God loves Life!
NALC’s annual Life Conference (Thursday, January 23) and the annual March For Life (Friday, January 24)
Psalm 139:13-18
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
God Loves Life! The psalmist tells us about the intimate way God has formed each and every one of us! And because God loves life, we are called to cherish and defend it. Lutherans have attended the March for Life in Washington, DC since it began in 1974. In 1998, Lutherans for Life started an organized presence at the march, beginning with a communion worship service at a Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in nearby Springfield, VA.
Again this year, NALC Life Ministries has planned a life-filled two days to celebrate God’s precious gift of life. It will all begin on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1100 Philadelphia Rd, Joppa, MD 21085, where the NALC will hold its fourth annual Life Conference. Here is the agenda…
Life Conference Agenda – Thursday Jan. 23, 2020
12:00 pm – Free Lunch (While not required, head count appreciated… to rebeckaandrae@yahoo.com)
1:00 pm- Welcome – Rebecka Andrae
Opening Devotions – The Rev. Christopher Porter, Life Conference Chaplain
1:20 pm – Dr. Sheila Page
“Pain Perception in the Developing Human”
Q & A
2:05 pm – Rev. Leslie Haines executive director for Lutheran Military Veterans and Families Ministries, Inc.
“How Suicide Threatens Our Veterans”
Q & A
2:50 pm – BREAK
3:10 pm – Speaker TBA
Q & A
4:15 pm – Divine Service
The Rev. Dr. David Wendel, Assistant to the Bishop for Ministry and Ecumenism,
presiding;
The Rev. Christopher Porter, conference chaplain
5:15 pm – Conference Concludes
On the following day, Friday, Jan. 24, is the March for Life in Washington, DC.
March for Life Tentative Agenda – Friday Jan. 24, 2020
8:30 a.m. – National Memorial Service for the Preborn and their Mothers and Fathers at DAR Constitution Hall
1776 D St., NW (18th and D St) Washington, DC 20006.
All clergy are invited to vest and process at the service.
Participating clergy must arrive by 8:00 a.m.; the color is white.
10:30 a.m. – Walk towards 12th St & Madison Dr NW Washington, DC 20004 (between the museums of
American History and Natural History) where we will meet with other Lutherans. Look for the
corner with the grassy area and all the Lutheran banners such as NALC, Lutheran For Life, LCMS.
(We will begin to congregate on the corner of 12th & Madison around 11 a.m.)
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Musical opening
12:00 p.m. – Rally Program
1:00 p.m. – March up Constitution Avenue to Supreme Court and Capitol Building
3:30 p.m. – March for Life concludes
By marching, we follow a proud tradition of Lutheran pro-life awareness started by the reformer Dr. Martin Luther in the 16th Century. He wrote, ““He [God] is not hostile to children, as we are. But God emphasizes His word to such an extent that He sometimes gives offspring even to those who do not desire it, yes even hate it . . . How great, therefore, the wickedness of human nature is! How many …… kill and expel tender fetuses, although procreation is the work of God.” NALC Life Ministries continues the strong pro-life passion of its denominational founder. Its mission today is to equip Lutherans to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life across the life span…from conception to our final breath here on earth. The March for Life is a way of publicly proclaiming that message to assure life for those who are most vulnerable. And the march is also about sharing of the gospel of Jesus’ forgiveness to all, including those men and women who have lost hope through their involvement in an abortion.
Registration is not required for the NALC LIFE CONFERENCE. However, a headcount is especially appreciated for those planning to join us for our complimentary lunch at noon. To register for lunch and for additional conference details, please contact Rebecka Andrae, chairperson of the NALC Life Ministries Team, by calling/texting 724.787.7780 or emailing rebeckaandrae@yahoo.com.
