To promote respect for the worth and dignity of all human life, including the life of the unborn child from the moment of conception.

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1 A quarterly publication of Right to Life of East Texas To promote respect for the worth and dignity of all human life, including the life of the unborn child from the moment of conception. Volume 27 January 2016 Number 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Upcoming events Page 2 Calendar of Events Page 3 Scholarship Application Page 4 Banquet flyer page 5 CELEBRATE LIFE BANQUET The 23rd annual Celebrate Life Banquet will be held on Saturday February 20, 2016 at 6:30 p. m. The program will be a panel discussion on Every life is precious and a gift from God with a presentation by the East Texas Down Syndrome Group about the value of special needs children. Statistics show that as many as 90% of unborn babies diagnosed with Down Syndrome are aborted, while nearly all families with Down Syndrome children say they can t imagine their families without their child. We will recognize Reverend Gavin Vaverek as the Pro-Life Person of the Year. Father Gavin was the long-time pastor of St. Mary s Catholic Church in Longview. He was recently transferred to Lufkin and has led the effort to start the Deep East Texas Chapter of RTLET. We will recognize Harleton Cornerstone Church as the Pro-Life Ministry. This congregation, led by Pastor Charlotte Riddle, has been a long time leader of prolife work in their community. CEMETERY OF THE INNOCENTS The annual Cemetery of the Innocents is a powerful tool to draw attention to the tragedy of abortion in America. We mourn the loss of OVER 58 million babies by abortion since the Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision on January 22, The rows of white crosses present a silent memorial that has a profound impact on all who pass by. The cemetery saddens and draws to prayer those who respect life. It is meant to touch hearts of the undecided and confront those who favor abortion. It compassionately draws to repentance those who have had an abortion. The 2016 event is recommended from January 16 to 31. Some churches also install a banner with the suggested message: In Memorial of the 170 Baby Texans Who Die Each Day From Abortion. (61,912 for 2013 from the state website which is the latest final data available.) The good news is that this is a 10% reduction over 2012 and further reductions are expected since 2013 due to additional restrictions that have been enacted. Reservations are required by February 12, See the enclosed flyer for reservation details. 1

2 We have two sets of crosses for purchase or you can order the crosses from The Good Name Company. Contact John Maloney at They are provided as painted yardsticks; you will need one and half pieces for each cross. This year we recommend 170 crosses to represent the number of abortions daily in Texas; so you will need 255 sticks. ANNUAL MEETING The annual membership meeting will be Tuesday January 19, A notice has been mailed to all members. If you need additional information please call the telephone number on the front of this newsletter. If you are interested in serving in this ministry, contact president Tom Mittler prior to the annual meeting. SCHOLARSHIPS Please see the enclosed application for the scholarship essay contest for 2016 graduating high school seniors. You are encouraged to copy this form for your church or school. The deadline for submitting the application is January 30, Please note that we have revised the form slightly to make it clear that the scholarships are available for graduating seniors planning to attend a trade school, join the military or other career choice besides college. The essay question is new this year to go with the banquet subject. THE TEXAS RALLY FOR LIFE The Texas Alliance for Life is sponsoring the Texas Rally for Life in Austin at the Texas State Capitol on Saturday January 23, The march up Congress Ave is scheduled to begin at 1 pm. Consider joining thousands of other pro-lifers in 2 Austin to publicly show your support for LIFE. You can get more information at or phone WEBSITE Please visit to check on current events and activities. The site includes links to other helpful prolife groups and organizations. We will continue to add to the site. ANNUAL GARAGE SALE Our annual garage sale is scheduled for March 18 and 19, Please note that this is the week after spring break for Longview area schools. The sale will be held at St. Matthew s family center. It is located on Arrow Lane, one block southeast from Pine Tree Road and Dundee Road. This is our largest fundraising event which enables us to do most of our programs, including sharing this newsletter with 3,000 households and funding the scholarships. Please save your surplus, but usable, items for donation and plan to come and shop for those missing treasures. Donations can be dropped off in Longview at St. Matthew s on Arrow Lane beginning Monday March 14. We have some limited donated storage space so if you aren t able to save your items at home contact us to donate your items now. Help is always needed Monday through Thursday, March to set-up and Friday and Saturday during the sale. We need extra help Saturday afternoon for the clean-up. If you have a worthy outlet for the items remaining at the end of the sale, please contact us. This could include a church youth group interested in their own sale or a charitable thrift shop.

3 The following items did not sell during the garage sale in 2015 and are available to buy. Please contact us if you are interested. Both items are in Longview and must be picked up by the buyer. Gulbransen Player/Registering piano, manufactured in 1927 (serial number ), can be played as a regular piano, appraised for $1500, asking $600. proclamation was issued by the City of Longview: WHEREAS, Right to Life of East Texas has requested that the Mayor, by proclamation, recognize the 4 th of October as Life Chain Sunday in the City of Longview; and WHEREAS, hundreds of Longview residents will gather for an hour of prayer for our nation and a peaceful, legal and compassionate public witness on behalf of the unborn at risk of elective abortion; and NOW, THEREFORE, I, Andy Mack, by the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Longview, Texas do hereby proclaim Sunday, October 4, 2015 as Longview Life Chain in Longview. We encourage you to organize a Life Chain in your city or participate in one near you in 2016 and to check on a similar proclamation in your city. Lowrey electric organ, model TGA-44. $75, shown below: CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2016 PAST EVENTS We had the normal positive response at the Gregg County Fair booth in September. The 26th annual Life Chain was held in Longview and throughout East Texas and the country in October. The following Jan 16 to Cemetery of the Innocents Jan Texas Rally for Life, Austin Jan scholarship applications due February Celebrate Life Banquet March 18, fundraising garage sale May Mother s Day Ad deadline October Life Chain 3

4 RIGHT TO LIFE OF EAST TEXAS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION Right to Life of East Texas is offering four $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors who plan to further their careers (college, trade school, military, other). The scholarships will be awarded to individuals, not to institutions, based on the quality of the essay submitted in accordance with the theme described below. The scholarships will be presented at our annual Celebrate Life Banquet in Longview in February, 2016; the winners and their parents will be invited guests. Name Phone ( ) Address City/State/Zip Code Parents/Guardians High School Career Plan Home Church ESSAY REQUIREMENTS Theme: You and your spouse are going to have a baby. Your doctor reports it is 100% certain this baby has Down Syndrome. You must abort to be merciful to the baby and so that you will not ruin your life and your parents also so insist. Answer the doctor and your parents. TO ASSURE IMPARTIAL JUDGING DO NOT USE YOUR REAL NAME IN THE ESSAY Length: Maximum 500 words, MUST BE TYPEWRITTEN Deadline: Postmarked by JANUARY 30, 2016 Submit to: Right to Life of East Texas P. O. Box 9294 Longview, TX Telephone: Longview Right to Life of East Texas may publish my essay submitted for this scholarship Signature: Date: 4

5 RIGHT TO LIFE OF EAST TEXAS 23rd ANNUAL CELEBRATE LIFE BANQUET Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. Calvary Baptist Church 4715 Tenneryville Road At Pine Tree Road (FM1845), 2 miles north of Loop 281 Longview, Texas JOIN US FOR A DELICIOUS MEAL AND A MEMORABLE EVENING FEATURING EVERY LIFE IS PRECIOUS AND A GIFT FROM GOD A presentation by the East Texas Down Syndrome Group about the value of each life, especially specialneeds babies who are frequently aborted. At the banquet we will honor: REV. GAVIN VAVEREK PRO-LIFE PERSON OF THE YEAR HARLETON CORNERSTONE CHURCH OUTSTANDING PRO-LIFE MINISTRY FOUR PRO-LIFE ESSAY WINNERS FROM EAST TEXAS HIGH SCHOOLS WILL RECEIVE $1,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS RESERVATIONS REQUIRED $25 per person, attendees will be seated together upon request up to eight per table Seating is limited, mail or phone for reservations by Friday February 12, 2016 Reserve seats at $25 per plate, total enclosed $ Name(s) Address Phone Tickets will be mailed if payment received by Feb. 1, otherwise check-in at the door 5 Mail to: Right to Life of East Texas P. O. Box 9294 Longview, TX Phone: (leave a message)

6 Right to Life of East Texas P.O. Box 9294 Longview TX NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID LONGVIEW, TX PERMIT NO. 43 DIRECTORS Tom Mittler Chris Hagstrom Gail Gilbert Neal Frey Pamela Payne Mark Dickson Susan Wells Pat Smith Peggy Duvall Phone RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED MEMBERSHIP FORM MAIL TO: RIGHT TO LIFE OF EAST TEXAS PO BOX 9294 LONGVIEW TX YES, I would like to become a member of Right to Life of East Texas. Enclosed are 2016 membership dues ($10 for a family; $7.50 for single). I agree to promote respect for all innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death. Date Name Address City County State Phone Zip address [You will receive the quarterly newsletter that will keep you informed of pro-life activities and news.] 6