United for Life of Merced County

United for Life of Merced County Non Profit Org. P. O. Box 3402 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Merced, CA 95344-1402 Permit #608 Merced, California, 95340 Return Service requested

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United For Life OF MERCED COUNTY Telephone (209) 383-5222 P. O. Box 3402 Apr., 2017 www.mercedprolife.com Merced, CA 95344 #144-2 Circulation: 2,671 homes Mother’s Day Corsages

This is our 24th year to distribute corsages on Mother’s Day! Some of those little girls carefully choosing a special orchid for their mother 24 years ago are now mothers, themselves. Hopefully, this year their little girls or boys will experience the joy of choosing that special corsage to give their mothers. Our corsages go out not only to mothers, but to sisters, daughters, grandmothers, aunts, good neighbors and friends--all in a celebration of life. This year attached to the corsage box will be a refrigerator magnet picturing two happy babies and the words “Celebrate Life.” Approximately 30 local churches have contact people that work with UFL in getting over 3000 corsages (a beautiful live orchid) out all over Merced County and Chowchilla. The suggested donation is $5. The funds all go to support our educational, pro-life efforts; i.e., this corsage project makes our participation in the many fairs and festivals listed below possible. If your church doesn’t participate, please consult with your pastor and call Kathy at 383-5222 to get some corsages this year or get on the contact list for next year. Please note the new, slightly roomier location for assembling and pick-up of the corsages is Calvary Assembly Church on the corner of R Street and 10th Street in Merced. We will be working on them in the hall there from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 13th. (We are thankful to Merced’s Sacred Heart Church for providing space all these past years.) Fair & Festival Booths Many of you receive this newsletter because you signed up at one of our fair booths in the past. Now is the chance for you to see the world from the other side of the booth’s table! People are drawn to our booths by the posters, pro-life brochures, the fetal models, the “Little Feet “ pins, and at some of our booths by our spinning “Wheel of Life”— everyone who spins gets a free prize containing a pro-life message; but, first they must answer a question. An example of the questions would be “Could you hear music before you were born?” or multiple choice questions on when brain waves can be detected, etc. It is a wonderful opportunity to educate people in a positive way. But, we do need people to staff the booths. We need at least two and even three when the spinning wheel is used. New volunteers can be paired with someone who has worked in the booth before. Below is our beginning list for this year. Whether you have worked in a booth before or are a newcomer, please call the contact people below. Also call 383-5222 to add a fair or festival to the list, including church events.

Merced County Spring Fair in Los Banos May 3-7 George & Linda 383-5222 Mother’s Day in the Park in Los Banos May 13-14 George & Linda 383-5222 Chowchilla-Madera Co. Fair in Chowchilla May 18-21 Julia 383-5222 San Juan Diego Fiesta- St Jude’s Livingston May 28 Rosemary 383-5222 Merced County Fair in Merced June 7-11 Veronica 383-5222 Atwater 4th of July July 4 Rosemary 383-5222 Livingston 4th of July (Event is 1st thru 3rd) Probably July 2 Colette 383-5222 Sacred Heart Festival-Merced September Message phone 383-5222 Dos Palos Cotton Festival To be announced Message phone 383-5222 Los Banos Fall Street Faire September George & Linda 383-5222 Spanish Prayer Group Annual Seminario-Dos Palos Sept.16-17 Rosalia 383-5222 Sweet Potato Festival-Livingston September Message phone 383-5222 Important Presentation We have been informed about the following speaking engagement sponsored by the Patriot Action Group of Merced County. Since the Pacific Justice Institute has been involved in representing the pro-life position in many cases, we believe you might be interested in listening to Mr. Dacus who is the founder and president of the organization. We realize many non-related issues will be discussed, but life issues can be addressed during the question and answer period. Date: Thursday, May 18th Time: 6:30 pm. to 8:30 pm. Place: Atwater VFW -- 1390 Broadway Avenue in Atwater Speaker: Brad W. Dacus of Pacific Justice Institute The Pacific Justice Institute has a network of hundreds of volunteer affiliate attorneys and handles more cases on the West Coast than any other organization of its kind.. Mr. Dacus will be speaking on current issues and legislation, religious liberties, parental rights, Common Core, the new administration and what it means to conservative values. Report on Past Events January’s West Coast Walk for Life: The bus from Merced took everyone on board to an inspirational day spent among tens of thousands of fellow pro-lifers. Every seat was filled, which means we must work on getting two buses next year. If we can get people to reserve their places earlier, we will be able to secure that second bus1 People are often concerned about opposition forces at the Walk. The following is a report from Kathy Thomas who attended with her family: “We were expecting a lively opposition this year. The contrast in the Walk for Life and the following Women’s March could not have been more black and white. As we walked west, we saw people going in the opposite direction wearing pink. We were happy, smiling; they were angry or stoic. We were supporting life and enjoying it; they were marching to the tune of death. We had children and men; they had few of either. We left the ground clean; they left a trail of trash for the city of SF to pick up.” It is fitting that the many prayers said during the Walk for Life include prayers for the opposition. January’s Local Rally for Life: Our Rally was very well attended and was blessed with a small break in the rainy weather. Plus, the Gospel Defenders School Choir’s performance warmed the hearts of all present Our speaker, Professor Richard Weikart lead us through the challenges of Building a Culture of Life in light of society accepting the legalization of death by abortion and euthanasia. After the rally, he provided us with a DVD, The Euthanasia Deception that reveals the consequences of countries implementing almost unfettered euthanasia—what begins as limited euthanasia seems to eventually expand beyond those in the terminal stages of life to those who are simply depressed and then even to children who are depressed or not “perfect”. One of the most touching stories shows a Belgium family with a beloved daughter who has both mental and physical problems. The father tells of how when they all are in public, people will come up to him and ask why he doesn’t end her “suffering!” The DVD lasts slightly under one hour. You can obtain it at the CaringNotKilling.com website. Or, if you wish to borrow it for a presentation, please call 383-5222, leave a message, and we will make arrangements for you to get it. Many people are still unaware that California has legalized doctor-abetted suicide. Devious maneuvering by Gov. Brown and the Democratic legislature was used to bypass the normal vetting process of laws. To limit the expansion of Calif.’s current law, we need to increase our educational efforts and explain the consequences of accepting active euthanasia. Gains and Losses Gains: President Trump stopped the flow of funds to the U.N. Population Fund which supports a program of coercive abortion in China. He also signed a bill allowing states to withhold tax funds from Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the U. S. (The State of California probably will continue to fund them.) : Losses: California’s Senate is considering a bill to provide non-surgical abortion (Chemical abortion) at university student health centers and would require taxpayer funded universities to cover abortion in their student health insurance. A Case for Laws to Protect the Unborn Those tiny pre-born babies are truly amazing—Recently, doctors studying the growth of heart muscle found that the heartbeat begins as early as 16 days following conception. Also a new study revealed the nervous system develops much sooner than previously thought. The study found the adult-like pattern of nerves is established before the end of the first trimester and points to pain sensitivity at that early stage.

Other Local Pro-Life Organizations: Alpha Pregnancy Help Center - You can contact Alpha at (209) 383-4700 or on line at Alphaphc.com.

Mary's Mantle Maternity Home, JMJ Maternity Homes: They can use financial aid and for volunteer information or to donate items please contact them at 209-769-7092 or www.JMJmaterinity home.org. Trinity Pregnancy Resource Center - Phone is 559-665-7700, address is PO Box 518, Chowchilla, CA 93610, and www.TPRCenter.com.

Notice of Next Meetings The next meetings will be Thursday, May 4th, & Thursday. June 1st. Both meetings will be at 7:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church at the corner of M Street and Buena Vista in Merced. The address is 500 Buena Vista Drive. The meeting room is accessed by turning into the first parking lot entrance on Buena Vista after turning off of M St. It is in the first room, in the wing closest to Buena Vista Ave. Please feel welcome to attend!