LCMS Life Ministry

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We pray for the Supreme Court justices, the FDA, and all government officials, that hearts may be turned to value life.

Almighty and everlasting God, You rule all things in heaven and earth. Give Your wisdom to the leaders of this government and nations throughout the world, that they may seek to govern with justice and compassion. As they create policies and legislation, cause them to defend the lives of all people. We pray for judges and court officials, that they may seek to do what is right in Your eyes and that all their decisions would be founded in justice and truth; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Visit https://lcmslife.org/created-male-and-female/ and create an account to access this and other resources in the Created Male and Female series.

Visit https://thelc.ms/4bLc3Ko to read the rest of this article.

“...and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭42‬-‭45‬
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation.

If you plan to attend registration information can be found at https://thelc.ms/4bDE7iO. Please pray for all those who will attend and watch this page for special live event coverage.

As we wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month, LCMS Life Ministry is excited to share a brand, new resource! Mental Health Support for Children and Youth is now available! This unique and distinctly Lutheran course was created and written by commissioned church workers, expert theologians, and Lutheran psychologists specifically for LCMS educators and church workers who serve children and young people. It is available to all LCMS educators and church workers at no cost.

To access the course and the videos simply create an account at https://lcms.talentlms.com/

Visit https://thelc.ms/44eEFJ5 to listen as Tiffany sits down with Dr. Rick Marrs to talk about the importance of finding and receiving counseling that is Christ-centered and Christ-focused.

LCMS Life Ministry is sponsoring a new event, National Celebrate Life Weekend and registration is now open at https://thelc.ms/3UViLYc.

In this episode Dr. Stephen Saunders talks about the stigmatization of mental illness within the church and how Luther himself addressed matters of mental health. https://thelc.ms/3w7LqQg

Happy Mother’s Day from LCMS Life Ministry!

Season Four is available. Visit https://thelc.ms/4d8GWcK to listen now!

This Teacher Appreciation Week we thank God for all those who teach about life.

Thanking the Lord for Lutheran parish nurses and all nurses who share Christ’s mercy. Today is Nurse Appreciation Day, tag a nurse you’re thankful for in the comments.

Today on this Bereaved Mother’s Day we pray for all mother’s who are grieving the loss of their child.

The fourth season of Friends for Life focuses on Approaching Technology from a Christian Perspective and all episodes will be available on May 10th.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Visit https://thelc.ms/4aO9QNx to view this discussion from the 2021 Life Conference.

Visit https://thelc.ms/3VZsVYJ to view a session from the 2021 Life Conference discussing life and care after an abortion.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made-Inclusion in Church Communities showcases how churches can incorporate accommodations to welcome all. https://thelc.ms/43L4DDO

Visit https://thelc.ms/3xEawXo to read Katie’s Story. Stories like these help us to learn more about caring for women recovering from abortions.

How does your congregation serve people who have disabilities? https://thelc.ms/4aDiH4l

LCMS Life Ministry is sponsoring a new event, Celebrate Life Conference and registration is now open at nationalcelebratelifeday.com

April is Autism Awareness Month. Check out this episode from Season 1 of Friends for Life to learn more about raising children diagnosed with autism. https://thelc.ms/3VGRWb7

There are still more opportunities to March for Life this spring! Where will you be marching?

April is Abortion Recovery Awareness Month. How will your congregation be caring for people recovering from the effects of an abortion decision?

He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

John 19:16-42
16So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
So they took Jesus, 17and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
23When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,
“They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
So the soldiers did these things, 25but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
28After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
38After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Today, we remember when the fervent desire of Jesus' heart to give Himself to us in His body and blood for our forgiveness was fulfilled and a new covenant inaugurated.

Join us today in praying as the Supreme Court begins hearing arguments in a case about the “abortion pill."

Today marks the Annunciation of Our Lord. Remembering the visit of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. Read more here: https://thelc.ms/48rwRnM Join us in praying for vulnerable mothers.