Guidelines for Participating in 40 Days for Life - Ithaca

40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion.

“The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40-day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion.”

40 Days for Life focuses on the spiritual aspects of the battle to end abortion. We frequently cite 2 Chronicles 7:14:  “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

We have the opportunity to cooperate with God in carrying out His work. We put our faith in His will and prayerfully discern how He wishes us to respond.

OUR LOCATION:  Across the street from Planned Parenthood, 620 W. Seneca Street, Ithaca; Stand between Bangs Ambulance and Donahue-Halverson Plumbing. PLEASE DO NOT STAND ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD SIDE. Please observe this request.

POLICE and SAFETY INFO: 607-272-3245 (non emergency) or 911.    

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIVES OF THE POLICE and the 40 Days Group leaders.

Have cell phones with you. Record/document incidents no matter how small or big, positive or negative. Even when police are there. Be sensitive when taking pictures of Planned Parenthood, especially if clients are present. If approached by the police, keep a positive attitude. Let them speak first. Listen respectfully and calmly. If they ask about a permit, it is on file at IPD and at City Hall. Decide who will be doing the talking while the other(s) remains in prayer when police is there.  DO NOT ENGAGE IN DEBATE OR CONFRONTATION WITH THE PUBLIC.  Just listen...very important..no matter what.  REMAIN SILENT. No shouting to others across the street. If a woman or man look at you like they want to talk but are hesitating, you may motion for them to come over to you. As always, remain calm and peaceful.  Be Christ-like.

SIGNS:  YOU are the signage!  Only 40 Days for Life signs and signs with pregnancy center hotline numbers should be used. Remember, this is a peaceful and prayerful campaign, NOT a PROTEST.  We are there to bring Christ's presence in a very dark place. Please contact us about using other signs of positive nature. 

PRAYERFUL ATMOSPHERE:  We stress prayer, prayer, prayer when on vigil watch. When people arrive to the vigil site, greet one another respectfully, being mindful of those who are already in prayer. The vigil area should be a place of prayer respecting those who wish not to engage in conversation. Conversation, if necessary, should be low key. Pray in your own “style,” verbal or non-verbal, again, respecting those who are praying quietly.

NO BLOCKING OF SIDEWALK:  Standing on the grass is allowed. Feel free to bring a chair.

BEVERAGES AND FOOD:  Water, is ok; health-wise, bring whatever is necessary. With children, keep watch for safety. Food is permissible for them. This is a time of prayer and fasting. Consider fasting from food during your time of prayer.

VIGIL SITE:  We are on a public right-of-way and city property. Please pick up any debris before you leave. Leave the place cleaner than you found it. 

IMPORTANT: No climbing on fences or touching trees, shrubs, leaves, flowers, etc.

Most of all, please email us (sweetwind53@yahoo.com) about your vigil experience. It might inspire someone. It is with faith that we pray at the abortion facility trusting in the powerful grace of Christ present in His Church. We should never lose hope or become discouraged, for Christ has already triumphed over the forces of evil and death. There are those who we will never see, that may pass-by and decide not to have an abortion. There will be others who suffer the loss of their children to abortion and we pray they will find their way back home to the Church, back to our Lord, because in following our Lord’s compassion, we do not condemn or place judgment. Through Him, we offer Hope in a World of Despair.

Thank you for making this a peaceful, prayerful, and effective campaign!
~40 Days for Life-Ithaca team