January 15-21, 2023
Daily Themes
- Sunday – Blessed as a Gift (Gospel-motivation)
- Monday – Blessed in Longing
- Tuesday – Blessed Together
- Wednesday – Blessed with Healing
- Thursday – Blessed with Hope
- Friday – Blessed from the Beginning
- Saturday – Blessed for Serving
You are personally invited to join in celebrating that you are … “Blessed For Life!”
“Blessed For Life” was the theme as Lutherans gathered from across the country from Sunday, January 15, through Saturday, January 21, for Life Week 2023.
Life Week and Life Sunday resources can be used anytime throughout the year!
Zoom Presentations:
- January 15 – Rev. Michael Salemink – Blessed as a Gift
- January 16 – Rev. Steven and Stephanie Cholak – Blessed in Longing
- January 17 – Delores Desemone – Blessed Together
- January 18 – Deaconess Chrissie Gillet – Blessed with Healing
- January 20 | Special Presentation – Rev. Dr. Greg Schulz, Professor of Philosophy at Concordia University Wisconsin
Each themed day of Life Week 2023 explores a distinct aspect of life ministry through local activities, online educational events, and interviews. Now is the time to get your congregation energized and anticipating the opportunities that Life Week provides. Build excitement For Life in your home, church, school, and community!
Life Week 2023 Flyer
Getting the MOST out of Life Week 2023
- Getting the MOST out of Life Week 2023 (PDF) – From the January-February 2023 edition of our Directions newsletter.
- Video: Getting the MOST out of Life Week 2023 – From the January 9, 2023, Frontlines Zoom Call
Life Week 2023 Competitions
- Mascot Video Challenge Competition (PDF)
- Mascot Video Challenge Competition (JPEG)
- Social Media Competition (PDF)
- Social Media Competition (JPEG)
- T-Shirt Design Competition (PDF)
- T-Shirt Design Competition (JPEG)
Life Week 2023 Giveaways
The requirement to enter each day’s giveaway is to simply attend that day’s online Zoom event.
Each day’s giveaways:
- Sunday – LFL Scarf
- Monday – LFL Beanie
- Tuesday – LFL Umbrella
- Wednesday – Y4Life t-shirt
Life Week 2023 – Day 1 – Sunday – Blessed as a Gift (Gospel-Motivation)
- Life Issues: Creation/Identity, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Unborn, Surprise Pregnancy
- Color: Royal Purple
- Devotion Day 1 Blessed as a Gift (PDF)
- Day 1 Gift Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Day 1 Gift Fact Sheet (JPEG)
- Day 1 Creation and Identity Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 1 Developmental Disabilities Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 1 Surprise Pregnancy and the Unborn Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Video 1 | Day 1: Pastor Michael Salemink | Rev. Michael Salemink, Executive Director of Lutherans For Life leads off Life Week 2023 under the theme “Blessed as a Gift.” Pastor Salemink will share the Gospel-motivation that makes the Lutheran voice on the sanctity of life so distinct.
- Video 2 | Day 1: Pastor Michael Salemink | Rev. Michael Salemink gives his answer to the question, “Why is it important, considering Roe’s national fall, to continue speaking up for life?”
- Video 3 | Day 1 Youth Testimonial: Olivia Hitz
- Day 1 Speaker Bio and Presentation Info (Salemink) (PDF)
Life Week 2023 – Day 1 Zoom Presentation with Pastor Michael Salemink:
Life Week 2023 – Day 2 – Monday – Blessed In Longing
- Life Issues: Miscarriage/Stillbirth, Infertility, IVF/Surrogacy
- Color: Yellow
- Devotion Day 2 Blessed in Longing (PDF)
- Day 2 Longing Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Day 2 Longing Fact Sheet (JPEG)
- Day 2 Infertility Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 2 IVF and Surrogacy Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 2 Miscarriage and Stillbirth Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Video 1 | Day 2: Rev. Steven and Stephanie Cholak | Rev. Steven Cholak and his wife, Stephanie, who serve at Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Houston, Texas, speak about their presentation “Blessed in Longing.” The couple, though barren through 18-years of marriage, share how they continue to be blessed by God in marriage and by the communities they serve and live in.
- Video 2 | Day 2: Rev. Steven and Stephanie Cholak | Rev. Steven Cholak and his wife, Stephanie, answer the question “Why is it so crucial that Christians share the message that God loves all life no matter the challenges?”
- Video 3 | Day 2 Youth Testimonial: Hannah Wild
- Day 2 Speaker Bio and Presentation Info (Cholak) (PDF)
Life Week 2023 – Day 2 Presentation with Rev. Steven and Stephanie Cholak:
Life Week 2023 – Day 3 – Tuesday – Blessed Together
- Life Issues: Adoption, Snowflake/Embryo Adoption, Foster Care
- Color: White
- Devotion Day 3 Adoption (PDF)
- Day 3 Together Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Day 3 Together Fact Sheet (JPEG)
- Day 3 Adoption Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 3 Foster Care Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 3 Snowflake and Embryo Adoption Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Video 1 | Day 3: Delores Desmone | Delores Desemone of St. Charles, Missouri, speaks on “Blessed Together” by sharing the joys (and challenges) of adopting five children and her journey to encourage others to see where God will bless them.
- Video 2 | Day 3: Delores Desmone | Delores Desemone of our St. Charles Life Chapter answers the question, “Why is it so important that Christians share the message that God loves all life no matter the challenges?”
- Video 3 | Day 3 Youth Testimonial: Chloe Wilson
- Day 3 Speaker Bio and Presentation Info (Desmone) (PDF)
Life Week – Day 3 Presentation with Delores Desemone:
Life Week 2023 – Day 4 – Wednesday – Blessed with Healing
- Life Issues: Abuse, Incest, Human Trafficking, Rape
- Color: Red
- Devotion Day 4 Blessed with Healing (PDF)
- Day 4 Healing Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Day 4 Healing Fact Sheet (JPEG)
- Day 4 Responding to Abuse (PDF)
- Day 4 Responding to Human Trafficking (PDF)
- Day 4 Responding to Incest (PDF)
- Day 4 Responding to Rape (PDF)
- Video 1 | Day 4: Deaconess Chrissie Gillet | Deaconess Chrissie Gillet of Word of Hope gives her testimony to the question, “Why is it so crucial that Christians share the message that God loves all life, no matter the challenges?”
- Video 2 | Day 4: Deaconess Chrissie Gillet | Deaconess Chrissie Gillet, director of Word of Hope—Lutherans For Life’s healing ministry—shares a synopsis of her Wednesday night Zoom presentation. Deaconess Gillet shares how to recognize a persistent “victim mentality” in our lives. Additionally, Deaconess Gillet shares how Christ frees us from this mentality as well as how we are empowered by the Gospel to help others.
- Video 3 | Day 4 Youth Testimonial: Nadia Beadle
- Day 4 Speaker Bio and Presentation Info (Gillet) (PDF)
Life Week 2023 – Day 4 Presentation with Deaconess Chrissie Gillet:
Life Week 2023 – Day 5 – Thursday – Blessed with Hope
- Life Issues: Physician-Assisted Suicide, Prolonging Death vs. Extending Life, Declaration of Death, End of Life
- Color: Blue/Light Blue
- Devotion Day 5 Blessed with Hope (PDF)
- Day 5 Hope Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Day 5 Hope Fact Sheet (JPEG)
- Day 5 Declaration of Death Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 5 End of Life Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 5 Physician Assisted Suicide Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 5 Prolonging vs. Extending Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Video 1 | Day 5: Rev. Dr. Mark Chavez | Rev. Dr. Mark Chavez gives his answer to the question, “Why is it important that Christians share the message that God loves all life no matter the circumstances this life faces?” Rev. Chavez pastors Reformation Lutheran Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and participated in forming the North American Lutheran Church (NALC), which he served many years as General Secretary.
- Video 2 | Day 5 Youth Testimonial: Charles Wallace
Life Week 2023 – Day 6 – Friday – Blessed from the Beginning
- Life Issues: Chemical Abortions/Abortion Pill, Pre-natal Diagnosis of Disability, Surprise Pregnancy, Sanctity of Life, Pre-natal Development
- Color: Green
- Devotion Day 6 Blessed from the Beginning (PDF)
- Day 6 Beginning Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Day 6 Beginning Fact Sheet (JPEG)
- Day 6 Abortion Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 6 Prenatal Diagnosis of Disability Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 6 Surprise Pregnancy and Sanctity of Life Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 6 Unborn and Developmental Markers Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Video 1 | Day 6: Dr. Donna Harrison | Dr. Donna Harrison, Executive Director of AAPLOG, shares expectations for her upcoming presentation before Y4Life students attending the 2023 Y4Life in Washington, D.C. event.
- Video 2 | Day 6: Dr. Donna Harrison | Dr. Donna Harrison, Executive Director of AAPLOG answers the question, “Why is it important, considering Roe’s national fall, to continue speaking up for life?
- Video 3 | Day 6: Rev. Dr. Greg Schulz | Rev. Dr. Greg Schulz, Professor of Philosophy at Concordia University Wisconsin, shares a preview of his special presentation on Friday of Life Week (January 20, 2023). Note: You can participate in this special presentation by Zoom, 7:00 p.m. CT/8:00 p.m. ET (Meeting ID: 848 3529 5744 | Passcode: 864870).
- Video 4 | Day 6 Youth Testimonial: Rachel Johnson
- Video 5 | Day 6 Youth Testimonial: Kate Roberts
- Video 6 | Day 6 Youth Testimonial: Hannah Mars
- Day 6 Speaker Bio and Presentation Info (Harrison) (PDF)
- Day 6 Speaker Bio and Presentation Info (Schulz) (PDF)
Life Week 2023 – Day 6 Presentation with Rev. Dr. Greg Schulz:
Life Week 2023 – Day 7 – Saturday – Blessed for Serving
- Life Issues: CRT/Cultural Marxism/Wokeness, Gospel-Motivated Speaking, Gospel-Motivated Actions, After Roe
- Color: Orange
- Devotion Day 7 In Service for the Lord (PDF)
- Day 7 Serving Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Day 7 Serving Fact Sheet (JPEG)
- Day 7 CRT Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 7 Gospel-Motivated Actions Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 7 Gospel-Motivated Speaking Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Day 7 Response to Roe Activity Sheet (PDF)
- Video 1 | Day 7: Chaplain Craig Muehler | Chaplain Craig Muehler, who serves as the Ministry to the Armed Forces Director for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod shares a preview of his Y4Life presentation on “Standing Firm in the Face of Persecution.” He speaks on Saturday of the Y4Life in Washington, D.C. event, a part of Life Week 2023.
- Video 2 | Day 7: Chaplain Craig Muehler | Chaplain Craig Muehler, serving as Ministry to the Armed Forces Director for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod shares his perspective on the question, “Why do you think it’s important, considering Roe’s national fall, to continue speaking up for life?”
- Video 3 | Day 7 Youth Testimonial: Christina Lee
- Day 7 Speaker Bio and Presentation Info (Muehler) (PDF)
Y4Life in Washington, D.C. 2023
