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.

Moving to Idaho

Diane McGeoch November 18, 2020 No Comments

Our move to Idaho happened in a surprising way. We had been doing a year of research on places to retire. We had visited several different states and areas, including Boise. During our time in Boise, we saw several homes with a realtor, including one we really liked that wasn’t on the market. Our realtor

Hope Springs Eternal

Gretchen Bingea November 17, 2020 No Comments

It was the first time in months that I saw a medical doctor smiling on TV while talking about the corona virus. The news had just broken that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine may be 90% effective. In a world desperate to bring the deadly outbreak under control, this was “hope in a bottle,” as the doctor

Rainbow

Kari Sansgaard November 16, 2020 2 Comments

Whenever the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the eternal covenant between God and all living creatures (Genesis 9:16). Donning a glistening ruby red evening gown, singer/songwriter Pink paid tribute to the 75th anniversary of the “Wizard of Oz” movie by singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” at the 2014 Oscars.

A Thanksgiving Hymn for 2020

Keith Hammer November 15, 2020 2 Comments

(Written ca 1637) “Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” Jeremiah 33:11 In less than two weeks we will be celebrating a Thanksgiving, as we say, like no other that most of us have celebrated in our lifetimes. In these days the cases of

Longing for Peace

Ken Carrothers November 14, 2020 3 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I find myself pretty tired lately. Now today my tiredness could certainly be related to my sleep pattern last night. My four year old was kind enough to accidently set my bedroom alarm to midnight. Now truth be told, I am not sure why we still have that particular

Rain or Shine

Kent Schaufelberger November 13, 2020 3 Comments

It’s November—the warmth of mid-fall weather is gone—replaced by cooler, almost winter-like weather. Gray clouds cover up blue skies and the last of the yellow, golden, and red leaves fall as it rains, leaving the tree branches bare. It’s sort of a depressing time of the year, don’t you think? We can sort of look

A History in Guitars

Justin Tigerman November 12, 2020 1 Comment

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Now What?

Susan Bruns Rowe November 11, 2020 3 Comments

In the past week my heart and my prayers have been all over the map. I’ve experienced gratitude and wonder, fear and anxiety, relief. But never true peace. Peace eludes me. I have spoken to friends and acquaintances who tell me the same thing. That peace feels out of reach. Our contentious election is over,

I Wait for the Lord

Di Seba November 10, 2020 1 Comment

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,and in his word I hope;my soul waits for the LORDmore than those who watch for the morning,more than those who watch for the morning.O Israel, hope in the LORD!For with the LORD there is steadfast love,and with him is great power to redeem.It is he who will

To Dance. To Wail.

Kari Sansgaard November 9, 2020 No Comments

When in trouble, call out to me; when I save you, sing my praise” (Ps. 50:15) Anne Lamott calls, “Help,” the first great prayer. She identifies Help, Thanks and Wow as the simple prayers people need to endure the challenging parts of life. These are the prayers, she suggests, that lead us through trouble toward

Unlikely Blessings

Sarah Henthorn November 8, 2020 3 Comments

Last week, the gospel passage read in many of our services was the beatitudes. I’ve always loved this passage. At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus proclaims blessing. Not only that but Jesus blesses the most unlikely people. He proclaims the gifts and favor of God’s kingdom will fall not on the social media darlings

A Brilliant Light in These Very Cloudy Times

Kathryn Baerwald November 7, 2020 2 Comments

For the past six years, I have served as the Executive Manager of Impact1890, a grant-making organization that provides funding to organizations that assist older adults who are aging in place. While grants have supported many different programs, all address the most urgent needs of older adults who are often forgotten and isolated, particularly in

Wishful Thinking or Faithful Hope?

Casey Cross November 6, 2020 1 Comment

Disney fairytales are well known for not only their animation, but their whimsical, catchy music as well. Knowing the Disney classics means knowing the popular songs found in Cinderella, Pinocchio, and Sleeping Beauty. We hear a common theme in these enduring lullabies, best represented in the lyrics sung by Cinderella to her animal friends, A

Enemy in the Night!

Kelly Loy November 5, 2020 2 Comments

It was my husband’s birthday last week, and my young daughter and I made an effort to get exactly the number of his age of his favorite dark chocolates as part of his gift. She had carefully arranged the chocolate pieces on our kitchen table, and they were left there when we went to bed