The following is from an email sent by Fr Seraphim Hipsch, from our sister parish, St Sava Orthodox Church (Allen, TX). I have taken the liberty of highlighting some items.
I support this endeavor, and encourage anyone in my parish to participate. Ask me if you are not sure what to do.
I have signed up for 1-3 PM, Wednesday. Oct 19th. Would you like to join me?
PLEASE TAKE NOTE of Fr Seraphim's (the "other" Priest Seraphim, of St Sava) excellent explanation of sin, in the context of abortion, below.
Prayer outside Southwestern Late-term Abortion Facility, 8616 Greenville Ave., Dallas
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION IS IN THE EMAIL… PLEASE READ
As the Body of Christ, members of the Life-giver, we Orthodox Christians of North Texas are offering prayers for those who are tempted to have an abortion, those who have committed an abortion and those who have fallen to the delusion of the Enemy, believing that they help people by assisting in the act of abortion. All are invited to participate in this prayer vigil and especially those who have a real heart for those who have been affected by the tragedy of abortion. we are organizing a modified prayer vigil on October 19th, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
We are trying to get at least two people per time slot, hopefully one male. More than two are more than welcome to participate.
Logistics:
- If there is only one person present at the clinic, we are asked to stay in the car.
- Also, please sign up through the volunteer calendar even if you are planning to "drop in". This will help with planning and making sure that prayer times are covered. My intention is to be present most of the day.
- At the site, you will find a box. At this box, is a collection of forms and prayer books. The prayer books, and papers, will be helpful to passing the time in prayer
- Also, there are forms there for people to sign. These forms are a declaration that all participants are there for peaceful purposes, to pray for those who have committed abortion and for those who repent, for the healing of all those involved.
I have been going there weekly for some time, at least on Saturdays and at times Fridays as well. This of course is not our only ministry to those who struggle with the sin of abortion. We actively support Real Options for Women, both financially and with volunteer efforts.
This is not a protest. Rather, this is asking the All Holy Spirit to come and deliver those under the bondage of demonic influence, praying for their repentance and ultimate healing.
The sidewalk is located next to a very busy and dangerous street for children. As such, I would only recommend older, mature children to be present so as to avoid any potential loss of life.
For parking, please make sure to only park along the street of Broadbrook or in the parking lot of Gaston Oaks Baptist Church. If you park in the office complex, your vehicle will be towed. Also, only stand on the sidewalk that lines Greenville Ave. If you round the corner or stand on the grass, there is a likelihood of being arrested by the Dallas Police. Please obey the public laws.
If you have any questions, please contact me. (Fr Seraphim Hipsch – fr.seraphim@stsavanorthtx.org)
If you would like to sign up, please go to the link below:
http://www.volunteerspot.com/
God keep you!
A Brief Discussion on Abortion:
What is sin? This is a critical fact to bear in mind. What is sin? Sin is a parasite, thriving off the negative / death-ward choices and actions that we as mankind make. This sin, this cancer conceals the eyes of our hearts from the One who truly loves. The tempting thoughts come to us and say, "No one loves. No one cares. No one understands. Therefore, you have to take care of your own problems your own way. There just isn't any other choice." My brothers and sisters, how often have we heard these thoughts within, and we give into temptation. Instead of waiting for the comfort that God can bring, the healing that God can bring to our passions, our torment, we attempt to satisfy ourselves, only making our condition worse, adding sin to sin.
The temptation of abortion cannot be singled out as the worst or that only the worst of people do such a thing. All sin separates us from the Love of the only Lover of Mankind. And because we have this common disease, we can struggle to take up the burden of others, to repent on behalf of those who are still in the throws and intoxication of sinful thoughts and temptations that we all might be freed from the clutches of the evil one. Perhaps we have already fallen to the sin of Abortion, then we must choose to get up. Get up! Why? Because there is a Heavenly Father who loves us tremendously. There is One who can take the worst of all that we give Him and make something very beautiful out of it. He takes death and makes it to become Life. This is what we celebrate through Passion week and Pascha, the transfiguration of the ugliness of sin and death, the annihilation of the evil virus of sin and the beginning newness of life.
So, that no matter how far we think we have fallen, even if we believe we have fallen into the depths of hell, Christ is Risen! Christ has descended into hell to raise us up.
Christ is our joy! Christ is our path back to wholeness again and out of the pit of the dark ashes of sin. We find ourselves in a foreign country, meaning that we do not belong here, in a state of separation from Christ. Our experience of life is not to be alone, the feeling of separation.
The whole context and nature of asking for mercy is not from some juridical judge; rather, we are begging the Physician to come and to heal our wounds. This could be likened to a mother and father in an Emergency Room situation begging the physician to come and to heal their child. We are doing the same to our Physician, to come and to heal the wounds of our soul and to somehow make good to come out of the evil we all have done. Christ Pantocrator, Christ All-mighty, is able to make such a change.
God keep us all as we labor to heal both our hearts and to help those around us.
If you would like to sign up, please go to the link below:
http://www.volunteerspot.com/