The story goes that during the Nazi Holocaust members of a church located near railroad tracks where cattle cars transported Jews to their deaths became disturbed when on Sunday mornings they could hear those Jews crying out for help.
The solution was for congregants to begin singing a little louder when they heard the train whistle blow in the distance, so their worship service wouldn’t be disturbed.
If what happened yesterday at the First Congregational Church in Winter Park, Florida, doesn’t fit that description to a modern-day tee, I don’t know what does. 1.2 million babies are being killed every year in America by abortion, and let’s hide the atrocity from the church with sheets.
This is the church where the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando, Jenna Tosh, attends. (Read backstory here.) It is also City Commissioner Sarah Sprinkle’s church. Sprinkle is one of the four who support a free speech ban against protesting at people’s homes.
The First Congregational Church is an affiliate of the United Church of Christ, a pro-abortion denomination of which Barack Obama is also a member.
Yesterday, FCC church members got wind that pro-lifers planned a picket and 30 of them stood ready wearing deathscort vests and carrying sheets. Click on all photos to enlarge. In this one, they look angelic don’t they? (“Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.” ~ II Corinthians 11:14) A close-up reveals this was their goal. Many are wearing white flowered halo headbands….
Pro-lifers were smart. They simply held signs quoting Scripture…
Many of the participants were children…
One of FCC members wrote a preemptive note to church members:
We want to make you aware of a potential demonstration this Sunday morning near the premises of our church building. It has come to our attention that a group plans to gather to protest two particular issues. First, they want to protest the work of one of our members, Jenna Tosh, who is the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando. We know Jenna and support her in her work and as a member of our congregation. Second, this group may protest the fact that we ordain gay and lesbian clergy. This is something we support as an Open and Affirming congregation and as individuals.
Our church has always stood on the side of justice and freedom. We have always strived to create a community that supports thoughtful dialogue. However, we do not want any members to be surprised on Sunday should you see protestors on the sidewalks with signs, posters and pictures, some of which may be quite graphic. We are making appropriate plans to create a welcoming environment. Members who have been trained to escort you into the building will be on hand at every entrance should you wish any assistance. They will be wearing bright neon yellow vests….
We hope you will attend worship this Sunday, September 23rd, as we stand united in what we believe and as we demonstrate our support for Jenna Tosh and her family. This will be an opportunity to be the church together as we bear witness to our faith and the Still Speaking God.
The City Commission plans its final vote on the free speech ban tonight.
As an interesting aside, Jenna Tosh’s brother-in-law is Comedy Central’s Daniel Tosh.
Here’s a short video clip to give you a sense of the event…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClCDNXgljic[/youtube]
[HT: Jay Rogers at Forerunner.com]
As other commentators have observed, such images should not be suppressed from the public consciousness any more than pictures of famine or the reality of war. 
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.