3rd Lebanese Pipe Organ Week
The 3rd Lebanese Pipe Organ Week in Lebanon was ended at our church on February 4, 2018. The Polish organist Krzysztof Musiał performed 4 pieces to Bach (Adagio and Fugue; Dies sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot; Jesus Christus, unser Heiland; Aus tiefer Not schrei' ich zu Dir), one to Mieczyslaw Surzynski (Elegia, op. 30) and one to August Gottfried Ritter (Sonata in E minor, op. 19).
The organizers (NDU and Terra Sancta Organ Festival) with the initiators (Fr. Seryani and Fr. Rahme) promised to program the opening Week for next year in our church, since the idea was created from the beginning in this place. Fr. Rahme mentioned also the importance of training local people on this great instrument, and that last week two Lebanese and one Syrian musicians played on pipe organ in Tripoli. Rev. Habib said as well that pipe organ music is a sign of our presence in Lebanon and Middle East, and that last December Schneller School had a ceremony to dedicated a renovated pipe organ offered by a church in Scotland to our school.
See the Poster or the Program to learn more about this concerts
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Beirut
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity for this year took place at the Maronite Patriarchate residence, Bkerki - Lebanon, on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, and the closing service was at St. Mark Coptic Church - Jesr El-Basha, Beirut, on Sunday Jan. 28. Rev. Habib Badr participated in that prayer, and the them was taken from the Book of Exodus 15:6: "Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power". The speeches focused on the mission the church in Middle East in protecting the vulnerables and liberating the oppressed. The program that prepared by the churches of the Caribbean this year, was adopted, translated and contextualized by the ecumenical churches in Lebanon.
(Poster: Arabic; Booklet: Arabic - English).
Zeina Kayali on the Musician Wadi Sabra
Helping Hand Society held its monthly meeting on Friday, Jan.26, 2018. Rev. Habib Badr talked about the role of music in our life and church. Then the guest speaker, Mrs Zeina Kayali, talked about the Lebanese composer and founder of the National Higher Conservatory of Music Wadi Sabra (1876-1952). Sabra is best known today as the composer of the Lebanese National Anthem. Someone from Sabra's family handed Mrs Kayali before two year Sabra's archive, and Dr Kayali is about to finish her book about his life and his musical works (including other Lebanese composers). Mrs. Kayali aims to highlight the musical Lebanese heritage through her publication and concerts sponsored by UNESCO Paris.
A New Acting General Secretary for the MECC
Habib Badr: Rev. Habib Badr, as one of the 4 President of the Middle East Council of Churches on behalf of the Evangelical Family, participated in the Executive Committee meeting of the Council held in Baabda, Lebanon on Thursday and Friday, January 25-26, 2018. In a very bold and pioneering move, the Ex. Comm. named a female, Dr. Thuraya Bachaalani, as the new “Caretaker General Secretary” of the Council.
Dr. Thuraya Bachaalani is teaching at St. Joseph's University in Beirut (SJU). She received her PhD in Religious Studies from SJU, and her PhD in Theology from the Jesuit University of Paris. May God bless her in this new position and guide her steps to strengten the ecumenical ties between churches in Middle East and worldwide.
Christmas Celebrations of 2017
The Helping Hand Fellowship celebrated the advent season anticipating with joy the Christmas season on Dec.15, 2017. They read the Christmas story, prayed and sang carols. Our soprano Reem Deeb sang two solo carols and Santa Claus distributed gifts to all. Merry Christmas. They also organized a cake sale on Sunday, Dec.17, 2017 after the worship service.
Sunday School students and junior youth Group of the church shared in the Christmas service on Sunday Dec. 24,2017 after Rev. Habib Badr gave the sermon. They were a blessing and great joy for all.
On Saturday 23 Dec. NECB hosted the LAU choir in its annual Christmas concert that it has been holding at the church for the last 5 years.
Rev. Badr and few members of our church celebrating Christmas with the elderly at the Moadieh Evangelical Center. They all joined in singing carols and listening to readings and prayers in an atmosphere of joy and thanksgiving.
