“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5).
Life Shines in Darkness was Lutherans For Life’s theme for Sanctity of Life Sunday 2025. Come out of the shadows and into the shine! Rejoice as For Life Lutherans and embrace the sanctity of every human life! What better way to show the For Life message than by participating in a March for Life.
Tucson, Arizona | March for Life
This information was shared by Dr. Roni Grad, LFL board member and Life Team Leader of the Catalina Lutheran Church Life Team in Catalina, Arizona. Dr. Grad also serves as English District LCMS Life Coordinator.
On Saturday, January 25, 2025, part of the Sanctity of Life weekend and the day following the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., on January 24, approximately 50 LCMS Lutherans from around the area joined in the Tucson March for Life. The Tucson March for Life is sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson. The day began with a mass at St. Augustine Cathedral.
While the mass was taking place, we Lutherans met across the street in an outdoor area for a time of prayer led by our circuit visitor. We confessed our sins, remembering that we, too, are sinners in need of God’s grace and mercy. Additionally, we prayed the litany, sang hymns, and received a blessing. Following the mass, participants marched 4.1 miles to Holy Hope Cemetery. We Lutherans also joined the march and grouped ourselves behind a large banner that read “LCMS Lutherans Marching For Life” and included artwork by area children. Once we reached the end of the march, we all received a closing benediction, led by our circuit visitor. Some then stayed for the Catholic Rose Ceremony at the cemetery to remember the lives of those lost to abortion.
Having received God’s gifts of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life through His divine services in our congregations, we jointly put on His armor (Ephesians 6:10-18) in the public square. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for the forgiveness of sins, even those of babies still in the womb. We advocate for the sanctity of life present from the moment of fertilization and prayed that God will use us to change the hearts of the abortion-minded in our community.
Details for the Arizona March for Life on March 15, 2025
The Arizona State March for Life will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza at the Arizona state capitol building in Phoenix. We will meet for Lutheran devotions at 10:15 a.m. The pre-march rally will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by the march at noon.
The Arizona March for Life is sponsored by National March for Life. Lutherans first participated in the Arizona State March in 2023, with about 15 LCMS Lutheran participants, mostly from two congregations in Tucson and Phoenix. In 2024, the LCMS was a major sponsor, and there were about 50 Lutheran marchers.
This year, in 2025, LCMS is again a major sponsor, and for the first time, an LCMS speaker will speak during the pre-march rally! (At the time of writing, the details are still pending.) Like the Tucson March for Life, the Arizona State March For Life information is included on the LCMS Life Ministry volunteer portal (https://www.lcms-life.org). We use the LCMS 40 Prayers for Life booklet during our devotions, and the LCMS Life Ministry sends signs and caps for the event, based on the number who register online to participate.
The daily schedule of events is available at https://www.chooselifeaz.org/azmarchforlife. For more information, contact Dr. Roni Grad at roni.grad@gmail.com.
Minnesota March for Life
This information was shared by Pastor James Kroonblawd, Minnesota South District LCMS Life Ministry Coordinator, and the Messiah Lutheran Church Life Team in Lakeville, Minnesota.
Chapel Service for the Sanctity of Life
On January 22, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., a Service for the Sanctity of Life was held at Graebner Memorial Chapel at Concordia University, St. Paul. Rev. Tom Gundermann, Concordia University, St. Paul Campus Pastor, led the worship service. LCMS Minnesota South District President, Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford, was the preacher. Rev. James Kroonblawd, Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran Church in Eagan, and Rev. Scot Missling, Bethlehem Lutheran in St. Paul, shared words of encouragement. Several members of the Concordia University, St. Paul, Y4Life Team attended the service prior to traveling to the Y4Life Gathering in Washington, D.C.
Rev. James Kroonblawd shared these thoughts, “When we started gathering as a South District for the Life Chapel service and the March, there were just a few of us attending the Minnesota March for Life. Every year, we learn that more and more LCMS members are speaking up for life within their churches, community, and in gatherings, including the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) March for Life. It is a joy to know there are many LCMS members willing to make the effort to stand up For Life.” Rev. James Kroonblawd has been the Minnesota South District LCMS Life Ministry Coordinator for the past ten years. As Life Ministry Coordinator, he is the link between synod and the district. His role is to provide information and resources to pastors and congregations. LCMS Life Ministries set up a display table outside of the chapel. Items on the table included Life Ministry Cards, Psalm 139 wrist bands, Psalm 40:1-3 bookmarks, printed materials such as the 40 Prayers for Life, God Values All Human Life, Looking at Life in the Womb, and A Lutheran Perspective on Well-Being, as well as life-affirming signs to carry during the March for Life. Hymns to sing during the march were printed on the back of the signs. To request LCMS Life Ministry materials, contact your District Life Coordinator.
After the Life Service at Graebner Memorial Chapel, LCMS participants joined the thousands of Minnesotans for the 52nd annual MCCL March for Life at the Minnesota State Capitol Mall in St. Paul on January 22 in support of the value of every human life. The Minnesota March for Life has been held annually since 1974 on the anniversary of the legalization of abortion. According to the Minnesota Department of Health’s report, Induced Abortions in Minnesota, January-December 2023, 14,124 unborn children in Minnesota died from abortion. Sadly, this is a 16% increase over 2022. At the March for Life, a very large fetal model display represented all those innocent lives lost to abortion in 2023.
The program was held on the capitol steps. It opened with the singing of “Amazing Grace” by Thirsty Souls. Father James Stiles, from the Church of St. Stephen-Holy Rosary shared the invocation. MCCL Co-Executive Directors Cathy Blaeser and Don Parker shared remarks and updates from the past year.
“Jean Marie Davis—the director of a pregnancy resource center—powerfully shared her experience of being trafficked in 33 different states, including Minnesota, spotlighting the need for more protections for women and babies. ‘Both of my children were [intended to be killed] by my pimps,’ she said. ‘My life was literally at the brink of death.’ She visited a pregnancy resource center wanting to have an abortion, but ‘heard the heartbeat of my son, and because I heard the heartbeat of my son, I now can say my son Jonah is 10 years old’” (MCCL Press Release on January 22, 2025).
The program continued with an introduction of For Life Minnesota elected officals, the playing of “Taps,” and the singing of “God Bless America” by Thirsty Souls. Here is the link to the video of the MCCL March for Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFqOxx6s6ao.
The Perspective of a New Life Team
Messiah Lutheran Church in Lakeville, Minnesota, has a newly certified Life Team. This is the first year Messiah has organized a group to attend the Minnesota March for Life. Carrie Strauch, Life Team Leader, ordered ten matching gray scarves printed with “Messiah Lutheran” in blue letters. Prior to the march activities, the Life Team and other church members met at Messiah Lutheran Church for a prayer and a blessing from Rev. Kurt Klaus. The Life Team then carpooled to the service for the sanctity of life at Graebner Memorial Chapel, where they joined up with Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran Church. After the chapel service, the Life Team took the tram to the March for Life at the capitol. For the majority of the group, this was their first experience attending the March for Life.
“I felt so blessed and honored to be the leader of such a huge LIFE group. We made a difference that day for LIFE, for God, for the legislators, and for every life in our state. This was my first time at the Minnesota March for Life. I can tell you already that this will not be my last march. Wow!”
– Carrie Strauch, Messiah Lutheran Church Life Team Leader