Dear Prayer Warriors (Especially You, Men!),

Today’s Gospel is a Call To Action – Lives are at stake and we are ALL obliged, duty-bound, to respond to this call….

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest…..I am sending you like lambs among wolves.” Luke 10:1-12

Your Help Is Needed Today to Sustain the Vigil!

Before you begin your weekend, we need you to consider if you are able to help with 40 Days for Life these next few days. If you haven’t participated so far, we need you NOW. If you are gifted with extra time to spend at the foot of the Cross outside the abortion mill, we need you NOW. Please go to www.vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview to register or log in to sign up if you are already on our calendar list. You can also call Bette Weisshaar at 608-358-5963 to schedule hours.

Open Hours to Fill: Men Needed!!

Friday, 10/4/13 – 1 needed at 1:00am and 8:00am
Saturday, 10/5/13 – 1 needed at 2:00am, 3:00am, 1:00pm, 5:00pm, and 6:00pm
Sunday, 10/6/13 – 2 needed at 2:00am; 1 needed at midnight, 2:00am, 3:00am, and 8:00am
Monday, 10/7/13 – 9 hours to fill
Please help us out right away. Answer the call when our shift captain volunteers ask for your help this weekend or early next week.

Let us pray….

Lord, we ask for the strength, courage, wisdom, determination and stamina to carry out this mission according to Your will. Guide us, we pray, as we go forth and proclaim Your truth, always doing so with a spirit of love and compassion, as was demonstrated to us through the work of Your Son, Jesus Christ. In His name we pray, amen.

Dear Prayer Warriors,

A couple leaving Planned Parenthood today stopped at the driveway to tell the sidewalk counselor that they are going to keep their baby.

We don’t know if they were there for a pregnancy test or a first appointment heading for an abortion but the final answer that they are choosing life is “prayers answered”! That’s why we’re out there – to pray for a change of heart, for God’s graces to show them a way other than abortion. Our prayers on the sidewalk are offered for parents, that they will choose life for their babies…and that’s exactly what happened today! Praise God!

Let’s join this sidewalk counselor in prayer as this couple moves forward. “Pray for a healthy and safe pregnancy for both the Mom and Dad and their baby. Pray that they will have all the support they need from each other and their families. Pray that they will be brought closer to Christ through this experience.”

Thanks be to God….

Bette

In This Issue:

Kick-Off Rally Photos
Open Hours – Fathers, Grandfathers: Can You Help?
Prayers for Conversion and Closure of Planned Parenthood
Statement of Peace Note
Announcements
Kick-Off Rally and Photos
Last Monday evening, Sept. 23rd, we held our fall 40 Days for Life Kick-Off rally and potluck dinner at the beautiful Schoenstatt Heights facility. We extend our appreciation to the Schoenstatt Sisters who allowed us to use their dining hall and kitchen for our event, to our wonderful speakers, Julaine Appling and Steve Karlen, and our Events Team who did a great job in planning the evening. The 70 or so in attendance were treated to inspirational stories, motivating them in preparation for the start of the campaign on Wednesday, Sept. 25th. You can see photos of that evening by going to our website, www.vigilforlife.org.

Open Hours – “Could You Not Watch One Hour With Me?”

Even though we had a good head start on filling the daytime and nighttime vigil hours before the campaign began, there are still many openings requiring many phone calls.

Please take a look at the calendar! See if you can sacrifice an hour or more of your time this week and the remaining days of the vigil.

Recall today’s gospel concerning the suffering Lazarus and the rich man’s disregard of his condition. In his denial of Lazarus’ need, he also denies his personal dignity. Are we responding to the voiceless, innocent babies in this same way when, through indifference and selfishness with our time, we ignore God’s call to prayer and witness? As Father John Donahue, S.J. writes: “The rich man is condemned not because he is rich but because he never even saw Lazarus at his gate; the first time he sees him is from Hades…”

Sign up for hours….”For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Monday, 9/30/13: 100% filled! Praise God!

Tuesday, 10/1/13: 1 needed at 7:00am, 8:00am, and 4:00pm Only 3 Hours to Fill!

Wednesday, 10/2/13: 1 needed at midnight Only 1 Man needed here!

Thursday, 10/3/13: 2 needed at 6:00pm; 1 needed at 8:00am, 9:00am, 3:00pm, and 11:00pm 6 Hours to Fill!

Friday, 10/4/13: 2 needed at 9:00pm; 1 needed at midnight, 1:00am, 6:00am, 8:00am, 9:00am, 11:00am, and noon 9 Hours Open!

Ways to Help:

The hours where 2 are needed….Guys – call a friend and spend an hour or more in prayer together. Especially in the late night hours you will find this to be a peaceful and rewarding time without distraction or interruption.
Physically unable to come out to Planned Parenthood? Pray from home for the conversion of all who work there, the conversion of all who enter there, and the closure of that facility.
Sign up for hours on your own even if you’re already praying with your parish….this will help tremendously!
Special Note: Statement of Peace

If you signed a Statement of Peace in 2012, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SIGN ANOTHER ONE THIS YEAR! The document you signed last year will last indefinitely; only new participants or those who did not complete one last year should fill it out. Be sure to complete ALL requested information in order to make it valid.

Announcements:

Lights For Life – Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Sun Prairie

Please join us the evening of October 7th at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Sun Prairie, for a candlelight prayer service to pray for the unborn and sanctity of God’s most precious Gift…. Life. This is a time to dedicate and recommit ourselves to defending the unborn, terminally ill, elderly, disabled and all those threatened by the culture of death. It is also a most beautiful way to support those who have lost a child through miscarriage and to pray for those who seek to conceive or adopt.. Rosary and prayer service will begin at 7pm.
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat: Oct. 4 – 6, 2013
Durward’s Glen Retreat Center, near Baraboo, WI. If you know of someone needing healing from abortion, please contact Mary Mead for more information about this retreat at the listings below.

Contacts
Mary Mead 608-221-9593 meadmt@sbcglobal.net
Mary Mead 608-821-3177 rachel@straphael.org
God bless you,

Bette Weisshaar

Here are some photos from the September 23rd kick-off rally.

Day of Preparation / September 24:

For God’s blessing upon all participating in the fall 2013 40 Days for Life campaign.

Scripture:

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.— 2 Chronicles 7:14

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we have turned our backs on you and your principles in your Word. We have allowed man to usurp Your role as God over life and the number of our days. But we come to you in brokenness and repentance over our sin. We cry out for Your mercy and ask you to remove the scourge of abortion from our land. Use us as your vessels, Lord, to bring the light of Your Truth to our nation once again. Because of Christ we pray, amen.

40 Days for Life Vigil Openings This Week – Please Sign Up for Hours TODAY!

We begin tomorrow and, Praise God, Wednesday and Thursday hours are filled! Can you help fill the remaining hours this week?

Friday, 9/27/13: 2 needed at midnight, 1:00am, 6:00am, and 8:00am; 1 needed at 7:00am, 9:00am, noon, 1:00pm, 6:00pm, and 11:00pm 75% filled!

Saturday, 9/28/13: 21 hours to fill!! Only 54% filled!

Sunday, 9/29/13: 2 needed at midnight, 1:00am, and 9:00am; 1 needed at 2:00am, 3:00am, and 9:00pm 81% filled!

Help us complete our first week with a bang. Go to www.vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview to commit to one of these hours or a recurrent hour. You can also call Bette at 608-358-5963 or email at info@vigilforlife.org.

PRAY, HOPE, AND DON’T WORRY! We have the Truth on our side. Come out, and let Him use you as His vessel….

God bless you,

Bette Weisshaar

Let us prepare ourselves in prayer for the start of 40 Days for Life (in 2 days), asking for the Holy Spirit to inspire and strengthen us!

Let us pray,

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Bend the stubborn heart and will, melt the frozen warm the chill. Guide the steps that go astray!

Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen.

Reminder – Kick-off for 40 Days for Life Tonight!

Bring a side dish or dessert to pass!

Our 40 Days for Life kick-off event is TONIGHT at 6:30 p.m. at Schoenstatt Heights (5901 Cottage Grove Road, Madison, WI 53718). Our special guests will be Julaine Appling of Wisconsin Family Council and Madison’s own Steve Karlen from the 40 Days for Life National Team – what a blessing to have them join us! The evening will include food and fellowship followed by presentations from Julaine and Steve. We will provide the main entree and beverages, but we ask that folks bring a side dish or dessert to pass. Please plan on attending with your family and friends!

40 Days for Life Vigil Hours – Have You Signed Up?

Have you signed up for your vigil hours yet? We encourage you to sign up right away at www.vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview/ or by calling Bette at 608-358-5963 or email at info@vigilforlife.org.

Remember our goal – To have all hours of the 40 day vigil filled before the campaign starts. We are getting there; our first day is 100% filled! Can you go to the calendar or call to sign up? Our vigil captains will start to make calls soon to fill the remaining hours. Please say yes when they call and help make our campaign a success!

365 for Life Open Hours – Tuesday Only!

We only have one more day to fill before 40 Days for Life starts on Wednesday. Monday hours are filled; can you help fill the remaining hours?

Tuesday, 9/24/13: 1 needed at 10:00am and 2:00pm; 2 needed at 3:00, and 4:00pm Only 63% filled!

Go to www.vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview/ to sign up or call Bette at 608-358-5963 or email at info@vigilforlife.org.

Special Note: We now have a photo of Baby Donovan, whose birth story was told in last week’s email, on the Vigil for Life website. Be sure to go to www.vigilforlife.org and see this beautiful child whose life was saved through the mercy of God and your prayers!

Announcements:

WOMEN’S CARE CENTER INVITATION – Reminder
With gratitude and joy, the staff and volunteers of the Women’s Care Center of Madison graciously invite you to a special evening of music, fellowship, and prayer with featured artist, Michael John Poirier. The event will take place on Friday, September 27th, from 6:30-8:00 P.M. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 5001 N. Sherman Ave., Madison. Refreshments will follow. Please join us. All are welcome. Donations will be accepted to support the Poirier Family’s Holy Family Apostolate.
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat: Oct. 4 – 6, 2013
Durward’s Glen Retreat Center, near Baraboo, WI. If you know of someone needing healing from abortion, please contact Mary Mead for more information about this retreat at the listings below.

Contacts
Mary Mead 608-221-9593 meadmt@sbcglobal.net
Mary Mead 608-821-3177 rachel@straphael.org
Rosary Rally Every Thursday! Come and pray with Fr. Rick Heilman and fellow prayer warriors for life, family, and our religious liberty this Thursday at 7:00pm on the State St. steps of the Capitol.
God bless you,

Bette Weisshaar

Let us prepare ourselves in prayer for the start of 40 Days for Life (in 3 days!), asking for the Holy Spirit to inspire and strengthen us!

Let us pray,

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Heal our wounds–our strength renews; On our dryness pour Thy dew, Wash the stains of guilt away.

Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Thy commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long.

Below are the Rules of the Road for 40 Days for Life. There will be a copy of this document in the 40 Days for Life vigil bag on the site at Planned Parenthood. You can also go to www.vigilforlife.org and print out a copy if you wish. Please read this as well as the Field Guide also on the website; both documents will answer many commonly asked questions.

40 Days for Life Fall 2013 Rules of the Road
Vigil Purpose: To pray, fast and peacefully witness to end abortion at Planned Parenthood on Madison’s east side.

Vigil Location: The sidewalks in front of Planned Parenthood (3706 Orin Road, Madison, WI 53704).

Vigll Hours: 24/7 from 8:00 AM Wednesday, September 25, 2013 through 6:00 PM Sunday, November 3, 2013.

Parking: Please note that – especially during daytime hours- parking may be rather limited. Typically people park along either Orin road or the frontage road in the free 2-hour parking zone. To ensure smooth vigil shift transitions, it is often helpful for persons to arrive 5-10 minutes before their scheduled time shift begins. (PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE WOMEN’S CARE CENTER PARKING LOT as noted below on page 2.)

Meeting Place: Participants should gather on the sidewalk near the driveway to Planned Parenthood to meet up with the coming and going prayer warriors. This is a mobile vigil, so moving around and walking while praying is acceptable. You must hand off the Official Vigil Bag and vigil signs by the Planned Parenthood driveway. Stay on the sidewalk or terrace (parkway, easement) and do not block the sidewalk.
DO NOT STEP ONTO PLANNED PARENTHOOD’S PRIVATE PROPERTY!

Statements of Peace: Based on advice from the National 40 days for Life Campaign, all participants are required to sign a hardcopy of the new Statement of Peace, even if you have signed one previously. This is because the content has changed slightly and because, starting Fall 2012, we began collecting and filing these signed hard copies. (The new Statement of Peace will remain “on file” for you for all future Vigil for Life activities in a permanent Madison Vigil for Life file, until you decide to revoke it.) There will be blank sign-able copies of the Statement of Peace in the Vigil Bag. For those with computer access, a PDF copy can be downloaded from vigilforlife.org. This can be printed, signed, and either placed in the vigil bag folder or sent to the address listed on the bottom. (Please Note: You cannot sign this form electronically or submit a scanned signed copy)

Official Vigil Bag: Contains several items and, in case of rain, can be zipped shut –

1) The Vigil Binder – This 3-ring binder contains the daily sign-in pages and several important documents (Field Guide, contact information, phone directory, maps, …) that should answer most people’s questions. Feel free to check it out.

2) Statement of Peace File – This contains both blank copies to sign as well as a folder in which to place newly signed copies.

3) Handouts – There are a limited amount of approved brochures to give out. These are located in the plastic protective “Handouts” file. Both prayer warriors and sidewalk counselors are free to hand these out if they feel comfortable doing so.

4) An Incident Log – While we do not anticipate any problems, a small notebook is available in case anyone feels it necessary to document any events of concern.

5) Misc Supplies – A small number of lightweight supplies can also be found in the vigil bag or vigil binder (extra pens, tissue, flashlights, umbrella, …).

One person per vigil hour should carry the Vigil Bag. Do not set the bag down unattended. Also, please do not add items to the Official Vigil Bag.

Vigil Signs: There are 2 official signs. PLEASE DO NOT BRING OTHER SIGNS. The first sign says “Pray to End Abortion” and identifies us as prayer warriors with the 40 Days for Life campaign. The second sign advertises “The Option Line” which is a national hotline that offers counseling and resources to abortion-minded men and women. This second sign offers help to the men and women who go into Planned Parenthood without us even needing to open our mouths. These official signs may be worn or carried. If you choose not to wear/carry these signs, please put them in your car during your shift and bring them back out for the incoming prayer warriors. To comply with police instructions, we must not set them down unattended on the ground, lean them against a tree, etc.

Signing-In: Scheduled persons should sign their name (not initials) next to their printed name on the daily sign-in sheet. Visitors are also encouraged to sign in on the daily schedule somewhere within the associated time-slot area in which they are present.

Women’s Care Center: PLEASE DO NOT ACCESS THE WCC & DO NOT PARK IN THE WCC PARKING LOT – even though it is located across from Planned Parenthood.

Here’s why: Although the WCC supports the efforts of Vigil for Life, their role and mission are separate and distinct. The primary role of the WCC is to establish a confidential trusting relationship with women in crisis. Out of respect, we MUST keep our distance.

If, at a separate time, you would like to learn more about the good work that the WCC is doing, please call them at (608) 241-8100. PLEASE DO NOT DROP IN UNANNOUNCED.

Restrooms: If you need to use the restroom, there is a PDQ on the corner of Stoughton Road & Anderson St. and a McDonalds on the corner of Stoughton Road & Kinsman Blvd.

Weather: The vigil site weather can range from pleasant to very hot or cold, and is often marked by strong winds and rain, so dress appropriately. Some keep extra clothing in their trunk “just in case.” If you must take cover from the weather, please pray from your car.

Police Information: We do not expect problems. You have a right to hold vigil outside of Planned Parenthood. If you feel like others are preventing you from doing so, or you feel threatened, proceed to your vehicle or other safe area, then take the appropriate next steps…

For emergencies – call 911.
For non-emergency – police number is (608)-245-3652.

Our police contacts during daytime hours are: Lieutenant Carl Strasburg

Captain Cameron McLay
After 8 PM you can call dispatch at (608)-266-4275

If you ever do make police contact, inform 40 Days for Life Director Bette Weisshaar at (608)-358-5963. Remember that there is also an Incident Log in the Official Vigil Bag to record any incidents of concern. As always, obey all law enforcement personnel.

Contact Information: You should call (not email), Bette Weisshaar at (608)-358- 5963 immediately for the following reasons:

1. You will be significantly late for your scheduled vigil shift
2. You cannot make your vigil hour and are unable to arrange for a substitute.

3. If you can’t reach Bette, call Mary Markielewski at (608) 516-1335.

Major DOs and DON’Ts

DO:

• Pray and fast to end abortion
• Try to arrive 5-10 minutes early to your shift to allow for parking
• Sign in on daily schedule sign-in sheet
• Sign a Statement of Peace
• Have someone carry the Vigil Bag during your shift
• Have someone wear/carry the Vigil Signs during your shift
• Dress appropriately for the weather
• Call Bette Weisshaar if significantly late or unable to show for shift.

DON’T:

Trespass on Planned Parenthood property or park in their lot
Access the Women’s Care Center or park in their lot
Set Vigil Bag or Vigil Signs down unattended
Violate the terms outlined in the Statement of Peace

Let us prepare ourselves in prayer for the start of 40 Days for Life (in 4 days!), asking for the Holy Spirit to inspire and strengthen us!

Let us pray,

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

If Thou take Thy grace away, nothing pure in man will stay, All his good is turn’d to ill.

Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries of salvation; and may merit at last to see the eternal light in Thy Light; and in the light of glory to have a clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son. Amen.

Let us prepare ourselves in prayer for the start of 40 Days for Life (in 5 days!), asking for the Holy Spirit to inspire and strengthen us!

Let us pray,

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Light immortal! Light Divine! Visit Thou these hearts of Thine, And our inmost being fill!

Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the Father; show me the nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize their vanity and use them only for Thy glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to Thee, and Thy eternal rewards. Amen.

Let us prepare ourselves in prayer for the start of 40 Days for Life (in 6 days!), asking for the Holy Spirit to inspire and strengthen us!

Let us pray,

Thou in toil art comfort sweet, Pleasant coolness in the heat, solace in the midst of woe.

Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in time of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give me courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome and separated from Thee, my God and greatest Good. Amen.