It was a pleasant evening for those who turned out for the Moniteau County Fair Vespers Service Sunday evening, Aug. 4, at the Fairgrounds Main Arena. Although there was the threat of rain, the California Ministerial Alliance event had no weather interruptions.
Andrew Lovins, Pastor of the California and Salem United Church of Christ congregations, presented the message, based on Mark 12, about "Love."
According to the Scriptures, Jesus when asked which was the greatest commandment, he gave the answer that greatest commandment was to love God with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength and the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.
Lovins asked, "If this is true, why all of the rest?"
He said that things are not always as they appear.
"Jesus had a way of getting to the heart of the matter," he said. "Love. If you miss this, you have nothing. You know you love God when you love your neighbor."
The Church scholars have said for millennia that the root of all sin is pride. "Some scholars now say the root of evil for some people is a feeling of inferiority."
Lovins went on to say many people don't love themselves. While God loved people so much he gave his Son as a sacrifice for people, people don't quite match that.
Lovins said that although God made this sacrifice for people who He loves as they are, that same love means He doesn't leave those people as they are.
Jeremy Barnard, pastor of Lebanon Baptist Church, led the congregational singing and read the Scripture, Phil 2:1-11. He also, with keyboardist Michele Bilyeu, sang a duet "Remember Me."
Roy Barnard, pastor of Salem Baptist Church, gave the opening prayer.
Eddie Schoeneberg, pastor of Main Street Baptist Church, thanked the people on behalf of the Ministerial Alliance for their support, both spiritually and financially before an offering was taken. Allen Sparks was recognized for his work on the sound system.
The offering assists the organization in its work in the community. One recent item was to help the school in its anti-bullying effort by bringing the Rachel's Challege program to the local school.
Greg Morrow, pastor of California First Baptist Church closed the service with prayer.