Happy 70th Anniversary, Pastor Clem!

On Sunday, we celebrated a very special anniversary: the 70th anniversary of Pastor Clem's ordination. 

Following his graduation from Immanuel Theological Seminary, Pastor Clem was ordained at his home congregation of Holy Trinity at Appila, SA, by his uncle, Pastor J Ernst Materne, on 4 April 1948.

Pastor Stuart made a special occasion of this anniversary during our Sunday service, listing the many congregations Pastor Clem had served, including:

• The Lower Murray Home Mission at Murray Bridge; 
• The South East Home Mission at Bordertown; 
• Nain and the Tabor Lutheran Church in Tanunda, SA; 
• Bethania, QLD; 
• Temora, NSW; and 
• Ropeley, QLD.

Margaret joined Pastor Clem in his service to God's people in 1951 and so was with him from his second congregation at Bordertown.

Even after Pastor Clem and Margaret's retirement to Wagga, he continued to serve as locum pastor at many parishes across NSW (and even for a time in New Zealand) until he formally concluded his ministry at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Milbrulong, on 13 January 2013.

Pastor Clem's wider church work was also highlighted, such as his rewarding work as chaplain at 3 aged care homes, his 35 years in Sunday School administration, his editing work for a number of church periodicals; and his work at a District level.

Pastor Stuart also read a number of messages of congratulations to Pastor Clem from colleagues across the state.

After the service, four generations of the Zanker family gathered in the hall with the rest of the congregation to share in a special 70th Anniversary cake.

On the occasion of his 50th Anniversary, Pastor Clem had this message:

I trust that the important emphasis has been, in the words of St Paul in 1 Corinthians 1: “We preach Christ crucified” – the message that God in love has reached out to sinners through His Son, Jesus Christ, and still continues to do so.  

For some who think that they are able to put themselves into a right relationship with God this Gospel is a stumbling block. 

For others who think they are able to arrive at real truth by their own intellectual abilities it is plain foolishness and nonsense. 

I trust that my ministry in its various aspects has proclaimed, again in St Paul’s words, that our Lord Jesus Christ is “the power of God and the wisdom of God”.