Treasure Valley Prays

Reimagining Church Together

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 with daily devotions.

Star Words

Penelope Smith December 18, 2020 4 Comments

“Lead me in your truth, and teach me.” Psalm 25:5 In January 2018, Trinity Lutheran began our annual Epiphany practice known as “star words”. Here is how it works: Hundreds of stars, each with a different word, are cut out and placed word-side-down in a basket or on a table. After Holy Communion, each person

Midweek Advent Worship

tvprays December 17, 2020 No Comments

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Advent Blues

John Hergert December 16, 2020 3 Comments

“Advent does not begin in buoyancy or celebration or in a shopping spree. The natural habitat of Advent is a community of hurt. It is the voice of those who know profound grief, who articulate it and do not cover it ever” Walter Bruggemann Those words are from one of my favorite biblical scholars Walter

I Wonder As I Wander

Kathryn Baerwald December 15, 2020 No Comments

When I was a small child, I loved to look at the night sky. Doing so in Milwaukee was not the best experience, given all the ambient light, but what a difference when we were at the lake. My father and I would sit on the dock and he would tell me the names of

Believing is Seeing…

Kelly Preboski December 14, 2020 No Comments

I recently received a text from a former staff member, Mike, checking in and sharing that he just watched the Santa Clause movie starring Tim Allen. He shared that, on this particular occasion, he was surprised during this reviewing of the movie. He discovered he was struck by metaphor for faith and the story of

God’s glory revealed……is Love shared

Heidi Gainan December 13, 2020 3 Comments

“Then, the glory of the Lord will be revealedand all flesh shall see it together.”Isaiah 40:5 The other day as I listened to my favorite devotion app (Pray-As-You-Go) this was part of the reading of the day. I love these Advent readings from Isaiah and PAYG always has some lovely, ponderous questions to chew on.

Actively Waiting

Kari Sansgaard December 12, 2020 3 Comments

https://tvprays.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/actively-waiting.mp4 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lordin the land of the living.Wait for the Lord;be strong, and let your heart take courage;wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:13-14 Many of our devotions in recent days have pointed us to God’s goodness “in the land of the living” – in nature, in

Advent Hope

Sara Manning December 11, 2020 1 Comment

We journey through this Advent season with COVID cases being on the rise across the country. With the country and our state setting new case and death numbers almost every day and at an alarming rate. We journey through Advent in the midst of a global pandemic that has hopefully made us realize how interconnected

Midweek Advent Worship

tvprays December 10, 2020 No Comments

View video of last night’s Advent Worship with ELCA churches in Treasure Valley.

The Show is About to Begin

Diane McGeoch December 9, 2020 2 Comments

You know what time it is, it is time that you awake out of sleep because salvation is coming near to us…the night is far spent, and the shining day is at hand. Therefore, cast off the works of darkness and prepare yourself to put on the armor of light, prepare yourselves in hope. (Romans

A Song as We Wait

Kelly Loy December 8, 2020 1 Comment

Can we start by listening to a song? Here is the link to Luther College choirs from 2013 singing the piece I have in mind. It is called “Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain” written by Carolyn Jennings, based on scripture from Isaiah 40:9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRU_JESEHJc&feature=emb_logo This is my Advent song. I grew up

Waiting for……..

Penelope Smith December 7, 2020 1 Comment

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon…There was also a prophetess, Anna…” Luke 2:25 – 38 My childhood memories of Christmas include a lot of waiting. Of course, there was waiting for the time when I could open my presents and, waiting for everyone else to finish opening their presents so I could

Feast of St. Nicholas

Keith Hammer December 6, 2020 2 Comments

Video presentation

What Are You Waiting For?

Kent Schaufelberger December 5, 2020 1 Comment

“Wha-at a-are yo-ou WAITING for? Christmas?” It’s a question I used to harangue batters with as a baseball catcher in college–especially when a batter was excessively finicky at which pitch he wanted to swing. The question is probably asked a million times—thrown at the direction of the driver ahead of us who is more intent

The Comedy We Need

Meggan Manlove December 4, 2020 2 Comments

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then were we like those who dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter; and our tongue with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed.” (Psalm 126:1-3) I have never been so

Hope for the New Year

Casey Cross December 28, 2020 1 Comment

Video – Hope prepares the way for the coming of the Christ child. Hope is the foundation from which our faith grows. Hope stirs our hearts toward shared purpose and the future Kingdom of God promised in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. When we hope, we share our faith with the world.