40 Days for Life: A Time of Many Blessings

Today is the last day of our 40 Days for Life in Alexandria this fall. We have prayed, fasted, and worked together for a culture of life in our community. Today we celebrate the conclusion of our efforts, and rejoice in the victory that Christ has already won over death and sin. Our vigil will end with a simple prayer rally from 12:30-1pm, and we look forward to seeing you at our 3pm potluck celebration at Queen of Apostles church hall in Alexandria.

In one of his Sermons Augustine writes, "Let us sing now, not in order to enjoy a life of leisure, but in order to lighten our labors. You should sing as wayfarers do -- sing, but continue your journey. Do not be lazy, but sing to make your journey more enjoyable. Sing, but keep going."

Indeed we celebrate today, even though much is left to do. We rejoice in so many blessings and signs of God's love, while lamenting the ongoing tragedies of our times. We thank the Lord for His mercy, even as we must continue to seek his favor.

And so our task does not end with Day 40 in the effort to safeguard and develop a culture of life. We will continue to stand vigil, to pray and to spread the word for the unborn. We will seek out new ways to be involved in the pro-life movement. And we will stick together as a team and as Christians, remembering the words of our Lord and Master, "With God, all things are possible."

In Proverbs, Chapter 16, we read, "Entrust your works to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. The Lord has made everything for his own ends, even the wicked for the evil day... When the Lord is pleased with a man's ways, he makes even his enemies be at peace with him... In his mind a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps." In this spirit, we commend all our efforts to the Lord. Great things He has done and will continue to do -- to Him be the glory!

Several photos follow of children who attended our vigil with their parents to pray and witness for life. You can see the smiles on their faces as they hold their signs and pray for an end to abortion! Don't they help us to see more clearly the value and dignity of all human life?

Thank you so much for all your prayer and support over the course of this fall's 40 Days for Life in Alexandria! It has been a blessing and inspiration to work with you in our campaign. We look forward to seeing and working with you again soon!

Day 38: Revised List for Pregnancy Center Donations

I had the honor of speaking recently with Tami of the Paul Stefan Home, who sent me a revised wish-list for their organization which provides lodging and personal development assistance to expectant and needy mothers. If you would like to donate some items at our celebration dinner on Sunday, I invite you to take a look at the list below. Our original list, which includes items for MaRiH pregnancy center just a few blocks west from the abortion facilities on Duke Street, can be found by clicking here.

Paul Stefan Home: Needed Items (Revised)

• Walmart or Target gift cards
• Maternity clothes or gift cards
• Towels/wash cloths
• Bassinet/crib sheets and pads
• Window treatment for 3 large windows: 104x50, 120x72, 156x72 (call for details)
• Two irons/ironing boards
• One microwave
• One pair of ladies winter boots or shoes, size 9.5
• One ladies winter coat, size XL
• Food plastic storage containers
• Hand and dish soap
• Kitchen and bathroom cleaners
• Paper towels, tissues, toilet paper
• Ladies sanitary products

In addition, there are some needed Volunteer Activities:

• Transporting ladies to appointments and classes
• Assembling and dismantling baby cribs
• Painting, yard care, and assistance managing and organizing donations

At Sunday's dinner, we will have a table to collect your donations, as well as information about MaRiH and the Paul Stefan Home effort. Thank you for your solidarity and generosity towards local women in need!

Many RSVPs have come in for our victory celebration dinner on Sunday. We're really looking forward to seeing everyone! Please consider signing up for a final prayer time at our vigil, and walking with Paul's outreach team this coming Saturday beginning at 9:30am. Our vigil will conclude Sunday with a simple prayer rally from 12:30-1pm at the vigil site, to which all are invited to attend. Let us intensify our prayer as we reach the end of our campaign!

Day 37: Details for the Continuing Vigil

Let not kindness and fidelity leave you; bind them around your neck;
Then will you win favor and good esteem before God and man. 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not; 
In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths (Pr. 3:3-6).

Good morning, and welcome to Day 37 of our campaign! So far almost 450 children have been reported saved through our world-round efforts, thanks be to God! Here in Alexandria, coordinator Mary Ellen has come up with a continuing vigil plan, which I would like to share with you today:

As you may know, abortions are done at two clinics near our vigil site on Tuesdays, Wednesday afternoons, Thursdays, and Fridays. Last summer we were able to staff a continuing vigil on Fridays. Now we would like to expand our continuing vigil to other days of the week, taking account of clinic hours and the times that abortions are performed. The new projected vigil days and times are as follows:

Tuesday:   8:30am  -  5:30pm
Wednesday:   10:30am  -  5:30pm
Thursday:   8:30am  -  5:30pm
Friday:   8am  -  6pm

Several people have already committed to ten hours of the schedule listed above, leaving 25 additional hours that we would like to cover if possible. If you have been blessed by your participation in the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil and would like to continue this witness, please contact Mary Ellen at maryellen.40days@verizon.net, letting her know the days and times that you prefer. She will be happy to help you find a place in the continuing vigil effort.

We read in Columban's Instruction, "The author of life is the fountain of life; the creator of light is the fountain of spiritual illumination. Therefore, let us seek the fountain of light and life and the living water." We have only a few days left in our 40 Days for Life campaign in Alexandria, but through perseverance in prayer, vigil and outreach, we can help to make them rich in blessings of light and life for others. We look forward to seeing you at our final potluck celebration at Queen of Apostles church this Sunday!

Please RSVP for our Victory Celebration!

"Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven pillars. 
She has slaughtered her beasts, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table" (Proverbs 9:1-2).

Well, our 40 Days of prayer and witness are almost at an end, and we would love to celebrate their conclusion with you at our Potluck Dinner and Victory Celebration this Sunday! After a long period of prayer and fasting, you must be ready for a bit of festivity! Let's come together to celebrate God's blessings, enjoy food and fellowship, and reflect on what God has accomplished in our community this fall.

Please indicate whether you will be attending by clicking on one of the following links:

• Accepts with pleasure
• Declines with regrets

Thank you for your response!

St. Augustine writes in his Sermons on 1 John,

The entire life of a Christian is in fact an exercise of holy desire. You do not yet see what you long for, but the very act of desiring prepares you, so that when he comes you may see and be utterly satisfied... So, my brethren, let us continue to desire, for we shall be filled.

Our prayer and fasting has reminded us of our need and desire for the Lord in our community, particularly in the area of respect for life. There are only a few days remaining in our 40 Days for Life this fall! Come out to our vigil one more time if you can, and we hope to see you in person on Sunday!

Photo: Attendees at last fall's 40 Days for Life Victory Celebration Dinner.