Hundreds launch 40 Days for Life by candlelight
Posted by Matt Yonke on Thursday, September 25th, 2008
As we were making the final preparations for last night's Candlelight Vigil to kick off the 40 Days for Life campaign here in Aurora, our attorney Peter Breen was before the City's Building Code Board of Appeals to witness the final rubber-stamping of our case there.
At one point in the proceedings, Planned Parenthood's attorney Chris Wilson asked that the record show that none of the appellants were present, as if to imply that the appellants, Eric Scheidler and Fox Valley Families Against Planned Parenthood, weren't interested enough in this case to even show up.
Peter told the board that if they would care to move the hearing to the building under investigation tonight, they would find hundreds of the appellants peacefully praying there.
And so it was that, at 7 p.m. last night, more than two hundred pro-lifers gathered on the sidewalk behind Planned Parenthood, just as we had done last year, to begin 40 days of constant prayer and fasting for an end to abortion across this country, and specifically at Planned Parenthood Aurora.
As we were setting up, several Aurora Police squad cars drove by and set up camp across the street by the apartment complex. Sargent Podschweit told us that they had not been informed of our event and were unsure whether we were allowed to be on the parkway or have amplification. Eric Scheidler assured him that our attorneys had been in touch with the City's attorneys, and after checking with the City's legal department, their only demand was that we not stake signs in the parkway.
With that out of the way, the evening began with a welcome from Eric Scheidler. Eric then led the singing of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. This beautiful hymn reminds us that, like the fight against slavery, our battle against abortion has both spiritual and political dimensions.
After the hymn, Pastor Randy Schoof of Warehouse Church and Father Fredrick Peterson St. George Byzantine Catholic Church. Pastor Schoof and Father Fred led the crowd in an ecumenical prayer service for life. This beautiful prayer book alternated between Scripture readings from the clergy and written prayers about the value of life read by the faithful.
Next Eric offered a moving prayer for a variety of the intentions of the pro-life movement, from an end to abortion in Aurora, to the salvation of Planned Parenthood's employees. Eric thanked God for all those who had attended the vigil, from those who had been fighting abortion before Roe v. Wade to those who were coming to a pro-life event for the very first time that evening.
Then Eric called for all present to face the Planned Parenthood building and pray silently for an end to abortion there. At the conclusion of the silent prayer, the faithful joined in singing Amazing Grace, accompanied by Nate Scheidler on the accordion.
Eric offered a final thank you to all who came out and encouraged everyone to check the vigil calendar to see what hours they could fill to help make this 40 Days for Life Campaign a success.
The Pro-Life Action League also hosted a vigil to kick off the 40 Days campaign at Albany abortion clinic in Chicago. Visit the League's website for the full story on that vigil.
I was so blessed to be there last night. We are both the family and the army of God - uniting together in peaceful prayer and spiritual warfare. How blessed I feel to be a part of this.
Already, God has been moving! Frank K. told me today that as he and others were praying at about 2:00 AM a young woman walked up to them crying and asked for a hug. She lives nearby and had had an abortion years ago that still torments her. They hugged her and prayed over her on that sidewalk in the middle of the night. How great is our God! Please pray for emotional healing for this hurting young woman.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I had an abortion in 1973. I was so afraid being pregnant and only 16 years old and just starting my senior year in High School. The father of our unborn baby and I met the public school (Clarkstown High School North, Rockland County, NY) school psychologist(Gloria Fixell) on public property and asked her what we should do. Her advice was to terminate the pregnancy and we did. Thirty five years later I still cry for the baby that was not allowed to be because I was too afraid to go to my parents. So much pain. Eighteen years of bulimia and yet God loved me so much, He saved me from the very brink of death. I believe with all my heart that this war on the unborn is worse than any other war ever fought. The Jewish people had Hitler and the German Nazis to blame for the crimes against humanity. We aborted women and men must look in the mirror every day and know we are responsible for the death of an innocent baby that only wanted to live. Keep marching, keep praying, keep believing. Every life born is a life that has survived the abortion choice. God Bless you, Eric. God Bless you Aurora. God Bless You Wonderful People of Illinois. You are showing all of us the Way to defeat this evil and torturous culture of DEATH. TO GOD ALL THE GLORY.
September 25th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Dear Mary,
Thank you for your words of love for our Lord, and sharing your life with us. I often meditate on the awesomeness of God’s forgiveness. Just think, the Creator of all, with such a humble heart to love us still in spite of our sin!! He is always looking at us with tender loving eyes. He is as a loving father does, kneeled down with arms outstretched toward us, just waiting for us to see Him and run into those loving all compassionate arms.
All: please keep up your prayers for girls like Mary. Especially for those who are still suffering in silence. Pray also for the men who too suffer as well. Mary, thank you again for your witness to God as our Savior. No doubt you have touched and are touching many lives, and God is smiling.
Oh my dear Lord helps us all, to turn to YOU in times of confusion, temptation and trouble. You will not forsake us, You will not abandon us, this I know for sure!!
PRAY FOR AN END TO ABORTION!
Please come to the prayer vigil. We can do great things with God!
September 26th, 2008 at 1:40 am
Eric, you are such a blessing to hundreds of us around this great country. We all love you, your family and your hard work for our Lord. Since I have been coming to Aurora I have met some incredible new friends. Pro-life friends are the best blessing. I love all of you. God Bless your hard work. Renee Z.
September 26th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Spread the Word - especially to our Hispanic brothers and sisters:
Eduardo Verastegui speaks out against abortion, and Obama.
The star of "Bella", Eduardo Verastegui has made a created a special video message in which he speaks out against abortion, and specifically about how Hispanics are targeted for abortion in the USA. He also speaks out against Barack Obama and his extreme, pro-abortion positions. (Three cheers for Eduardo for telling it like it is!!)
In the original video, he shows scenes from "Dura Realidad" - the Spanish version of the graphic film on abortion entitled,"The Hard Truth".
View Verastegui in Spanish with English subtitles on YouTube:
(this version has no graphic images of aborted babies)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GDSNYnnjmE
View the original Verastegui message in Spanish which includes the film "The Hard Truth" or "Dura Realidad" which is a very graphic abortion video.
Warning: "Dura Realidad" contains VERY GRAPHIC IMAGES OF ABORTED BABIES, and actual abortion procedures.
http://durarealidad.com/
September 26th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
The first fruits of the campaign were borne today. A baby was saved between 8 and 9 o'clock this morning. Praise God!
September 26th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Is there a site we can goto to see the other pictures???
Nice to be back
Dan
September 28th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I was at the Launch for the 40/40 and was filled with hope, love, and faith. It was great to sing the Battle Hymn of the Republic with frineds ant Patriots.
Please check the Calender to see if you can help?
I am going to see if I can get a group from my Methodist Church to fill a timeslot. Even if it is only an hour.
September 28th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
a VIDEO You Must See Before You Vote.
Please email this to everyone on your email list.
Mike
September 28th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST:
There was a tragedy this evening at the apartments across the street from Planned Parenthood. A little 16-month old boy named Nate drowned this evening in the pond in the complex. Please, if you can pray for his grieving family, I'm sure it would be much appreciated. Thanks.
September 30th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
I will pray for this family, may God comfort them. We're here for LIFE, inside and outside of the womb aren't we PROLIFERS? I am so sorry to hear this. How tragic that as the sidewalk counselors and prayer warriors prayed for the precious lives of unborn babies to be saved from a death sentence outside of PP, a little tot drowns and his family grieves for him, because his life is so precious. His life was precious before he was born, there will never be another child like him, he can never be replaced and he was never meant to be considered "a choice". God help our schizophrenic nation.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Marie I just finished praying. Thank you for this post.
I will continue to keep baby Nate's family in my prayers.
October 1st, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Another thing about the launch that I found insightful was the wind and the candles. The wind would blow gently and blow out the candles we were holding and we would quickly get a relight from neighbors and children. Then they would have thiers blown out and have the same done for them, much like faith.
Lets Light it up!!!!
October 8th, 2008 at 3:24 am