Tomorrow New Year's Eve

Some more photos from Christmas. Tomorrow morning there will be our regular two services for the last Sunday of the month: 8:00am Traditional Holy Communion Service 11:00am Morning Praise

Christmas Day!

We had a wonderful time together on Christmas morning, for a special 'Family Friendly' service. There were stories and pass the parcel, carols and a reminder that if you look very closely into the heart of Christmas, you will find Easter! The whole reason that Jesus came into this world was to die for us, that we may know God and live for Him and with Him.

Christingles!!!

Here are our wonderful Christingle makers!! If you are wondering about the story behind the Christingle, it originates in 18th century Europe. Four poor children wanted to bring a gift to go under the church Christmas tree. All they had between them was an orange, a red ribbon, four smooth sticks and 8 sweets. They combined them to make a Christingle and took it along to church. When the local children saw it they laughed at the poor gift, but the vicar took the Christingle and told a story. "The orange is round like the world God created, the red ribbon reminds us of Jesus and the blood that He shed for our sins, the four sticks represent the four seasons and the fruits that we get are shown by the sweets. There is just one thing missing." He took a candle and added it to the top of the orange. "The candle represents Jesus, the light of the world." That, is a Christingle.

Watch this Space!

If you are curious as to what a 'Christingle' is ..... check out this space tomorrow and see what happens at a Christingle Service. Or, if you come to the service, you could see yourself on this space tomorrow!! 4pm at All Saints Church Saturday 23rd

Thanks, Thanks, Thanks!!

Many, many thanks to all those who helped to make our Carols by Candlelight service such a great success. We had a wonderful time singing traditional Christmas carols and hearing the nine lessons read from Scripture. There were three special songs presented and a timely message from our vicar. Afterwards, over mulled wine and mince pies, there was a great time of fellowship and meeting some new faces as well as catching up with familiar ones. Thanks to: the readers, the singers, the musicians, the 'tech' crew, all who helped set up and all who helped clean up. Lastly, thanks to all who came and made it such an enjoyable time. Don't miss our other special Christmas Events. This Saturday 23rd at 4pm is the Crib and Christingle service at church, where we will be setting up the crib and making Christingle oranges. Sunday 24th Christmas Eve there is a joint service with the Arabic congregation at 10:30am Sunday 24th Christmas Eve there is Midnight Mass at 11:30pm Monday 25th Christmas Day at 11:30am Family Christmas Service, suitable for all ages, celebrate Christmas morning together.

Plans for Sunday 17th

At this stage the plan is to have services as usual in the church building. (If you are not sure where that is, our location is on the south western corner of the Beirut Central District formerly known as Zeitouneh. The church building is less than 5 minutes walk north of the Hotel Phoenicia Intercontinental, just past the Hotel Monroe.) 11:00am Holy Communion service 5:00pm Carols by Candlelight Please do watch this space for any changes. Calling all helpers at All Saints: we will be staying after church to set up and prepare for the Carol service. If you can , plan to stay and help, many hands make light work!! (And you will be given some lunch for your trouble.!)

Christmas At All Saints

Christmas events coming up at All Saints!

All welcome

Sunday 17th of December: 5pm: CAROLs BY CANDLE-LIGHT - Nine Lessons and Carols Saturday 23rd of December: 4pm: CRIB SERVICE & CHRISTINGLE – traditional service of carols and building of the Christmas Crib, for the young (and young at heart) Sunday 24th of December (Christmas Eve): 10:30am: CAROL SERVICE – jointly with our sister Arabic Congregation 11:30pm: MIDNIGHT MASS – traditional candle-lit Communion Monday 25th of December (Christmas Day): 11:30am CHRISTMAS FAMILY SERVICE

All Saints Open Air Marathon Service

Sunday December 3rd saw runners from all over the world competing in the Beirut International Marathon. Part of the course of both the marathon and the 10km went along the road in front of the All Saints church building and some members of All Saints were there to cheer on the runners as they passed. They even managed a song or two to encourage folk as they ran!! The cheer squad in front of the church. (You can see the red tiled roof of All Saints in the background, next to the new Marina Towers.) While this part of our congregation were meeting in the open air, 35 other members had gathered together in a home in Mansourieh to sing, pray and share words of encouragment with each other.

Sunday December 10th Update

Once again, due to the demonstrations downtown, our service plans for this Sunday will change. There will be no service at the All Saints church but there will be alternative services held at: 11:00am in ABTS, Blata, Mansourieh including Youth Group and Sunday School. Fellowship Lunch after the service. 11:30am in the small chapel of NEST, Jean D'arc Street, Hamra. We will not be able to hold the Christmas Sale and lunch at church but Sarah S. and Joelle will be selling their jewellery and Christmas artifacts at the Christmas Bazaar run by the Arabic congregation. This is to be held at NEST on the 7th floor on SATURDAY 9th from 10:00am to 3:00pm Please check this site regularly as any late changes will be posted here. Thank you.

Sunday December 10th

This Sunday there is a Morning Prayer service at 11:00am followed by a shared lunch and our Christmas Sale. All welcome. Our sale includes used clothes and goods as well as hand made jewelry, breads and Christmas items. For Church Council members, there will be a short meeting immediately following the service. Keep in your diary Sunday 17th at 5pm, Carols by Candlelight, traditional nine lessons and carols.

Postponed Events The Christmas Sale and lunch will be moved to Sunday the 10th of December after church. This will be held in the church hall downstairs. Christmas Sale: Pre-used clothes and household items, marmalade, breads and Christmas articles will be on sale. Proceeds go to our missions and outreach projects.

THERE IS NO FORMAL SERVICE THIS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3rd AT ALL SAINTS!! Because of the Beirut Marathon there will be no Holy Communion service this Sunday. There will be: 11:00am in Mansourieh at Chetti's or Sander's home, near ABTS, an informal gathering for prayer and fellowship. 11:00am at All Saints Church, an informal gathering for prayer and fellowship. You will not be able to drive to the church because roads will be closed. You can park next to Charles El Helou bus station and walk in. Please monitor the situation for travel safety.

Welcome to the All Saints International Congregation blog.

Here you will be able to find information about what is happening in our church and community. Coming up in December Sunday 17th of December: 5pm: CAROL BY CANDLE-LIGHT - Nine Lessons and Carols Saturday 23rd of December: 4pm: CRIB SERVICE & CHRISTINGLE – traditional service of carols and building of the Christmas Crib, for the young (and young at heart) Sunday 24th of December (Christmas Eve): 10:30am: CAROL SERVICE – jointly with our sister Arabic Congregation 11:30pm: MIDNIGHT MASS – traditional candle-lit Communion Monday 25th of December (Christmas Day): 11:30am CHRISTMAS FAMILY SERVICE ALL TRIBES ALL NATIONS ALL WHO CALL ALL SAINTS RECONCILIATION & TRANSFORMATION IN CHRIST SHARING JESUS CHANGING LIVES “THAT ALL OF THEM MAY BE ONE, THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE” John 17:21