Homily for the 4-H Fair Opening Vespers Service

Tonight was the opening of our 2025 Miami County Fair and although those in charge brought the message God laid on their hearts I was given a different one I'd like to share with you.

Good evening, beloved 4-H members, families, volunteers, and friends. As we gather tonight for this Vespers service, the air is filled with anticipation. The 4-H fair is about to begin—a vibrant celebration of hard work, creativity, and community. Before the barns open, the exhibits shine, and the ribbons are awarded, let us pause to center our hearts, lift our spirits, and give thanks to God for bringing us together. This moment is sacred, a chance to reflect on our journey and seek God’s guidance for the days ahead.

The 4-H pledge is our guiding light: “I pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, and my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.” These words aren’t just a promise we recite; they’re a call to live with purpose, rooted in faith and service. Tonight, let’s explore how these four H’s shape not only our fair but our lives, and how God’s word illuminates our path.

Head: Clearer Thinking

The fair is a showcase of your brilliant minds at work. Whether you’ve raised a prize-winning calf, designed a robotics project, crafted a quilt, or grown a towering sunflower, your head has been busy—planning, learning, and solving problems. Clear thinking is a gift, but it flourishes when guided by wisdom. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” As you present your projects, trust that God is guiding your thoughts. And let your head stay open—to new ideas, to feedback, and to the wisdom of others. James 1:5 adds, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Ask for wisdom this week, and let your clearer thinking shine as a testament to your growth.

Heart: Greater Loyalty

Your heart is the heartbeat of 4-H. It’s what binds you to your club, your mentors, and each other. The fair isn’t just about competition; it’s about loyalty—to your community and to the values you hold dear. Think of the late nights spent helping a friend with their project, or the encouragement you’ve given a younger member. That’s heart. In John 13:34-35, Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Your loyalty shows in how you celebrate each other’s successes, lift up those who struggle, and welcome newcomers with open arms. Let this fair be a place where your heart grows in love, reflecting the boundless love of Christ. And as 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 reminds us, “Love is patient, love is kind… it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Let your heart’s loyalty persevere through every moment of this fair.

Hands: Larger Service

Your hands tell a story of effort and care. They’ve fed animals, planted seeds, stitched fabric, coded programs, and built creations that will dazzle us this week. The fair displays the work of your hands, but it also calls you to use those hands for larger service. Galatians 6:9-10 urges, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.” Your projects are more than entries; they’re offerings that inspire and teach others. But service goes beyond the exhibit hall. It’s in the way you help set up a booth, clean up after an event, or lend a hand to someone in need. Ecclesiastes 9:10 adds, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” This week, let your hands work with might—not just for your own goals but for the good of this community. Your service is a reflection of God’s hands shaping the world through you.

Health: Better Living

Finally, health reminds us to care for ourselves and others so we can live fully for God’s purpose. The fair is exhilarating, but it can also be exhausting. You’ll be up early, running from one event to another, and pouring your energy into every moment. Psalm 23:1-3 offers comfort: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.” God invites us to rest, to find balance, and to nurture our bodies, minds, and spirits. Matthew 11:28 echoes this, as Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Take time this week to laugh with friends, eat a nourishing meal, and pause to pray. Encourage each other to stay healthy, because better living equips us to serve our clubs, communities, and world. Your health is a gift—cherish it, and help others do the same.

As we stand at the opening of this 4-H fair, let’s see it as more than a week of events. It’s a celebration of who you are becoming—thinkers, lovers, servants, and stewards of God’s creation. It’s a chance to witness how your work, guided by faith and supported by this community, bears fruit. Colossians 3:23-24 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Whether you win a blue ribbon or face a setback, know that your efforts honor God and strengthen the fabric of 4-H.

Let me share a brief story. Last year, I heard about a young 4-H member who spent months raising a goat for the fair. When the day came, her goat didn’t place as she’d hoped. But instead of discouragement, she chose to help a younger member prepare for their first show. Her head learned resilience, her heart showed loyalty, her hands served generously, and her health grew through finding joy in others. That’s the spirit of 4-H, and that’s the spirit we carry into this fair.

Let us pray:

Gracious God, we thank You for the gift of 4-H and the joy of this fair. Bless the heads that think clearly, seeking Your wisdom. Bless the hearts that love loyally, reflecting Your grace. Bless the hands that serve generously, building Your kingdom. And bless the lives that seek health, living fully for You. Guide us this week to encourage one another, to celebrate every effort, and to grow closer to You and each other. May this fair be a light of Your love in our community. In Your holy name, Amen.

Go forth into this fair with joy, with faith, and with the 4-H pledge alive in you. May God bless you all, and may this fair be a time of growth, connection, and gratitude.

DMMC 6-22-25