From an article in The Northwestern Lutheran:

Not even the day-long rain could dampen the spirits of those assembled for the diamond anniversary services of St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, rural Warrens, Wisconsin, on October 12, 1969. The anniversary speakers were former pastors of the congregation. Pastor Gerhard Geiger of Roscoe, North Dakota, addressed the congregation on the basis of Psalm 7:17,18 in the morning service. He encouraged them to continue to rejoice in God's mercy and grace in Christ that had been freely given them for the past 75 years.

Pastor Erling Carmichael of Fairfax, Minnesota, was the speaker in the afternoon service. He used the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:11,12 as the basis for his sermon. He reminded the congregation that it was God who had preserved it through the years, and that even though His people often are faithless, He abides ever faithful and preserves His Gospel unto us.

Greetings were read from former pastors and from the conference visitor in behalf of member congregations of the Southwestern Conference of the Western Wisconsin District. Some 300 people were present for the dinner and lunch in the afternoon in the newly redecorated basement. Since the church seats scarcely 100 people, this too was a cause for rejoicing. The congregation also observed the 40th anniversary of its house of worship at the same time. The anniversary booklet includes a picture of the altar and the words of the 75th Psalm. The words of the Psalmist appropriately give expression to the congregation's thankfulness for having reached this milestone in its history: "Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks; ... I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob."

Henry H. Klug, April 12, 1970

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