California Democrat

In spite of temperature nearing 100 degrees a couple of hundred residents turned out for the Moniteau County Fair Vespers Service Sunday evening, July 31, at the fairgrounds Main Arena bleachers. The event was sponsored by the California Ministerial Alliance. Bottles of water were passed out to those present.

Special recognition was given to Alan Sparks by the Ministerial Alliance for his years of assisting in the Vespers service by working the sound system.

Dr. Peter Kurowski, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, California, presented the sermon, titled "Job, Jesus, Joy," taken from the Book of Job. The Scripture for the sermon, Job 19:23-27, was read by the Rev. Eddie Schoeneberg, pastor of Main Street Baptist Church.

Kurowski said the Book of Job brings thoughts of suffering and then brings thoughts of why people suffer.

"If God is good and gracious and all powerful, why is there suffering in the world?" he asked.

Just as with Job, it becomes a more important question when "the suffering comes into our own zip code," Kurowski said.

For more of this story check out the Aug. 3 issue of the California Democrat.