It was a relatively cool evening, with a little rain, for those who turned out for the Moniteau County Fair Vespers Service Sunday evening, July 31. The event, presented by the California Ministerial Alliance, was at the Fairgrounds Main Arena. A concert presented by the California Community Ensemble preceded the service. Following a performance of the national anthem, the ensemble presented five tunes including "Hope Springs eternal," "Brother James Air" and "Precious Lord, Take My Hand." The ensemble also accompanied the singing of three hymns during the service.
Two members of the 2016 ensemble, David Garnett and Norman Rohrbach, performed in the 1966 brass ensemble.
In the welcome to the 50th annual Vespers Service at the Moniteau County Fair, Dr. Peter Kurowski, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, said, "We welcome you tonight on behalf of the California Ministerial Alliance as we celebrate our 50th anniversary of the Fair Vespers Service as part of the 150th anniversary of the Moniteau County Fair. "Pride, Progress, and tradition" is the theme for the fair this year as well as tonight's service."
Kurowski pointed out that the bulletin for the 2016 Vespers was inside a copy of the original 1966 Vespers bulletin. He talked of how the turmoil in the country 50 years ago is believed to have led the churches of Moniteau County to sponsor the first Vespers Service. It has continued as a tradition at the fair for half a century. Kurowski spoke of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the assassination of the president in 1963, and the continuing turmoil with rioting in several major cities in 1966.
Casey Malley, Ministerial Alliance President, gave the invocation and prayer. Following the first hymn "Seek Ye First," the congregants sang the opening hymn from 1966, "America the Beautiful." The song was led by Jack Bowlin, who served as song leader 50 years ago. It was also noted that Jack Bowlin took part in the fair as a Boy Scout 75 years ago. Another who was in the audience 50 years ago was Sonny Ziehmer, who later became son-in-law of the Rev. Tommy Barrett. Barrett was pastor of California First Baptist and was listed in the 1966 bulletin.
Following a vocal solo of "His Eye is On the Sparrow" by Jeremy Barnard, Scripture reading by Malley and singing of the second hymn from 1966, "Onward Christian Soldiers," Kurowski returned to the microphone to deliver the message of the evening.
Kurowski began the message "Jesus, Our pride, and Paradosis (Tradition)" by talking about a rainbow which had appeared briefly in the southeastern sky, and how it represents salvation, restoration and resurrection. Quoting St. Paul in the Resurrection chapter, I Cor. 3-4, "For I delivered unto you first all that which I also received, how Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rise again the third day according to the Scriptures"
Kurowski referenced the song about how God always has his eye on every sparrow, as well as all creatures, every time a rainbow is seen, as referenced in Gen. 9. "Jesus is giving to California the Humpty Dumpty planet and putting it back together again," he said. "The two great extremes of life are anarchy and authoritarianism. Anarchy grows out of lawlessness. Authoritarianism grows out of 'salvation by works' - which does not work!"
"Jesus is giving to California the Humpty Dumpty planet and putting it back together again," Kurowski said. He went to say the answer is hope. "Hope," he said, "is "Faith toward the future based on what God has perfectly done through Jesus Christ. Tonight we celebrate God's infinite, infinite love for us all." He said the Old Testament predicted 600 years earlier that the Savior would be raised from the dead, "raised with on-going power to bring joy and hope. Hope is faith towards the future based on God's perfect love."
"Three cheers for 50 years," Kurowski said. "We are here tonight celebrating not only the 50th anniversary of the Vespers Fair Service, but celebrating 150 years of blessings from God to this community through the Moniteau County Fair."
Before he played a trumpet solo, "Praise to the Lord Almighty," as the offering was collected, Pastor Andrew Lovins, of the California United Church of Christ, said, " Sometimes you hear a sermon. Sometimes you hear the Word of God. Tonight we've heard the Word of God."
Malley said half of the funds collected in the offering will go to the Buddy Packs program which helps less fortunate children in the local area to have food on the weekends.
Prayers were requested for Brother Greg Morrow, pastor of California First Baptist Church, and his mission team which is safely in the Ukraine.