Mercy forever.

Melanie Ave, LCMS Communications public relations coordinator, reports from today’s 38th annual March for Life, in Washington, D.C. Check back throughout the day for updates and more interviews with marching Lutherans.

MFL 2011 Melanie Ave Report 4:02pm ET
Melanie Ave talks to Maggie Karner, Director of Health and Life Ministries, and Ed Szeto, Special Projects Coordinator, outside the U.S. Supreme Court as the 2011 March for Life winds down. Karner, honored to march with so many who share her values, reminds us 54 million babies have died since 1973. Szeto notes the great turnout on a wonderful day, including marchers carrying signs from pro-life groups in Germany and Italy.

MFL 2011 Melanie Ave Report 2:00pm ET
Melanie Ave describes the scene on the National Mall after the crowd hears from several legislators. Carrying signs and singing hymns, Lutherans from around the nation prepare for a chilly walk up Constitution Avenue.

MFL 2011 Melanie Ave Report 1:06pm ET
Melanie Ave talks to Ed Szeto, Special Projects Coordinator for LCMS Health & Life Ministries. Ed gives an overview of the march and some of the groups participating. He emphasizes the sanctity of human life message intended for elected officials as marchers prepare to walk up Constitution Avenue.

MFL 2011 Melanie Ave Report 10:55am ET
Melanie Ave talks to Dr. James Lamb, Executive Director of Lutherans for Life, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia, where about 150 Lutherans are preparing for the 38th annual March for Life to begin at the National Mall. Dr. Lamb reminds us Lutherans have a grounding in life issues that others do not have. Our message that life is precious does not flow from politics or morality but from God through scriptures.

MFL 2011 Melanie Ave Report 10:47am ET
Melanie Ave talks to Maggie Karner, Director of Health and Life Ministries for the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Maggie encourages Lutherans and other pro-life advocates to join arm in arm in a statement about life for all and God’s mercy for all, and encourages others around the country to “take up this issue in the civic realm.”

MFL 2011 Melanie Ave Report 10:30am ET
Melanie Ave, LCMS Communications public relations coordinator, reports from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia, after hearing the sermon of Dr. James Lamb, Executive Director of Lutherans for Life. Dr. Lamb asked the congregation, “Why are we here?” Click on the link to hear him answer that question.

MFL 2011 Melanie Ave Report 8:48am ET
8:48am ET -  Melanie Ave, LCMS Communications public relations coordinator, reports from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Lutherans from around the country  gathered to hear Dr. James Lamb, Executive Director of Lutherans for Life and member of the LCMS Sanctity of Human Life Committee, deliver the sermon before the 38th annual March for Life.