Treasure Valley Prays

Reimagining Church Together
SHARING STORIES AND EXPLORING SPIRITUAL CONNECTION

We are ELCA leaders and pastors from the Treasure Valley and Northwest Intermountain Synod.
Together, we are reimagining and revisiting what it is to be church together.

Devotions – Monday and Friday

Topical Reflection – Wednesday

All the Days of My Life

Casey Cross August 18, 2021 4 Comments

I’m struggling to find words to encapsulate all the thoughts and feelings I’ve had this week in a way that makes sense for a devotion. The world is overwhelming. There is so much outside of me that leaves me bewildered and exhausted. On top of that, there is just as much going on inside of

Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University

In Thy Light We See Light

Kat Tigerman August 16, 2021 3 Comments

For with you is the fountain of life;in your light we see light.(Psalm 36:9) The Psalm for today from the Revised Common Lectionary is Psalm 36. The second half of verse 9, “in thy light we see light” is the motto of my alma matter, Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. This phrase is prominent throughout

Scorching Heat

Linda Worden August 13, 2021 1 Comment

On one of the hot days we’ve endured this summer, I suddenly pictured Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness, unprotected from the scorching heat. Ishmael was Abraham’s (then Abram) first son. When Sarah (then Sarai) despaired of bearing a child, she gave Hagar, her Egyptian slave, to Abram, hoping that Hagar would be able to

Becoming Truth-Tellers

Mia Crosthwaite August 11, 2021 2 Comments

“What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.” Ephesians 4:25 Taking in the extravagant love of Christ changes us. God loves every

Seek Silence

Penelope Smith August 9, 2021 1 Comment

In his book Money Enough, author Douglas Hicks references 1 Kings 19, the familiar story of the prophet Elijah, harassed by Queen Jezebel and her thugs, who flees to the wilderness wanting to give up and die. While there he is visited by an angel who gives him food and water. The angel sends him

How Can I Help?

Keith Hammer August 6, 2021 1 Comment

Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking

Peacemaking

Meggan Manlove August 4, 2021 3 Comments

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” John 14:27 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord

Signs of Kindness

Kent Schaufelberger August 2, 2021 1 Comment

…add to your goodness, knowledge; to your knowledge, add self-control;to your self-control, add endurance; to your endurance, add godliness; toyour godliness, add kindness and to your kindness add love…”2 peter 1:5 Kindness is a gift that means a lot to people. When someone does a kind thing for us, we usually feel touched and grateful.

Food/Life for Everyone!

Keith Hammer July 30, 2021 1 Comment

Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from

Fluttering of Paper Wings

Kathryn Baerwald July 28, 2021 2 Comments

This past week I was in Washington, DC, where we had lived for over 31 years. I visited friends, attended a lovely retirement party for my former boss, and drove through the old neighborhood. The one thing I did not do was go downtown to the National Gallery of Art (NGA), or more precisely, its

What happens when we pray?

Heidi Gainan July 26, 2021 2 Comments

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”(Matthew 7:7) But. What about when it doesn’t seem to work? As

In it for the Long Game

Susan Bruns Rowe July 23, 2021 2 Comments

Like several congregations in our cluster, my congregation of Immanuel Lutheran is about to start the process of calling a new pastor. I serve on the Mission and Life Committee which has the task of creating a current picture of our congregation as well as a vision of who we might become—who God is calling

The Spiritual Blessing in Christ

Bob Parrish July 21, 2021 1 Comment

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children

A Story to Tell

Sarah Henthorn July 19, 2021 1 Comment

The stories we tell about ourselves and others matter. The stories we tell about our God matter. Stories are how we build relationships and cultivate faith. Throughout the Old Testament, we see the people of God being instructed to remember how God has engaged them. Sometimes they are called to remember by creating festivals and

Please Fill Out Survey for Future of TVPrays.org

tvprays July 18, 2021 No Comments

Beginning in March 2020 and continuing until the present time, the Treasure Valley Cluster of ELCA congregations has sponsored a website we call TVPrays.org. We are thankful to Lin Carlson who has served as our volunteer Web Master and Designer and Keith Hammer who has been the volunteer scheduler for the Daily Devotions. As we