“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and
we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16).
Last month, thousands of people gathered at Planned Parenthood locations across the United States. Together, they participated in a National Day of Protest, speaking out against the murder of tiny babies still within their mothers’ wombs. It is our hope that the media and the government took notice, and that they will begin a rigorous and honest look at the horrors that occur each day at Planned Parenthood and, one day soon, put an end to abortion altogether.
While many of you may have participated in that event, we also invite all members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to take part in a Day of Remembrance on Sept. 12 — not just at Planned Parenthood locations, but at your churches, outside your schools, in your homes and by the gravesides of children who have been aborted.
Why pray? Why take time to remember? Because our Lord has promised us that He hears and answers prayers! When we pray for the protection of these little children, when we ask Him to send comfort and peace to mothers whose choice to abort their children haunts them, when we tell Him of our desire to care for moms and babies in our midst, and when we beg Him to help us speak for life, He hears.
And He does not let our prayers go unanswered.
What the world — and places like Planned Parenthood — intends for evil, God works for good. And He is still at work even now, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting our sins against us as He made Him who had no sin to be sin for us. We remember and pray because we are forgiven. The outcome is already certain.
Through the wood of the cross, joy has come into the world! Death has been put to death, and Satan’s evil work against the smallest of children will only continue for a time.
That’s why we pray: Because Christ is risen, and not just for us but for all people. That’s what we tell those who stop outside our churches and ask what we’re doing, who yell as we pray outside Planned Parenthood clinics, who are curious about why we care. We pray because as the Church, our “message is a call to be reconciled with God,” as the sainted Lutheran pastor Hermann Sasse reminds us. We “have no other Gospel than the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins. … What [Jesus] alone and no other person brought, and still brings, is … forgiveness.”
The days are indeed busy; your various vocations fill your time, as they should! But pausing to remember the deaths of these babies, to pray for those who are plagued by guilt over the deaths of their children, to come alongside women in crisis pregnancies is worth it because each one of them is of worth to Christ. His forgiveness and His love are worth it! Reminding the world of the One who died and rose for 10-week-old babies even as He died and rose for 10-year-olds and 100-year-olds is worth it.
On Sept. 12, please join us in a Day of Remembrance. Let us together kneel before the Crucified One who yet lives, who is working all things — even death and suffering and hardship — for good. He causes us to pray and — wonder of wonders! — has seen fit to remember us day in and day out, no matter who we are or what we’ve done.
We have provided A Vigil of Repentance in Remembrance of the Victims of Abortion and A Sermon in Memory of the Victims of Abortion for your use should you find them helpful when organizing a prayer vigil at your congregation or school.
Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison
President, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
P.S. While we expect more information regarding Planned Parenthood to be released, we as the Church will simultaneously put forth a concerted effort to share good news that upholds life, telling the stories of our Recognized Service Organizations, congregations and individual members who are working — in big ways and small — to care for the unborn and their mothers. Please visit lcms.org and the LCMS Facebook page routinely to learn more.
Resources
- Download and share Day of Remembrance image — Color | Black and White
- LCMS Video: “It Is Time to End Abortion”
- LCMS Life Ministry
- A Sermon in Memory of the Victims of Abortion
- A Vigil of Repentance in Remembrance of the Victims of Abortion
- National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children on Sept. 12
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As I type this, our LCMS photojournalist is visiting our shelter! We are so grateful for your encouragement and we covet all of your prayers!
Can you correct the links provided for A Vigil of Repentance in Remembrance of the Victims of Abortion and A Sermon in Memory of the Victims of Abortion? I receive the following error when I try to access them. Thanks!
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The Prayer of many availeth much. Thank you Pastor Harrison for taking time to stand for those who cannot, for telling the truth. Some will hear and be forever changed.
National Day of Protest, speaking out against the murder of tiny babies still within their mothers’ wombs.
gravesides of children who have been aborted.??????????? Didnt know there is grave sides for the aborted.
Praying will be done no matter
How might we find out if any local LCMS churches are holding vigils? I would like to attend one in St. Louis.
If your own church is not holding a vigil, we recommend contacting your nearest LCMS church, which you can find on our Congregation Locator at [http://locator.lcms.org/nchurches_frm/church.asp]. Using the zip code field, you’ll find nearby churches with their phone numbers and websites.
I disagree with this “protest”. It is a shame when the church goes ahead and insights protests against women that may have a reason, like rape, in having a procedure done. We are trying to keep the government out of women’s bodies, they church has NO business governing women’s bodies either!
Jan, I too am grieved by those who have been so abused by others through rape and incest. We have much to repent of in our inability to address these issues properly. Yet, who will speak for the bodies of the infants? Our prayers are with victims great and small alike.
I agree with you Jan. I do not believe abortion should be used as birth control. To reduce abortion we must use what God gave us, birth control pills. But I’m afraid this church does not support this either. This issue should have remained between a woman and her doctor. There are medical issues to take into consideration at times. Separation between church and state must not be lost. God gave us founding governmental principles which must ne eroded.
Thank you Pastor Harrison for the encouragement!
We will be having a pro-LIFE prayer hour this coming Saturday, September 12th from 9am – 10am at East Ida Immanuel Lutheran Church, Monroe MI.
Please come as you are and kneel before our Lord Jesus, asking Him to forgive us, to give us peace, and to help us stop abortion. You are welcome to stay the whole hour, or just a few minutes. A prayer suggestion printout will be available in the entrance. Please enter and exit quietly.
Have passed the information for the 12th on to pastors in our area but they are not doing anything in response to this. How do we find a church that is taking part that we can attend?
Pastor Harrison,
Thank you so very very much for encouraging members of LCMS not only to put on the armor but to also take up the sword of our Lord to fight the sin that is ravaging our nation. God Bless you!!!