Installing a Pipe Organ at Schneller School
On Dec. 3, 2017 at 5 PM the inauguration ceremony of the new pipe organ was conducted at Johann Ludwig Schneller School in the Beqaa, Lebanon. The German organist Klaus Schulten played several pieces and accompanied the audience as they sang Christmas carols. Rev. Habib Badr welcomed the audience and prayed. Rev. George Haddad explained the history of the organ and how it ended up in Schneller.
The pipe organ was a donation from the Church of the Incarnation in Tombae, Scotland. It was dismantled by Gerhard Walcker-Mayer, an organ building company from Germany, and rebuilt again in our school’s chapel, St Michael at Schneller School.
We praise the Lord for the love of Tombae's parish and for their gift.
Bishop Munib Younan Preached in Our Church
On the 2nd Sunday of Advent, Dec.10, 2017, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and former President of the Lutheran World Federation, Bishop Munib Younan visited our church and preached from Revelation 21:1-4. The subject was: Jerusalem, the New Heaven and the New Earth. Bishop Younan addressed the issue of building the Kingdom of God, the New heaven and earth. In this "new earth" there will be no fear, no sorrow, no occupation, no injustice, no political plots, no repression, and no wall, rather all people live in freedom, justice and equality. This is not a dream that we wait for it in the future, rather it could be realized right now, and we have to work for it. In this sense God dwells with his people, for God's Kingdom is in our midst.
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.
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.
