Thank God for Jesus’ example of taking time from our busy schedules and obligations to meet in a quiet place for prayer and restoration. At the ALL HCC Family Retreat, we plan for times of hearing the word, worship & praise, prayers, fellowship, opportunities for personal meditation & quiet times, sports, talent/fun evening, and no cooking …
This is a time away from busy, polluted, Cairo as we travel to Beit El Salam and breath the sea air and let our eyes rest on the greenery and beautiful views. Each year, those going on retreat have testified to God using this time for them personally and as a church body to connect, restore, nurture, and build relationships.

Pastor John, Marcia and family will be leaving the last Sunday of April – the day after we return from our ALL HCC Family Retreat. This is a bitter-sweet time for us all as we will miss them, but want to bless and release them to the next step that God has for them.
We will meet in the garden at 6pm for a shared potluck meal and fellowship. Then a short program is planned to both celebrate the Carlock’s time with us, and to pray for them.
Please see the bulletin for more details.

Welcome to Spring! We are planning a fellowship event outdoors and on the River Nile. We love to take the Felucca and sail on the Nile – even if it is only within the limits of Cairo city! A felucca is a shallow wooden boat with the traditional sails that catch the breeze. They are only used in calm waters – they do not go out to sea. But they are a favorite way to spend the afternoon or evening. We will bring a picnic lunch to share and just enjoy the fellowship, the river views and the breeze. Please see the bulletin for more information.

Our annual Women’s Retreat is planned for Friday, January 16 – Saturday, January 17. This overnight event will be at beautiful Anafora, where we are able to enjoy the peace and quiet (quite a change from the business of bustling Cairo).

The theme is “It’s All About Jesus,” and Amy Widner (from MCC) will be our speaker. Amy Widener has served at Maadi Community Church since 1994 in various capacities but currently serves as Director of Family Ministries in which she oversees the children and youth programs, as well as leading the women’s ministry, and teaching a community wide Bible Study on Monday mornings. She is the mother of 2 boys, Caleb (born in 2004 and is her daily joy), and Macon who is saving her a seat at the great banquet table in heaven. She holds a Master of Arts degree from Denver Seminary in Christian Education. Although Egypt is “home” for Amy, she will always consider herself a Texan! She loves good conversation and coffee, and dreams about hiking in the Rockies again.

Please see the weekly bulletin for more details.

What is Advent?

Advent is a season of preparation before Christmas. It is a time to lay aside all the business of the season – carol singing, bazaars, pageants, parties, shopping and school concerts – and remember the true meaning of Christmas. That is why we celebrate Advent for the four weeks before Christmas. Advent means ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’ and refers to the coming of Jesus. In Advent we see a threefold coming of the Messiah:
1. A celebration of His first coming – born to Mary as her Son, Jesus.
2. Preparation for His second coming at the end of the world as judge.
3. Celebration of His coming into our hearts through rebirth.

Here at HCC we follow the tradition of lighting the advent wreath candles each week. This year the weekly themes observed will be:
First Advent Week: Hope
Second Advent Week: Joy
Third Advent Week: Peace
Fourth Advent Week: Love

The Advent wreath with lighted candles is a graphic reminder that Jesus is the light of the world. The evergreen symbolizes the eternal life which Christ offers and the circle represents Christ’s unending presence with us.

As HCC meets on Friday mornings for our weekly worship services, we will start observing Advent from Friday, November 28.

HCC’s Christmas Eve Candlelight Service is a wonderful time to focus on the main event and reason for Christmas – the birth of God’s own Son, Jesus. Born in like manner as us, in lowly circumstances, He accepted God’s will for His life, death and resurrection; and ushered in the New Covenant of peace between God and man. It is this Jesus that we celebrate and recognize: not just His first coming in the form of a baby in the manger in Bethlehem, but also as being reborn in our hearts as we accept Him and the gospel, the “Good News.” And we also look to the future time when He will return to earth again as King of kings and Lord of lords.

This is the Jesus Christ that we remember today. This is the Advent that we are preparing for – the coming of Christ our Lord – the anointed one.

All are welcome to the worship service! Bring your friends.

Many of you will remember the interdenominational Christmas Carol Service which has been held for the past 20 years at the Basilica in Korba, Heliopolis. HCC, St. Clare’s, and other churches join together to present congregational singing, some special music, and the reading of the Christmas Story with a short sermon.

We are thankful to be able to meet together for such a joyful event held in the Basilica. This church building is large enough for all to come: even those who happen to be walking by and hear the lovely music are free to join in. So come, bring your friends and family with you, and celebrate Jesus’ birth. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD.

What a joyful time – to come and worship the LORD. We are blessed with this freedom here in Egypt, and we are very grateful for this. It is a significant time, when we gather in Jesus’ Name and unite to worship, pray, read the Word together. As we humble ourselves, come into agreement with the Grace and Truth that Jesus brought, and in agreement with each other in praising and rejoicing in the LORD, please consider these scriptures:
Psalm 104:33
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

Psalm 146:2 I will praise the Lord while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Romans 14:11 For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God.”