of them.

In the week before the expected event, the choir continues its training in order to perform on Saturday a collection of hymns selected from various Church Families and Liturgical melodies. During one of the rehearsals’ sessions held on Monday 15 January 2024, in the Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Saint Elias and Saint Gregory the Illuminator in Central Beirut, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs visited the choristers as he motivated them to carry out their important mission, praising their efforts and perseverance.

The Ecumenical music event “Beirut 2024” will be held on Saturday 20 January 2024, at 5 pm Beirut Time, at the Forum de Beirut. What are its goals? And what does its program include?

You can find the answers in this report which sheds light on the spirituality of this event and the importance of singing together.

An Ecumenical Musical Event from Beirut to the Whole World

 What Are Its Goals and Characteristics?

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. He who has made known to us the mystery of his will, To be realized when the times reach their fulfilment, Bringing unity to all things in heaven and on Earth under Christ; Let us praise His glory… (Ep 1). With these Biblical Verses, Lebanon and the Middle East are saving the date for an Ecumenical musical event entitled “Beirut 2024”... an event that embodies the words of Saint Paul the Apostle at the beginning of his letter to the Ephesians, where he indicates that praising the glory of God is the goal of the unity that has been granted to us in the fullness of time by Christ Jesus.

The Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, and the Member of the Choir in the Ecumenical musical event “Beirut 2024” Mrs. Sonia Samarani, were the guests of the journalist Rania Diab, in an episode within the program “Al Nour Maana” (which means “the Light Is With Us) broadcasted on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel, on Monday 15 January 2024. During the interview, this event was highlighted, noting that it will be held on Saturday 20 January 2024, at the Forum de Beirut, on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the Fiftieth Year of the Middle East Council of Churches’ Founding.

This report sheds light on the message and purpose of the Ecumenical musical event that will be held in Beirut.

“Adequate Housing and Human Dignity”

Thursday 25 January 2024 - 7 pm Beirut time

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has the honor to invite you to participate in its monthly webinar, entitled “Adequate Housing and Human Dignity”, on Thursday 25 January 2024 – 7 pm Beirut Time.

You can participate in the webinar via the following Zoom link https://shorturl.at/dhjmH, and live on the MECC Facebook Page.

The webinar, which includes two interventions, will start with an opening speech by its moderator Dr. Chawki Attieh, which will be followed with a speech by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs.