Hopefully, you have been reading the daily devotions/reflections offered by your fellow Lutheran brothers in sisters throughout the Treasure Valley. When Covid 19 resulted in congregations worshiping only online, area Lutherans found a creative way to deepen connections with each other and share life in Christ. It was through TVprays.org. Therein, daily devotions offered by various members of the church – clergy and lay – helped minimize feelings of isolation and improved our shared humanity. In my estimation, TVprays.org opens a portal, an “upside” if you will of our living through the Covid 19 pandemic, into the possibilities of what ministry can be.

As all expressions of the church are changing (congregations, social service agencies, synods, and “church-wide”) all benefit whenever collaboration flourishes. Ministry done together – “we” rather than just – “me” is more efficient and more rewarding. For example, locally during 2020 and 2021 several of our congregations have done young people’s ministry (Confirmation) together via ZOOM. Students and teachers have grown together.

You, as Treasure Valley ELCA Lutherans, are at the beginning of a most exciting ministry. You, like those early members of the church, just years after Jesus walked the earth, are invited into Pentecost. God’s spirit poured out on them so many years ago is still present and active today! Each day God’s spirit continues to flow on you to refresh and to help in doing all things anew!

As Grace and Redeemer dream about where God might be calling you as congregations, I encourage you to continue to partner with each other and to look out onto the horizon for ways to collaborate more deeply and broadly.

Over the next few months the Call Committee, the councils, and eventually each congregation, will talk about partnering as a way to do ministry. AT THIS TIME, I AM INVITING AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS OF EACH CONGREGATION TO JOIN ME FOR A DREAMING SESSION ON SATURDAY, JUNE 5. We will gather with dreamers from other congregations to contemplate building on the partnering experienced during the pandemic. We will dream about what might be possible here in this place and time. All dreamers, at least two from each congregation, please join me on June 5 to be present with God’s uncontrollable Spirit, to dream of what might be!

Your fellow dreamer and dream supporter,
Transition Pastor, David Ernat