We would like to thank all of the priests, servants, parents and most importantly the participants who came together to the day of the Hymns Competition and made it a huge success. The main difference between this competition and any other competition you might have participated in (either with your school, town...etc.) is that we all enjoyed this wonderful day spent in Christian fellowship glorifying God with all our actions. We also thank all those who helped identify problems and areas of improvement for the future events. We also commend all the energy, effort, and hard work that everyone placed in trying to achieve 1st place in each event. Each one of the hymns chanted, plays, crafts projects, or sports games showed hours of work to put forth the best product to represent the churches. We, however, could not escape that very few of you left upset or crying because you did not win. Let us learn from this day an important lesson for our life. If this is our eagerness to win the advanced places in the different competitions... what is our eagerness to win Eternity? But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. (Mat 6:33) If this is how much effort we can commit to win, as many of you practiced 3 may be 4 times per week or worked many hours for the competition to try and ensure a trophy... how much effort we put to win our true ultimate trophy of eternity? And how many hours do we spend practicing our Love to God and serving His holy name? Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run, in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown; but we for an imperishable crown. (1Co 9:24, 25) If this is how sad we feel when we loose a game... how sad we feel when loose a game/battle with Satan and fall in sin, and how much would we cry if we loose eternity? The Son of man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who do iniquity. And will cast them into the furnace of fire: there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear! (Mat 13:41-43) Our beloved sons and daughters, we know that many of you have already started preparing for next year's competition, so let us all take this year to grow spiritually under the guidance of our Father's of Confession and prepare, as well, for the biggest battle, the battle with sin and Satan, so that we are awarded the true trophy of eternity. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12) Till we meet again next year, in God's will, visit this site for all the pictures of the competition, scores and the next year's competition news. Hymns Competition Committee, Fr. Mikhail Abdou, Fr. Issac Bassily, and Fr. Daoud Tawadrous