wonder Archives - Treasure Valley Prays

Wonderment!

Post author:Keith Hammer
Post published:December 22, 2022
Post category:Keith Hammer
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Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46)Mary’s song (often called the Magnificat from the Latin word “magnify) looms large in the texts from the Daily Lectionary (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, page 1121) for this day, two days before Christmas Eve.I draw your attention to two brief gifts from others to help you center your meditation and prayers related to this beautiful carol of the universe.Joel B. Green in his commentary in the New Interpreters’…

Burnishing Christmas

Post author:Susan Bruns Rowe
Post published:December 23, 2020
Post category:Susan Bruns Rowe
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I have cherished memories of Christmas from my childhood. I remember the anticipation I felt when the Advent wreath was added to the church chancel, how I watched intently each week as another candle was lit. I especially looked forward to the lighting of the pink candle, the joy candle, which meant Christmas was almost upon us. My parents were of German heritage, so it was our custom to open presents on Christmas Eve, following a candlelight worship service at our country church…

Star Words

Post author:Penelope Smith
Post published:December 18, 2020
Post category:Penelope Smith
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“Lead me in your truth, and teach me.” Psalm 25:5In 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 randomly selects a star, no peeking allowed. We don’t choose our word; our word chooses us. We ponder these words during the year, asking God what He’d like us…

I Wonder As I Wander

Post author:Kathryn Baerwald
Post published:December 15, 2020
Post category:Kathryn Baerwald
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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 the constellations and how to find them. I would look at the sky, marvel at its beauty and be entertained with stories of why the stars, according to…

Believing is Seeing…

Post author:Kelly Preboski
Post published:December 14, 2020
Post category:Kelly Preboski
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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 Jesus that is contained within this film. He particularly shared how he was struck by a line, “seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing” as true wisdom toward our…

Now What?

Post author:Susan Bruns Rowe
Post published:November 11, 2020
Post category:Susan Bruns Rowe
Post comments:4 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, but in its wake comes the unspoken question, "Now what?" How do we begin to come together as a nation? How do we work together to stop the spread…