Friends in Christ Jesus, our Lord of mercy,
Today, on this the 41st Anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision to legalize abortion, here are some startling numbers:
Since the Supreme Court’s decision in 1973, more than 55 million children have been aborted in the United States. The current estimate for the number of abortions performed every year is 1.2 million, which works out to more than 3,200 every day and one every 26 seconds.
Last year, the National March for Life drew an estimated 650,000 people.
(From lcms.org website, article by Megan K. Mertz, October 25, 2013, in Events, Reporter)
So, this great and immoral tragedy of both the 20th and 21st centuries continues.  It is incomprehensible that a “civilized” society would tolerate such barbaric atrocities and such injustice upon little innocent, unborn babies.  That our Lord Himself, the Son of God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary and took on human flesh, magnifies the sacredness of all human life.  I’m sure if wicked King Herod had known that little Jesus, the King of kings, was growing in Mary’s womb, he would have tried to abort her pregnancy long before his slaughter of the innocents in Bethlehem 2-3 years later.  His wickedness is mirrored in every evil act of abortion that occurs in our world each and every day.  Is it nothing to one’s conscience to take a life–end a life–destroy a life?  For Herod, it was corrupt power and a warped conscience (He was a madman!) that gave him joy and satisfaction to wipe out the little ones.  What does the slaughter of the innocents today say about human hearts and minds?  See how the hearts of people have grown so callous and numb to compassionate care and concern for the helpless babies whose lives are threatened and terminated by abortion.  May God Almighty by His powerful Word and Spirit turn the hearts of all from this wickedness.
Please pray with me.
Lord of all life, 
it troubles the hearts of Your people to know of this evil of abortion that plagues our nation.  So many have no regard for Your gift of life.  It causes us to weep in deep sorrow for these little ones who have been lost in such an unmerciful ending of unwanted life.  We know, O Lord, that there is great suffering for those who have caved in to Satan’s lie and the ways of this broken world, so many suffer from post traumatic stress disorder as a result of their choice to abort Your gift.  For those who acknowledge their sin and come before You in repentance, bring relief to their sin-ladened conscience through Your strong Word of forgiveness, for Jesus’ sake.  Curb the violence against the unborn, O Lord.  Stir people’s hearts to the knowledge of Your holy will and to live with the conviction that You alone give life and You alone are to take it away.  Bless all mothers who now bear children.  Open their eyes to see what a precious gift is that little one in their womb.  Direct them to be compassionate and merciful in the light of Your mercy.  Turn the tide of abortion in the world.  Help us and all people to value life–for You give it by Your grace.  All these things we pray, in Jesus’ precious name.  Amen.
URGENT:
Dear people, would you consider joining our Lutherans For Life Chapter here in Western Connecticut?  We meet every other month for an hour and a half.  We get informed about and discuss life issues.  We study God’s Word.  We pray.  We encourage.  We take action to support local crisis pregnancy centers.  We support national Lutherans For Life.  We support LCMS Life Ministries.  Our next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, April 6th at 2:30PM at the Immanuel Lutheran Church Parish Center.  See me, if you would like to attend.
The Lord Jesus Christ, our LIGHT and our LIFE your day and week!
Pastor Kotila 
 LCMS members are invited to join the 2014 National March for Life, held Wednesday, Jan. 22, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The peaceful march will take place on the 41st anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion.
Members of the Lutherans For Life delegation, wearing matching blue-and-white headbands and scarves, carry their banner high as they pass the U.S. Supreme Court building during the 2007 “March for Life” in Washington, D.C. (LCMS Communications/Paula Schlueter Ross)
Since the Supreme Court’s decision in 1973, more than 55 million children have been aborted in the United States. The current estimate for the number of abortions performed every year is 1.2 million, which works out to more than 3,200 every day and one every 26 seconds.
life-march-IN
Members of the Lutherans For Life delegation, wearing matching blue-and-white headbands and scarves, carry their banner high as they pass the U.S. Supreme Court building during the 2007 “March for Life” in Washington, D.C. (LCMS Communications/Paula Schlueter Ross)
Since the Supreme Court’s decision in 1973, more than 55 million children have been aborted in the United States. The current estimate for the number of abortions performed every year is 1.2 million, which works out to more than 3,200 every day and one every 26 seconds.