Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Day 15 - Sidewalk Coverage Continues to Grow - Resources for Women Available

Day 15 – Sidewalk Coverage Continues to Grow – Resources for Women Available

Table of Contents

Local Campaign News

Sidewalk Coverage Continues to Grow – Resources for Women Available

The coverage at the sidewalk has grown from campaign to campaign until now we are pleased that there is nearly non-stop coverage with multiple volunteers praying at the sidewalk through-out the day.   Thank you to Our Lady of Snows who adopted the sidewalk today.   It is wonderful to have church communities come together to show their support for this effort.

Our constant presence is capturing the attention of the drivers going by and the number of stops, with people asking questions continues to grow.   One of the most common questions we receive is “What are you doing for the women whom you are asking to make another choice?”   The answer is that we have a list of local pregnancy resources that we are able to offer them.   If you haven’t seen this handout, please download a copy from our website.   There is a link to it located on the team page, or you can go there directly at: www.40DaysforLife.com/RenoTahoe/resources.

If you plan to go to the sidewalk to pray, please sign our Statement of Peace, located at: www.40DaysforLife.com/RenoTahoe/statementofpeace.    Those who participate in 40 Days for Life are asked to commit to being peaceful, prayerful and lawful while we are at the sidewalk.

Please Ask Your Church to Join Life Chain & Adopt A Day at the Sidewalk

We have posted an invitation to participate in Life Chain, along with a sample Bulletin Announcement & Pulpit Announcements is available at: www.40DaysforLife.com/RenoTahoe/LiveChainInvite.   Please bring this to the attention of your Pastor.   If you believe you’ll be able to join us, please RSVP through our Facebook Event, located at:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=339511168591&index=1

Thus far, our campaign success in maintaining a nearly constant vigil at the sidewalk has been possible because people like you have stepped up and requested that their pastors support Adopt a Day through their church.   The vast majority of the churches that have stepped up to this challenge have been Catholic, but this campaign is by no means a Catholic endeavor.   The national director of 40 Days for Life is not Catholic, and many of the campaigns around the country are led by non-Catholic Christians.   Many of our local regular prayer volunteers are themselves not Catholic and we would like to see our campaign better reflect the entire body of Christ as we Pray to End Abortion.   Won’t you please approach your pastor and request that your congregation join on the sidewalk to defend the most innocent and defenseless children be protected from abortion?

What we have found is that those who come to the sidewalk grow in the depth of their relationship to Christ.   Being there where the killings are done also creates a sense of just how serious this issue is and increases the intensity of the prayers that it will come to an end.   These are the spiritual benefits of participating in this campaign at the frontlines, not to mention the benefits that occur when a mother sees those who love her child enough to come out of their comfort zone to plead for the innocent life.   We can’t save every child that is brought to the abortion site, but on occasion, we see the fruit of our labors, through an innocent life saved.   Won’t you come to Pray to End Abortion?

We will also be holding a Life Chain on March 14.   This event started as a gift from God to a small ministry in Yuba City, CA in 1987 and in 2009 over 1700 locations held a Life Chain event.   This non-denominational Christian effort is for those who call Jesus Christ Lord, and are willing to declare abortion a grave evil that defames the name and holiness of God (Leviticus 18:21).   For more information on Life Chain, call Elizabeth Labat at: 504-296-8670  

Video Cameras Recommended

It has been recommended, and I’d like to encourage you to consider this recommendation, that those coming to the sidewalk bring a video camera when you come to pray.   Place the camera in your car, or on a tripod on the sidewalk, to videotape you while you are standing in prayer.   It is prudent that we have a video record of all that occurs at the sidewalk, as we gather peacefully, prayerfully and lawfully.

To sign up on the vigil calendar go to: www.vigilcalendar.com/renotahoe or for the Carson City vigil site, go to: www.vigilcalendar.com/carsoncity.   If you’ve already registered, your username is your email address.   If you have forgotten your password, there is a simple mechanism by which your password can be sent to your email address.   If you still have difficulty getting registered, feel free to send your questions to: 40DaysforLifeRenoTahoe@gmail.com or call: 530-412-1573.

Join our Facebook group for 40 Days for Life Reno Tahoe, at: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=50059641315

Join the Carson City Facebook Fan page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/40-Days-For-Life-Carson-City/262781127002?v=wall&ref=search

National Campaign News

137 Babies Saved

World-wide, there are a reported 137 babies saved during the current campaign.   The incredible thing is that we know from local experience that there are saves that aren’t reported to the sidewalk, sometimes for years afterwards, and sometimes they are never reported to those who come to pray and council the women entering the abortion site.   Praise God for all those who are saved from abortion and the women who are spared the trauma!   Praise God also for those who have been brought to the healing of Our Lord Jesus Christ through the witness provided at the sidewalk.

This story from the national campaign was worth sharing:

A young woman walked up to the 40 Days for Life vigil outside an abortion center in Austin, Texas recently. She signed up to join the others in prayer … and then immediately sat down on the sidewalk and started to cry.

One of the volunteers stopped praying for a moment to approach the young woman, whom she had never met before, and asked her if she needed a hug. This volunteer assumed that the thought of what was going on inside the abortion facility had simply overcome this woman and brought her to tears.

But that wasn’t the case. To her surprise, she found out this young woman was crying for another reason.

“I’m pregnant right now and don’t want to be,” she said. “I’ve already had four abortions.

She said she didn’t have an abortion scheduled. “But I keep feeling this huge temptation to just go to an abortion clinic, pay my $400 and get it over with. I came to the sidewalk to pray, and to be around people who are like-minded as I am.”

The young woman told one of the sidewalk counselors that she was twelve weeks into her pregnancy. She had already been to a pregnancy resource center, but was still a mess emotionally.

She had become a Christian, she said. “But with this pregnancy, I just feel so depressed. I’m living in a women’s shelter, and the last thing I want right now is to be pregnant.”

The sidewalk counselor took her to dinner, and they sat and talked for hours. “As they developed a long-term plan to get this young woman the help she needs,” said Elizabeth McClung, the local 40 Days for Life coordinator in Austin, “she said something that should serve as an encouragement to every single pro-lifer who has ever thought about going to pray at an abortion facility.”

“If you guys weren’t out there praying,” this woman said, “I would have pulled up to the facility, sat in my car for hours on end — and ended up going inside for a fifth abortion. Since you were on the sidewalk praying, I knew I could find comfort and support there, so I went there to cry instead. Thank you for being there.”

“Her story is the perfect example as to why we not only pray from home and from church, but we also go pray at the very places where lives are being hurt and taken,” Elizabeth said.

If you’re not already getting the daily updates from the National 40 Days for Life campaign, go to our website: www.40DaysforLife.com/RenoTahoe and sign up to receive updates at the top right corner of the page.

Vigil Calendar

Reno Adopt A Day Calendar

Date Church Contact Phone
Wed. – Mar 3 St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral, Reno Charles Teachout (775) 846-9275
Thurs – Mar 4 Valley View Christian Fellowship Theresa Cobb (775) 853-8345
Fri – Mar 4. St. Alberts Parish, Reno Greg Sprigg (775) 746-9758
       

Bring Adopt-a-Day to your church by contacting us at 40DaysforLifeRenoTahoe@gmail.com or by calling Carol Marie at (530) 412-1573.   We will schedule your church for a day at the sidewalk.

Volunteers Needed Weds 1-3pm, 6-7pm Thurs 7-8am, 11-12, 4-7pm & Fri 7-8am

For the remainder of the week, we are looking for prayer volunteers to come to the sidewalk at 7 am.   Is this near your route to work?   If so, could you spend an hour of prayer at the sidewalk to begin your day?

On Weds, we also have a gap in our prayer coverage from 1-3 and again from 6-7 pm.   Thanks to the Cathedral Parish, who will be bringing additional coverage to the sidewalk.   Praise be to God for all our faithful prayer volunteers.

Thursday brings the Valley View Christian Fellowship to the sidewalk and we welcome their presence.   We currently have a gap in our coverage on Thursday from 11-6.   Which hour can you cover with prayer?   Perhaps the lunch hour?   Please register using our online calendar, so we can be certain that the sidewalk is covered in constant prayer.

You are welcome to sign-up or simply show-up to pray at the sidewalk at any time of the day or night when you are available to join us.   Your prayers have value well beyond anything we can see and we welcome whatever contribution you can make to the effort as we Pray to End Abortion.

Please register the hours when you can come pray at the sidewalk by going to our on-line calendar at:  www.vigilcalendar.com/renotahoe

40 Days through Scripture

Day 15 - John 6 – 9 (including: John 6:16-21)
When it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.   It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.   The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.   When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid.   But he said to them, “It is I.  Do not be afraid.”   They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading.

When the world is in turmoil around you, remember the words of Christ, “Do not be afraid.”   Draw closer to Jesus, read Scripture, imitate His life, live a life of charity, strive to animate the body of Christ in all you do, and you have nothing to fear, if you are living according to His will.

Join us as we read the New Testament over the course of the 40 Day campaign.     

To get the complete 40 Days Through the New Testament list, go to:   www.40DaysforLife.com/renotahoe/NewTestament, print it out and get started now.

National News

“Less of Me”

[Social Justice Begins in the Womb] by Sarah Howell (on Bryan Kemper’s Blog)- Well, I’m about a week into the season of Lent. The time of the year for fasting, for cutting back on foods we love too much, or shows we watch too often. The time of the year when we choose quiet meditations over getting angry with our spouse, and steady scripture readings over sporadic video surfing on Youtube. It is the season in which we learn to understand just how much we must truly decrease, so that God may increase. And, while decreasing is never really an easy lesson to learn, God is teaching me that His increase is more than worth it. Because it is one of the more amazing miracles I have ever witnessed.

About a week ago, some of my most favorite visitors came to share a meal with me in Wilmington. It was the day before Lent, and I could not think of a better way to enjoy it than a hamburger and fries from P.T.’s Grill, with a girl by the name of Jennifer and her two constantly smiling children, Aiden and Marissa.

I’ve written about Jennifer before but, in case you never read that article, I’ll recap: Jennifer was the first pregnant girl I ever counseled during my time as a missionary with Stand True. She was 18 when she found out that she was pregnant, and, like many young girls who never expected to be expecting, she was terrified. She called the office one night and Bryan asked me speak to her. At the time, I felt wholly unprepared to take that call, but the Holy Spirit inside me felt wholly convinced that we should. So I said a quick prayer, took a very deep breath, and allowed my part in Jennifer’s story to begin.

That moment was a decrease for me, as well as a decrease for Jennifer. I allowed God to use me as a source of comfort for a scared, young girl, and Jennifer allowed God to wrap her in His love, and give her a child.   To Continue Reading

For more Pro-Life related news, go to our website: www.40DaysforLife.com/RenoTahoe/News

Abortion 101

Abortion – The Life of the Mother

The case of what happens when the life of the mother is threatened, is a scenario frequently raised as the necessary exception for allowing legal abortions?   What do medical experts and others say about this situation, both medically and ethically?   See http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10681 and http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10682.  

In instances such as an ectopic (“tubal pregnancy”), the mother’s life is threatened by the growth of the child in her fallopian tube, an organ which is not intended to support a growing fetus.   The inevitable growth will result in a rupture, causing the mother to hemorrhage and risk bleeding to death.   How is this situation addressed ethically?   The answer can be ascertained through the application of the Principle of Double Effect   

(see: http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10049&search=Principle%20of%20Double%20Effect)

Video Vignette

India’s Shame – Female Abortion

This multi-part series addresses the pressure to have a male off-spring and the impact it’s having on pregnancies where the child is a girl.  

Coming Events

Life Chain Rally – Sunday March 14, 2 – 3:30 pm

Mark your calendar Spring Life Chain Rally held on Sunday, March 14, from 2-3:30 pm at South Virginia and South McCarran in Reno.   We will stand to give witness to the truth that Abortion Kills Children.   Signs are available at $1 apiece.   Churches are encouraged to make them available to their congregants for a $2 deposit, allowing those who would like to keep them, and others who would like to get their deposit back to return them. Please contact Elizabeth Labat at: elizabethlabat@gmail.com or you can call her on her cell phone at: (504) 296-8670. 

Allow us to Announce Your Pro-Life Prayer Gathering Here

Gather together to Pray to End Abortion!   When you have plans, let us know and we’ll let others know through our updates.

Support the Effort!

Support 40 Days for Life with a Donation through our Website

Do you believe in the work we are doing as we Pray to End Abortion?   If so, please support the effort with a donation to cover our expenses. Donate Now

For more information on 40 Days for Life, Reno/Tahoe, visit our local website, at: www.40DaysforLife.com/RenoTahoe , look for us on Facebook, or Call: Carol Marie at 530-412-1573.

To receive your own copy of these updates, as well as information from the National Campaign, go to http://www.40DaysforLife/renotahoe and request to receive updates. 

If you prefer to only receive our local updates, send an email with “Please Add Me to 40 Days for Life” on the subject line to renotahoe@40DaysforLife.com

Campaign Materials

Free 40 Days for Life Items - Bumper Sticker, Bracelet & More.

Heritage House, is offering a Promotion Pack of 40 Days for Life items through their website for the amazing cost of $0, they are even picking up the postage.If you have wished to place a bumper sticker on your car, but I haven’t had one on hand when we’ve seen one another, our you haven’t yet got one of the rubberized bracelets, but you’d like one, now is your chance to get these and more items,for free.They aren’t even requiring that you enter your email address to receive this promotion, although, I encourage you to do so, and they will continue to keep you informed of the many great items they place on sale during the course of the year.And if you see something on sale and would like to purchase it for our 40 Days for Life campaign, I would gladly accept the help in making their many excellent pro-life items available!To receive your free promo pack, go to: http://www.40dayspromopack.com/40dayspromopack/signup.asp

Two Hearts Catholic Books & Gifts to Carry 40 Days for Life Items

Truly, pictures are worth a thousand words.To make it possible for us to communicate more effectively with those who witness our campaign, Millie has stocked Yard signs, Rally signs, New colored precious feet, Pro-life buttons, Static and Bumper sticker available @ The Two Hearts,33 Winter Street, Reno NV and St. Rose of Lima Church (weekend Masses).

More information

Please share this truth, among others relative to abortion with those who follow your Facebook posts! For more information on 40 Days for Life, Reno/Tahoe, visit our local website, at: www.40DaysforLife.com/RenoTahoe, look for us on FaceBook, or Call: Carol Marie at 530-412-1573 Please forward this message to anyone you know who might be willing to Pray to End Abortion.

To receive your own copy of these updates, as well as information from the National Campaign , go to http://www.40DaysforLife/renotahoe and request to receive updates. If you prefer to only receive our local updates, send an email with “Please Add Me to 40 Days for Life” on the subject line to renotahoe@40DaysforLife.com

If you wish to be removed from this distribution list, simply reply with Please Remove in the subject line.

Posted by 40 Days for Life Reno Tahoe at 1:47 AM

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