Annual "Empty Manger" Caroling Day - Sat., Dec. 20
Posted by Matt Yonke on Monday, December 8th, 2008
The Pro-Life Action League and Fox Valley Families Against Planned Parenthood will hold their sixth annual "Empty Manger" Christmas Caroling Day on Saturday, December 20.
This will be the second year in which two caroling tours will take place, one visiting four Chicago abortion facilities and one visiting four in DuPage County.
Particularly during the season of Advent, as we prepare our hearts for Jesus' birth, we celebrate the life of the unborn baby Jesus. Hope and life were bursting into the world through Our Lord even before He was born. It is that message of hope and life we seek to bring to abortion-bound moms as we sing of the birth of Jesus outside the abortion facilities.
At each abortion facility on the two tours, pro-life carolers will gather around an empty manger, which symbolizes both the hope that new life can bring as well as the emptiness left behind when an unborn child is killed by abortion.
Not only does singing carols outside the abortion facility bring light to a very dark place, but babies have been saved on past caroling days as mothers facing untimely pregnancies are reminded of how Mary chose life for her Son.
Again this year Warehouse Church in Aurora will be hosting a time of Christmas cookies, hot chocolate and fellowship after the final stop in Aurora. If you're planning on coming for the refreshments, please bring a batch of your favorite cookies to share.
Chicago Caroling Tour
- 9:00 Planned Parenthood, 1200 N. La Salle Dr., Chicago map
- 10:00 Family Planning Associates, 659 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago map
- 11:00 American Women's Medical Ctr., 2744 N. Western Ave., Chicago map
- 12:00 Albany Medical Surgical Ctr., 5086 N. Elston Ave., Chicago map
DuPage Caroling Tour
- 9:00 ACU Health Center, 736 N. York Rd., Hinsdale map
- 10:00 Aanchor Health Center, 1186 Roosevelt Rd., Glen Ellyn map
- 11:00 Access Health Center, 1700 75th St., Downers Grove map
- 12:00 Planned Parenthood Aurora, 3051 E. New York St., Aurora map
Need a Christmas Miracle
Dear Pro-life friends,
Christmas has always been a time of reflection, on how our good Lord loves us, blessed us and has taken care of us. And one of the many ways we are taken care of is through other people. We are his hands, and feet. Jesus said, "As you do unto others you do unto me."
I have been made aware of a fellow pro-life warrior who has been at the Abortion Clinic witnessing and praying almost every day since even before they opened their doors of death. All last year he would be there, even when no one else was. He shoveled the sidewalk and during both vigils made sure the candles were always taken care of. He walks with his bible everywhere he goes.
I cannot get into all of it now, but his story is one that is both heart breaking and inspiring. As I listened I thought how in spite of his father’s abuse, and other atrocious events, he still loves the Lord so much and has such great faith.
He pretty much kept his sufferings to himself, not wanting to burden anyone, but now he really needs the help of his fellow Christians. Just the fact that he went a whole year freezing in his house, shows how much he does not like asking for help.
Two years ago he was told by doctors he has cancerous tumors on his spine, brain and liver. These doctors shuffled him around and sometimes "misplaced his files" they put him on so many painkilling drugs, and told him to get all his personal things in order, to go home and die.
He ended up in the emergency room, and there they could not believe it. They said he should be dead, that no human being could survive that amount. He was left to himself in his house, not wanting to even try anymore.
As I said, he had no heat in his house for a whole winter, and no hot water. He was down to 90 pds. He thought this is it, he is just going to die by himself, with his bible in his lap, when he heard an inner voice, which he knows was our Lord God, prompting him to "get up and go!"
Go where? He got into his car and drove, he then saw people on the sidewalk at the clinic. He stopped and asked what was going on. He has been there ever since. When he is there witnessing for our Lord, I tell him he sounds like St. John the Baptist.
God inspired him and sustained him to go out and do His work, and he has. He is still in pain, but by the grace of God he is not taking as many pain killers. As of lately he is experiencing more pain and dizzy spells. I am encouraging him now to seek better doctors.
Due to his illness he has not been able to work and pay his mortgage. He has until Jan. 22 to come up with money to save his home, which he built himself, or he will be evicted. He cannot get an apartment because of his credit. He needs to see an oral surgeon and have his teeth removed; he cannot eat well because of it.
If you feel inspired to help or know someone that has been abundantly blessed, and could help make this Christmas miracle come true, or have any questions please contact me at KarenLSK at yahoo dot com Thank you and God Bless, and keep up the good fight in saving God's most precious children.
Karen
December 10th, 2008 at 6:02 am
You are in my prayers — Thanks for the spiritual blessing you have been for the past two years. God Bless You.
–Sharon
December 10th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
The above was for the FAPP member who is mentioned in Karen's blog incase of any ambiguity. Thanks. God Bless.
December 11th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Dear Pro-Life friends,
My friend who is in need, wants to, God willing, with a humble heart; continue to bring Christ’s Eternal Word, His love and mercy, but also Christ's warnings to all. Most especially to the streets of the Abortion Mill, for God has called him there.
Yesterday I met with a man who comes to the Abortion mill to pray. He saw my plea and wants to help, although he himself does not have the financial means, but with great love and concern is trying to help in ways he can.
He told me that my friend does not even know that he had a great effect on his two older sons who had talked with him at the Mill. How inspired they were to hear someone who is himself so inspired by the Holy Spirit. How his story of extreme pain and sorrow brought him so close to Jesus. How inturn Jesus blessed him with the knowledge of what it means to have real faith, not the superficial kind that is so prevalent today, but to the very depths of your soul kind of faith, that comes from suffering, crying out to God, and inturn experiencing His mercy, love, and direction.
God is always faithful. Everything was disappearing from my friend a short time ago, his health, family, heat,and will to live. Sometimes God allows these drastic things to happen in order to bring a greater good.
No man is an island, and we are all in this together,that greater good is for all of us, an opportunity from our Lord to become holy as He is holy. To open our hearts to one another.
Please continue to pray, and pray for all others who are in similar situations.
For many years I was kind of wrapped up in the beautiful Christmas decorating(actually, alot of decorating) not that it is really bad, but this year the Lord has awakened in me what is really going to be important when we meet Him. The best decorating should be in our hearts, decorated with acts of kindness, sacrifice, and a willingness to put God above all, so when we see Jesus, WE are a beautiful site for Him to see.
Helping to save the "little ones" from the evil act of abortion is the greatest gift to our Lord. Happy Birthday, Jesus!
December 16th, 2008 at 10:58 pm