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In the first half of a 40 Days for Life campaign
volunteers can be hesitant and some in the community
may be skeptical of the ongoing vigil ...

... BUT by the second half of the campaign, the focus
shifts to the reality of abortion in the community and
the campaign effort begins to rapidly snowball!

In fact, we are starting to get reports of clinic
workers on the brink of conversion (more on this in
a future e-mail) and the numbers at the vigils are
growing — and growing fast!

Here are a few examples.

ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA

Students at the Father Pierz School of Religion are
taking part in the St. Cloud campaign. The school
administrator says these 8th to 12th graders watched
a video on abortion, made pro-life posters, then
participated in 40 Days for Life events outside
Planned Parenthood.

“We talked about how women who are seeking abortions
need our love,” said the administrator. “Women who have
had abortions need our love more than ever — and the
love of Jesus.” Students were inspired to stand up for
what they believe in and to not be afraid to stand up
against abortion.

“The students held their posters with pride as cars
drove by and honked or waved. Every time a car would
honk, the students would cheer loudly,” she said. “It
was a beautiful site to witness.”

For pictures of the vigil in St. Cloud, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2931

LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA

“As these days tick by and we stay out consistently,
we are starting to attract more attention and
reactions,” said Erin in Lancaster.

She said it’s especially gratifying to see teenagers
and young adults at the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Lancaster. “It is our age group that has the largest
percentage of abortions,” Erin said, “and we need to
represent what freedom God has blessed our generation:
freedom in truth, goodness, love and life.”

There have been some unfriendly reactions to the vigil,
Erin said, “but it seems that for every one bad gesture
or comment, there are maybe twenty affirming ones. That
is better than expected!”

To see some photos of the vigil in Lancaster, please
go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2931

CANTON, OHIO

About 50 people gathered outside Planned Parenthood
recently for a special event during the Canton 40 Days
for Life campaign — the Day of Mourning for African-
American Babies and All the Unborn.

About 12 percent of the total U.S. population is black.
But an estimated one third of all abortions involve
black mothers. Other estimates suggest that as many
as half of all black pregnancies end in abortion.

“The event, conducted by Pastors Walter and Darleen
Moss, was an hour of prayer, praise, sermons and
testimonies,” said Linda in Canton. “Due to his stand
for all the unborn and his willingness to speak out
from the pulpit, his road has not been easy.”

She thanked them for speaking the truth and spreading
the Word of God with the love and compassion of Jesus
Christ. “We are so blessed to have both of them leading
us to building a Culture of Life,” she said.

For photos of some of the Canton events, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2931

Day 23 - March 15

Intention:

For the medical community, that the truth they know about the human body may become awe and wonder at the God who made it.

Scripture:

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.

--Psalm 139:16

Reflection:

Human beings -- God's tapestries.

Psalm 139 is a psalm that reveals the enormity and otherness of God. His divine attributes are on display: omniscience (2-4), omnipresence (7-12), loving-kindness (17-18), justice (19-20), righteousness (23-24), and omnipotence. Yet, when it came to express this last attribute, what example did the psalmist use - God's creation of mountains, seas, or far-flung galaxies? No, he used none of these. To express the wonder of God's unparalleled creative power the writer mentions the fashioning of the human in the womb (14-16).

The Hebrew word used to express God's forming of us in the womb, raqam, is the same term for needlework or embroidery. In other words, we are a tapestry that displays God's artistic mastery. And, like the artist who knows his creation down to the last detail, God intimately knows us. This reality provokes the writer to awe and wonder. He proclaims, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

What is true for this psalmist is true for each human being. Each is fashioned by God and known by him and we can proclaim on behalf of each, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Prayer:

Gracious God, help us to appreciate the wonder and beauty of Your creation. Help us proclaim on behalf of every one of our fellow human beings, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." May the knowledge that we are intimately known by You shape our lives and actions. Amen.

Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh
Pastor, Conservative Congregational Christian Conference