Seventy years of faithful service

Few people can say they have served in a role for 70 years but Hedley Scholz can! Hedley, 89, was recognised earlier this month for seven decades of volunteering as a lay reader for his Lutheran community at Eudunda in country South Australia.

In 1954, Hedley was approached by members of the then Julia Ascension Lutheran Church to become a lay reader as the incumbent, August Obst, wanted to step down from the role. As Hedley’s father was also a lay reader at Julia, he was encouraged by his father’s example. At the time, the church constitution stated that a lay reader had to be male and be at least 21 years old. As Hedley was technically to young, the congregation decided to bend the rules!

Hedley read at Julia for 11 years. After his 1963 marriage to Joy Materne – who continues to be a strong support for Hedley in his role – the couple transferred their membership to St Paul’s Lutheran Church Eudunda, which was affiliated with the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia. After Church Union in 1966, Hedley was elected to lay read in Emmaus Lutheran Church, which was demolished in 1979 and replaced with a new church building – the current St John’s Lutheran Church.

Hedley is thankful to God for giving him a strong and clear voice and confesses that having milked cows for 69 years, he has had plenty of practice at shouting at the cows and dogs, which may have helped to strengthen his voice!

On Sunday April 7 after Hedley’s lay reading service, St John’s chairman Ben Schutz thanked him for 70 years’ service to the Lutheran Church and presented him with a hardcover copy of the Lutheran Study Bible.

While he appreciated the kindness and generosity of the St John’s members, Hedley said that he enjoys lay reading and witnessing for the Lord and will continue as long as he is able. Hedley is set to celebrate another milestone in August this year – his 90th birthday.

Alison Schutz is a member of St John’s Eudunda in South Australia.