Persevere As We Head Down the Home Stretch!

In this Issue:

• Daylight Savings Time Ends THISSunday, Nov. 3rd
• Send me your stories of turnaways, saves, hardships during 40 Days for Life
• Open Hours this last week
• 365 for Life Begins Monday, Nov. 4th
• Reminder: Closing Event for 40 Days for Life on Tuesday, Nov. 5th
• Egg-throwing Incident last Monday night

Daylight Savings Time Ends - "Fall Back"

Do NOT forget to change your clocks BEFORE you go to bed on Saturday night!  

At 2:00am we "fall back" one hour to Central Standard Time.  This is especially important for those who are signed up for prayer hours in the wee hours of Sunday morning!  Please make a special note of this so that we have all hours covered and others are not stranded to cover your hour(s).

Stories to Tell?

If you have experiences to share during this fall campaign of babies saved, turnaways from Planned Parenthood, and even the "not-so-good" elements of your prayer hours, please send them in reply to this email.  Now that our vigil is winding down in just a few days, it would be a good time to reflect on the good, the bad, and the ugly....

Open Hours This Last Week

Thursday, 10/31/13:  100% filled! Hallelujah!

Friday, 11/1/13:  100% filled!  Praise God!

Saturday, 11/2/13:  2 needed at 2:00, 3:00, 10:00, and 11:00am, 4:00, 5:00, 8:00, and 9:00pm;  1 needed at 1:00, 6:00, and 9:00am, 6:00, and7:00pm.  21 OPEN HOURS!!!  Only 56% filled!!!  YIKES!!

Sunday, 11/3/13: 1 needed at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00,6:00, and 7:00am

Saturday is All Soul's Day.  Can you spend an hour of your time in prayer on the sidewalk for the little souls who have died there?  What better day than this could you choose and what better way to spend an hour or so?

Go to www.vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview to sign up for hours or email info@vigilforlife.org.

Reminders:

• 40 Days for Life ends this Sunday, Nov. 3rd at 6:00pm
• 365 for Life schedule begins onMonday, Nov. 4th at 9:00am.  We will continue our vigil out on the sidewalk throughout the year and encourage your participation.  Abortion and contraception do not stop when this campaign ends!  We need you to keep a faithful vigilance with us as we work to end this holocaust!  The schedule is as follows: 
  • Mondays, 9 - 11am
  • Tuesdays, 9am - 5pm
  • Wednesdays, 8am - 6pm
  • Thursdays, 1pm - 6pm
  • Fridays, 1pm - 3pm
• Closing Event for 40 Days for Life,Tuesday, Nov. 5th
  • 6:30pm - Prayer at Vigil Site(Planned Parenthood, 3706 Orin Road, Madison, WI) with Father Zuhlsdorf, better known as "Fr. Z".  The Knights of Columbus Honor Guard will also stand guard during the vigil.
  • 7:15pm - Refreshments and Fellowship at St. Peter's Parish(5001 N. Sherman Avenue, Madison, WI 53704)  Join us as we conclude another blessed and successful vigil for life!

Go to www.vigilforlife.org to see and print out the flyer for the Closing Event.  All are welcome!

Egg-Throwing Incident

Last Monday night some hecklers drove by those praying out at Planned Parenthood, at first yelling derogatory comments and then circling around the block and throwing eggs.  Fortunately, they missed our people but, unfortunately, hit another man's car.  The police were called and information on the egg-throwing car was relayed to the authorities.  If you have incidents such as this occur during your prayer hour(s), you have every reason to call the police since you have a right to be out there.  The police have been very good at responding; be sure you are always following the Rules of the Road and the oaths you took in signing the Statement of Peace (both are in the vigil bag).  Be polite but know your rights.  Pray for the angry, hurting hecklers!

Closing Vigil with Fr. Z on Tuesday, Nov. 5!

You may know him from his blog (formerly "What does the prayer really say?"). Fr. John Zuhlsdorf from "Fr. Z's Blog" will lead us in prayer for our closing vigil in front of Planned Parenthood. Then, we will head to St. Peter's Church (5001 N. Sherman Avenue Madison, WI 53704) for refreshments and fellowship. Join us to finish the campaign strong, whether you participated or want to find out more!

Bad News....Good News!

Dear Prayer Warriors,

We are nearing the end of our 40 Days for Life campaign with only one more week to go.  Temperatures are getting colder and it gets dark earlier but we must keep ourselves committed to finishing strong.  You have done a fantastic job in responding to calls from vigil captains and parish liaisons!  Keep up the good work!  Spiritual warfare may come with a vengeance now, tempting us to sit back and let someone else carry the load.  Excuses to not sign up for hours may cloud your perspective; don't allow the devil to impact our successful vigil so that we fail in our commitment to innocent preborn babies, mothers, AND our young people!  Especially after what happened out there this past week.....

Prayer volunteers reported that an adult brought two young girls, who appeared to not even be 16 years of age, to Planned Parenthood for reasons unknown.  When they addressed the age issue with the adult, she told them to mind their own business, that "they weren't her kids".  Eventually they came out, laughing and joking as they got into her car.  They then stopped at the driveway, dropped a condom at the feet of the prayer warriors, and drove off, laughing even more.

In the Vigil Bag is a card from American Life League: "Prayer at the Planned Parenthood Facility."  Please use this whenever you are out there praying; it is a powerful prayer which calls upon the intercession of Our Blessed Mother asking her Son to close Planned Parenthood, to have mercy on the preborn babies whose lives end there or due to products sold there.  It continues...."We implore you....to protect teenagers who are lured to this facility and led into lives of sin.  Remove this place of evil from their lives and grant them the graces to reject Satan and to live lives of purity and chastity."

We cannot abandon or ignore kids who think that Planned Parenthood has the model for their behavior, that they have the answers and the solutions to their bad choices - contraception and abortion.

Sign up for hours this week - be there for these kids too!

Open Hours This Week

Monday, 10/28/13:  100% filled!  Praise God!

Tuesday, 10/29/13:  1 needed at 5:00pm

Wednesday, 10/30/13: 1 needed at 8:00am,8:00pm, and 9:00pm

Thursday, 10/31/13:  2 needed at 3:00pm,6:00pm, and 7:00pm; 1 needed at 8:00am,9:00am, and 11:00pm - 9 Hours Open!!!

Friday, 11/1/13:  2 needed at 1:00am and 8:00am; 1 needed at midnight, 6:00am, noon,8:00pm, and 11:00pm - 9 Hours Open!!!

NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS - Another turnaway that same day! A young woman chose to go to the Women's Care Center after speaking with prayer volunteers!Pray for her and all others who leave Planned Parenthood, that they recognize they are leaving a culture of death and opting for life, the real choice.

Go to www.vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview to sign up for hours or email info@vigilforlife.org.

Closing Event for 40 Days for Life - Mark Your Calendar!

Be sure to join us on Tuesday evening, Nov. 5, 2013 for prayer and fellowship.  We will meet at the Planned Parenthood Sidewalk (3706 Orin Road - Madison, WI) at6:30pm for a prayer vigil with Father John Zuhlsdorf, or "Fr. Z", as he is affectionately known.  The Knights of Columbus Honor Guard will be present as well.  At 7:15pm, all are encouraged to continue on to St. Peter's Parish (5001 N. Sherman Avenue - Madison, WI 53704) for refreshments and fellowship.  Please join us and share your stories of the campaign!

God bless you!

"Let us never grow weary in doing what is right."  Gal 6:9

The Battle Continues!

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. _{Galatians 6:2}

In this issue:

·         Open Hours to Fill

·         Medjugorje Rosary Found

·         March for Life Pilgrimage to DC   

Open Hours to Fill

This has been an amazing 40 Days as prayer warriors continue to put hours in on the sidewalk, keeping the 24/7 vigil going. We’re well over half-way done with the 40 Days with only a week and a half to go. If you haven’t been able to get out and pray during this vigil but wanted to, now is your chance!

·         Thursday – 100% filled!  Hallelujah! 

·         Friday - 2 needed at 5 am; 1 needed at 4 am.

·         Saturday – 2 needed at 10 am; 1 needed at 9 am, 4 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm and 8 pm.

·         Sunday - 1 needed at 3 am, 4 am, 5 am, 6 am, and 7 am.

Medjugorje Rosary Found

On Tuesday this week a Medjugorje rosary was found at PP. If you think it might be yours, please send an email toinfo@vigilforlife.org, or call Mary Markielewski at 608-850-3245 and we’ll work to get it back to you. 

Pro-Life Wisconsin March for Life Pilgrimage to DC 2014

Looking ahead, I’m excited to pass along the following announcement for the 2014 March for Life Pilgrimage, from Pro-Life Wisconsin State Director Peggy Hamill:

Please join Pro-Life Wisconsin from January 19th - 23rdas we travel by motor coach to Washington DC for the annual March for Life. This is a perfect pro-life opportunity for families and adult individuals to join over 500,000 others from across the US and beyond as we call for the recognition in law of the personhood of all preborn babies at all stages of existence, without exception.

For more details and to request a registration form, cal l262-796-1111 or visit www.ProLifeWisconsin.org. Space is limited and full payment is required to hold a spot.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. _{Colossians 4:2}

They Don't Know!

 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. _{2 Timothy 1:6-7}

In this issue:

·         They Don’t Know!

·         Open Hours to Fill  

They Don’t Know!

Today’s 40 Days for Life email had an interesting message passed along by Isabel, a prayer warrior in Birmingham, England. Isabel is participating in a 40 Days Vigil outside of the Marie Stopes abortion clinic.

In case you haven’t read it, to summarize, a couple was sent (by their doctor) to Marie Stopes, after their doctor learned they were pregnant. The mother had health concerns and a previous child had been born premature and was autistic. Many people simply don’t know that Marie Stopes is an abortion facility. While the mother was inside the father came out and started chatting with prayer warriors, who told him what went on inside that facility - and that’s when he discovered their doctor had sent them to an abortionist!

The father was shocked; abortion was against their faith and they had not asked their doctor for that.

When the mother came out they were given real options by the prayer warriors; the couple went away “smiling, waving and saying thank-you”.

It is amazing how abortion is “hidden” in our culture. Unborn babies lose their lives, daily, and legally, in our backyards. Not too long ago, while out praying at Orin Road we talked to a woman who pulled into the parking lot looking for directions – she started talking to us and found out we were praying to end the abortions that were happening right here. She didn’t know abortions occurred at the Orin Road location and was shocked by the discovery; she told us she didn’t believe in abortion either and encouraged us to “keep praying!”

People only worry about the things they can see. A 2-year-old was out at the vigil last week in the late evening and the temperature had dropped down to the low 50’s/upper 40’s. A police car stopped and a nice policeman got out, saying he had been called because someone reported a child being out on the sidewalk and the caller was worried about the child being warm enough. The policeman smiled and said he wasn’t worried, as the little boy was trotting down the sidewalk wearing a winter coat, snow pants and boots! (Incidentally, the coat was a Lands End winter coat guaranteed to keep a kid warm in temperatures reaching -5 degrees F).

The toddler had been refusing to wear his hat, which is probably why the call was made, but the refusal was most likely because he was much too hot!

The point of this story is that people only get concerned about things they can see. This is why your presence on the sidewalk is so IMPORTANT! There is a huge gap in awareness of what is actually going on inside the walls of 3706 Orin Road.

You can help change that. You are helping every time you head out to pray on the sidewalk.

Open Hours to Fill

Prayer Warriors are doing a great job keeping the calendar filled, but there are a few openings in the next few days. Can you make it out to help raise awareness of the lives being lost in this facility, during any of these open hours?

·         Monday – 100% filled! Praise God! 

·         Tuesday - 1 needed at 8 am, and 11 pm

·         Wednesday - 2 needed at 12 am (midnight), 1 needed at 1 am, 8 pm and 9 pm

·         Thursday - 2 needed at 8 am, 1 needed at 6 am and 11 pm

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. ¹⁵For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. _{2 Corinthians 2:14-15}

Mid-Point Vigil and Open Hours

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. _{1 Corinthians 9:24}

In this issue:

·         Mid-Point Vigil  Thursday

·         Open Hours to Fill  

Mid-Point Vigil starts at 5:30 pm Thursday

All are invited to a special prayer vigil with Monsignor James Bartylla, Vicar General of the Diocese of Madison, to mark the mid-point of Madison’s life-saving 40 Days for Life campaign on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. 

The location is the sidewalk in front of the east side Planned Parenthood abortion center (3706 Orin Road Madison, WI 53704). Monsignor Bartylla will offer a Scripture reading, a reflection and prayers to encourage us for the second part of the campaign. 40 Days for Life is an internationally-coordinated campaign of prayer, fasting and peaceful witness to end abortion. 

For more information, visit vigilforlife.org or contact info@vigilforlife.org.

Open Hours to Fill

It is absolutely amazing to watch Prayer Warriors continue to answer the call and step up to fill open hours! Thursdayis filled, but the few days after still need some help (especially Saturday).

Do you have an hour to come out and intercede for the unborn babies and their mothers?

·         Thursday – 100% filled! Praise God! 

·         Friday - 1 needed at 5 pm, and 8 pm

·         Saturday - 2 needed at 5 pm, 6 pm, and 8 pm. 1 needed at 7 pm and 9 pm

·         Sunday - 1 needed at 1 am, 2 am and 3 am

Stop out Thursday evening to get re-energized to complete the Vigil!  

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. _{1 Corinthians 9:25}

Mid-Point Update

 

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. _{1 Corinthians 15:57}

In this issue:

·         Update on Man Harassing Prayer Warriors

·         Open Hours to Fill  

·         It’s almost here! Mid-Point Vigil this Thursday

·         Project Babies

Notice about Man Harassing Prayer Warriors

Earlier this week, we shared a report of a hostile man harassing prayer volunteers at our Madison 40 Days for Life vigil site. This man has since pretended that he was going to strike a prayer warrior on the sidewalk. Nobody has been harmed, but his behavior was threatening enough that the police arrested him. The latest news we have on him is that he is in jail, and the terms of his bond for release are pending.

With an excellent track record since 2007, we remain confident that it is safe to participate in the vigil. (Even this situation did not involve actual violence.) Still, it remains paramount to use common sense at the vigil site if you feel threatened or harassed or if you see a man matching this description: about 5’7”, broad shoulders but thin, wearing glasses, and acting very jittery.

·         Call 911. Better to be too cautious than not cautious enough.

·         Go to your car and/or leave the scene if necessary. 

·         Don't hesitate to bring out a camera phone or camera in the event that you are uncomfortable or suspicious.

Your safety remains our number one priority so we err on the side of caution. We continue to have a minimum of two participants out on the sidewalk at all times.

Thank you for making this campaign the most successful to date that we've had in Madison. Please don't hesitate to contact Mary Markielewski, 608-516-1335 with any questions or concerns.

Open Hours to Fill

We are still going strong as we approach our half-way point of this Vigil! Prayer Warriors continue to faithfully step up and make offerings and sacrifices of their time and prayers.

There are a few open hours in the next few days, though. Can you help keep the Vigil going with an unbroken chain of prayer warriors on the sidewalk by taking one of these open hours?

·         Monday – 100% filled! Praise God! 

·         Tuesday - 1 needed at 12 am (midnight), 6 pm,  and 11 pm

·         Wednesday - 2 needed at 8 am and 9 am

It’s almost here! Mid-Point Vigil this Thursday

All are invited to a special prayer vigil with Monsignor James Bartylla, Vicar General of the Diocese of Madison, to mark the mid-point of Madison’s life-saving 40 Days for Life campaign on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. 

The location is the sidewalk in front of the east side Planned Parenthood abortion center (3706 Orin Road Madison, WI 53704). Monsignor Bartylla will offer a Scripture reading, a reflection and prayers to encourage us for the second part of the campaign. 40 Days for Life is an internationally-coordinated campaign of prayer, fasting and peaceful witness to end abortion. 

For more information, visit vigilforlife.org or contact Bette Weisshaar at info@vigilforlife.org.

Project Babies

Some of you may have seen Channel 3’s Community Baby Shower update on TV Sunday night. Here’s a link to the video for those of you who want to see it: http://video.channel3000.com/watch.php?id=53940

One of our Prayer Warriors saw it and sent us the following comment – I’m passing it along because it’s so powerful to remember what we do often has an unseen impact:  “The moms (none of whom were there with their partners/baby's father) were so grateful and their growing, smiling babies were testimonies of love and God's compassion.  As I listened and watched, I thought, there's more babies in Madison because of the vigiling and praying in Madison!  How many of those young women had driven by the mill and avoided it because people were there praying, or how many sought the pregnancy care center because an obedient prayer warrior was there directing them across the street?”

…because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. _{Ephesians 6:8}

Answered Prayer and Important Announcements

Saved baby update: God continues to answer prayers!

You may recall prayers being requested for a 14-year-old abortion-minded mother last winter/spring.  We’ve been told that her baby was safely delivered about a week ago and is now in the home of her adoptive parents in the Milwaukee area. What joy this little baby is to her parents, and to her young birth mother, who had the courage to carry her baby to term and then give the baby up. Your prayers were answered - thank you for interceding!

Notice about Man Harassing Prayer Warriors

We recently learned that a man has been stopping by the vigil to harass prayer warriors. While our vigil participants have been safe since the campaign launched here in Madison in 2007, this provides a good opportunity to remind all of you that if you feel threatened, please take whatever steps you need to take (including going to your car and/or leaving the vigil site) and calling 911. Even if you feel you can "take" verbal abuse, please contact the police to help ensure that law enforcement prevents this (or any other troublemaker) from ruining the 40 Days for Life experience of other participants. Nobody has the right to harass you while you stand vigil. 

Open Hours to Fill

The 40 Days Vigil has been very successful so far, both in saved babies, and in keeping a continual string of Prayer Warriors on the sidewalk 24/7. Let's keep going! If you haven't been out to pray yet this week, can you help with any of the open hours below?

Men, thank you for taking the night hours but please continue to step up! We have night hours in the next few days where women are signed up alone!

·         Thursday - 1 needed at 2 am 

·         Friday - 1 needed at 1 am, 2 needed at 9 am

·         Saturday - 1 needed at 2 am, 3 am, noon, 6 pm,7 pm, 8 pm and 9 pm; 2 needed at 5 pm (9 open hours - Only 77% filled!)  

·         Sunday - 1 needed at 1 am, 2 am, 3 am and 8 am

Mid-Point Vigil Announcement

40 Days for Life Mid-Point Vigil with Msgr. James Bartylla – Thursday, October 17 at 5:30 p.m.

All are invited to a special prayer vigil with Monsignor James Bartylla, Vicar General of the Diocese of Madison, to mark the mid-point of Madison’s life-saving 40 Days for Life campaign on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. 

The location is the sidewalk in front of the east side Planned Parenthood abortion center (3706 Orin Road Madison, WI 53704). Monsignor Bartylla will offer a Scripture reading, a reflection and prayers to encourage us for the second part of the campaign. 40 Days for Life is an internationally-coordinated campaign of prayer, fasting and peaceful witness to end abortion. For more information, visit vigilforlife.org or email info@vigilforlife.org.

A closing thought… May God bless all those who continue to make sacrifices to help this Vigil be successful and help mothers choose life for their unborn babies. If Isaiah were here we could say yes, we have known, and yes, we have heard; we believe and keep praying - to the inexhaustible, everlasting Creator of all life! Isaiah 40:28-29 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. ²⁹ He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. ³¹ ...those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.