PPL October 2022 eNews | Activities for All Saints Day!

Compelled by the Gospel, PPL equips Presbyterians to champion human life at every stage PPL ENEWS October 2022   Activities for Celebrating Life on All Saints' Day by PPL Board Member, Patricia Lee June, MD The end of October abounds with preparations for Trick-or-Treat on Halloween, and Day of the Dead parties, using skeletons, zombies, witches and other frightening death-focused images. How can parents promote a respect for life in their children during holidays that celebrates a culture of death?   Scripture refers to believers in Jesus Christ as “saints.” The first day of November is celebrated in the church as “All Saints Day” and the preceding day – that we now call “Halloween” - was originally known as ”Hallowed Eve” (as in “Hallowed be Thy name.”  “Hallowed” is an Old English word for “holy” or “sacred.”) Use the open door of preparing this year’s Halloween treats to teach about All Saints Day and talk to your children about the saints of God – and especially the saints in your family. READ MORE

Open Letter in Response to PC(USA)'s HSB-11 Regarding Abortion The following introduction and link have been prepared and submitted to PPL by a Ruling Elder within the PC(USA), who has asked that we share it, with the encouragement to other PC(USA) members to make their voices heard. When you click on the link below, you will have the opportunity to include your name, or the name of your congregation, for submission to the Stated Clerk.   "The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) issued a statement on July 8, 2022 "denounc[ing] attempts to prevent people from receiving essential health care and reject[ing] attempts at all levels of government to reduce, limit or eliminate access to contraceptive and abortion care." Reversing the church's prior position, which denounced abortion used for birth control, the statement's rationale implied that any other position on the abortion issue would be itself wrong, sinful, or un-Presbyterian. We faithful Presbyterians who are pro-life need to speak up. There are many of us, both in the pews and in the pulpit, who believe life begins at fertilization and believe in protecting that life. We have allowed one voice to speak for Presbyterians; will we remain silent? Please read this letter to Stated Clerk J. Herbert Nelson, the Assembly Committee on Health, Safety and Benefits, the Board of Pensions, the Office of Theology and Worship, and all members of the PC(USA) and consider adding your voice to those who will boldly "speak the truth in love" to our church about God's love for all life, born and unborn alike."     SIGN LETTER HERE

Please pray for PPL's Annual Board Meeting October 13-15  PPL's board members live throughout the US, so our monthly meetings are held via Zoom.  Once a year PPL's board members travel at their own expense to a church that has volunteered to host our only face-to-face meeting. Host churches treat PPL as a visiting missionary group, housing us in members' homes and providing food and meeting rooms for our meeting.  This year we are hosted by Palm City Presbyterian Church, an ECO congregation, in Palm City, Florida, where Rev. David Mauldin - a former PPL Board Member himself - is pastor.   This year our board is challenged by: The growing militancy of pro-abortion activists, the wide dissemination of medical misinformation by pro-abortion activists, that is resulting in injury to women; government expansion of abortion resources, "abortion sanctuary states," and the exponential growth and distribution of the abortion pill - a process with results not only deadly to the preborn, but injurious to women. Staff transitions Funding  How to engage more pastors and congregations in meaningful - and urgent - pro-life preaching, teaching and ministry, in a church climate that considers abortion to be a political issue and largely prefers to imagine that issues surrounding abortion - and other life crises - are mostly a problem for those outside the church. What PPL's mission and ministry will look like post-Dobbs These are formidable challenges that need much prayer cover, and our board members and staff are in need of clear discernment.  We ask for your prayers and are grateful for all who pray.   SIGN UP FOR THE PRAYER TEAM HERE

MEET PPL BOARD MEMBER, DR. PATRICIA LEE JUNE I am a pediatrician and am a member of First Presbyterian Church in Moultrie, GA.  I have been involved with PPL since 1984 and have been on the Board of PPL since 1986. PPL is important as a voice for the most vulnerable among us and God’s love for every human He created and as an encouragement and facilitator for all of us to demonstrate that love both as individuals but also as the church. Read more about our other board members here.

Will you click the donate button today? PPL has started a new fundraising campaign with a goal of $100,000. With rising costs of almost everything we know our actual expenses will hover around the $80,000 mark. That's the bottom line. We have added to our goal, funds to re-publish one of our most popular resources: Pregnant With Promise, a 2010 Bible Study by Marie Bowen on the character of God as shown through the pregnancy stories of the Bible and funds to convert the Baby Chris blog series by Deborah Hollifield into book format.

Why the name "Baby Steps" campaign? Many people feel a small gift is not enough to make a difference and wait until they are able to make a larger contribution--and that day never comes. Will you take a "baby step" today and make a gift of any size? Choose an amount you know you can give every month and set up a recurring donation.  $10 a month for 12 months is $120! $100/month will be a major gift of $1200 by the end of the year. Baby steps grow into giant leaps empowering PPL to equip the church to champion life! Click the DONATE button to learn more about this campaign. (Don't worry, you can exit without making a donation if you really want to do that!)

Other ways to give To donate via text from your phone: Text "give" to 1 (717) 537-0909. Follow the prompts on the page that opens to make a gift to equip Presbyterians to save human lives! To donate by check, simply mail your check to: PPL, PO Box 5239, Lancaster, PA 15606-5239. Set up a monthly recurring check through your online bill pay with your bank. Give an IRA disbursement and avoid paying income tax on it. Call us for information about giving stocks. Click the donate button below to help PPL make a difference today!

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PRESBYTERIANS PROTECTING LIFE PO Box 5239 Lancaster, PA 17606