Life Sunday may be observed in your congregation on January 24, 2021. Again this year Lutherans For Life has set a theme and produced resources. The theme chosen is “From Indivisible to Indispensable!” based 1 Corinthians 12:22: “On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” Visit https://lutheransforlife.org/store-life-sunday-2021/ for ideas, bulletin inserts, and other materials.
There will be a Synod presence at the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 29. Plans are also underway for an opening Divine Service at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alexandria, VA, at 9 a.m. For details and updates check the Synod’s life ministry page, the Reporter, and Immanuel’s website.
The biennial LCMS Life Conference will not be held in conjunction with the Life March. It is planned for later in the year of 2021. For this conference there will be an online participation option. Details will be published when they are available.
There is a Lutherans For Life youth (Y4Life) conference with the Life March in Washington, D.C., Jan. 28-30. It is open to all high school and college students. If interested, Contact Y4Life today as registration is supposed to close by Jan. 1. Those who are unable to attend may visit https://y4life.org/event/life-week-2021-invisible-to-indispensable/ to be part of an entire Life Week of Y4Life online events.
If you haven’t received the new document Worship Resources for Life Ministry, please download it at the Synod’s life ministry page under the heading “Worship Resources.” This tool provides an Introduction, a commentary on Lament and the Litany, appropriate Psalms for lament and praise, Scripture Passages that extol life, LSB Hymn recommendations for the topic of God’s gift of life, Prayers for all life issues, and a couple of reprinted Sermons on life. The Prayers are very helpful, especially for those pastors who stick with the lectionary and do not alter their preaching on Life Sunday. The Prayer of the Church is a great opportunity to add a petition for the Lord to help his Church proclaim the living God, the sanctity of human life, and the full life in Christ. The following is the comprehensive prayer for life included in Worship Resources for Life Ministry:
O God, Creator of life, You knit us together in the wombs of our mothers and You desire us to have life. So also Your only begotten Son took on our flesh in the womb of His mother and entered this world as all children of men do — except without sin — so that He might be one with us and make us Your children. Look in mercy and love upon all the precious lives of children yet unborn. Guard them and give them growth, that they might come to the saving water of Holy Baptism and a saving knowledge of Your Son. Protect and guide all pregnant mothers, that they would treasure the new life they are given to bear and not be dismayed by fear of pain or cost. Strengthen all fathers, that they would protect and provide for both mother and child so that all would be cared for in this world. Encourage young people to get married, and encourage husbands and wives to desire the gift of children, that they might be fruitful and multiply according to Your gracious will. Finally, visit with Your grace those who have committed awful sin by destroying life in the womb. Bring them to repentance, but do not let them sink into despair. Forgive and heal their souls, that they would trust in the Child of Mary who was killed for their sin and rose again to give everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The Lord bless us all in this New Year as we preach, teach, and grow in the name of Jesus our life-giving Savior!
Rev. Philip Young
Mid-South District Life Coordinator
