This Sunday, guest preacher (and dear friend of Pastor Jessie’s) Margaret Okada-Scheck brings a powerful message on courage in divisive times, drawn from the fiery words of Jesus in Luke 12 and the prophet Jeremiah’s image of God’s word as a blazing fire. With honesty, humor, and deep compassion, Margaret reflects on her own wrestling with righteous anger, the urgency of our moment, and the challenge of choosing faith-filled action when the world feels overwhelming. Through the story of Lutheran pastor and anti-Nazi resister Dietrich Bonhoeffer, she explores what it means to embrace “costly grace” and to live out Jesus’ teachings in tangible, everyday ways.
In a world awash with outrage, division, and constant bad news, Margaret invites us to ground ourselves in God’s unshakable love and to let that love fuel our courage. She reminds us that building bridges instead of walls, welcoming the stranger, and tending to one another’s hearts are not small acts—they are the work of God’s kingdom. This is a call to be lanterns for God’s light in the places only we can reach, trusting that together, our courage can spark healing, connection, and hope.
ALSO HERE IS THE LINK TO THE
FULL 2025 VBS SLIDESHOW
