A Life in Harmony: Bill Sedwick’s 45-Year Legacy of Song and Stewardship at Christ Church Glendale
From modernizing the church treasury to singing in the choir for over 40 years, August Volunteer of the Month Bill Sedwick has spent 45 years serving Christ Church Glendale. Read about his incredible legacy of music, stewardship, and faithful community leadership.
If you’ve spent any time at Christ Church Glendale, you’ve likely felt the positive impact of our Volunteer of the Month for August, Bill Sedwick. With an incredible 45 years of dedication to our parish, Bill has witnessed firsthand its transformation from a small village church into a vital community cornerstone in Glendale, Ohio.
His contributions are extensive. Serving on the vestry, leading as Treasurer since 1993, and lending his voice to our choir since 1981, Bill brings his expertise in finance and his passion for music together to cultivate a thriving environment of faith and fellowship here at Christ Church Glendale.
Take My Silver and My Gold
In the early 1990s, Christ Church Glendale’s financial books were kept by Ross Barrett, who was in his nineties and ready to enter a well-deserved retirement. Ross’s wife, Joyce, served as the parish secretary at the time, and together, the dedicated duo set their sights on Bill, who was serving as Senior Warden, to inherit the ledger. Though the responsibility was massive, Bill stepped up without hesitation, guided by a deep sense of gratitude. “I feel very blessed,” Bill reflects, “so giving back seems like the necessary response.”
Upon taking over, Bill stepped into a world of written ledgers and electric calculators. Recognizing the need for a more sustainable system, he single-handedly modernized the parish treasury, bringing the church’s financial records out of the manual era and into the digital age. He has never looked back, ensuring our resources are stewarded with the utmost care and forward-thinking precision.
Lift Every Voice And Sing
From a young age, Bill has carried a deep passion for song. "As a matter of fact, Helene and I got to know each other from singing in a small group together in High School," he shares.
For Bill, choral music is far more than a beloved pastime; it is a profoundly spiritual journey that has taken him not just to England but closer to God, strengthening his faith along the way.
There is no doubt that the members of Christ Church Glendale’s choir work tirelessly to present some of the finest choral arrangements in Cincinnati. It was this very music program that played a major role in Bill and Helene’s decision to make our parish their spiritual home in 1981, and it remains a centerpiece of their lives today.
Be Thou My Vision
When life calls a family to a major move, we often assume it requires packing your bags and leaving the life you knew behind. So in 1999, when Bill’s company required a transfer to Germany, it would have been reasonable to think his tenure as treasurer would come to a close. But Bill’s dedication to our parish is rooted in something much deeper than geography. Guided by a steadfast spiritual vision, he refused to let an ocean separate him from his calling to serve.
For two years, from more than 4,300 miles away, Bill maintained his vital responsibilities electronically, a remarkable feat of stewardship considering that the modern conveniences of Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet were still years away. This cross-continental devotion did more than just keep our church accounts in order; it served as a powerful spiritual anchor, keeping Bill and his family profoundly connected to the heart of their home parish even from afar.
Lord, You Give the Great Commission
During his 45 years with Christ Church Glendale, Bill Sedwick has held an impressive array of leadership roles, showing a heart entirely devoted to service. Through this lifelong stewardship, Bill has built many meaningful, deep relationships that have continually strengthened his personal connection to God.
While his impact is widespread, he still finds unique spiritual fulfillment in the quiet details, taking “great pride and joy in knowing that everything is accurate to the penny when it comes to the church accounts.”
As a parish family, we are profoundly thankful for Bill’s continuing contributions to our community. He models what it means to live out a true commission of faith, and we look forward to continuing our journeys together in our shared walk with Christ.
Wednesday Weekly Announcements
Use one of the links below to access our current or historical announcements:
The Power of Together: A Profile of Penny Young
Discover how Penny Young finds deep joy, community connection, and faith-based volunteer service through 18 years of local church ministry and outreach at Christ Church Glendale, an Episcopal Church rooted in the Anglican tradition.
The Power of Together: A Profile of Penny Young
Penny Young has been an active part of Christ Church Glendale since 2008. Her 18 years of faith-based volunteer service within the Episcopal Church include roles such as Music Librarian for the Parish & Bell Choirs and Senior Warden from 2016 to 2018. However, it was the Stephen Ministry that served as the primary link between her previous experience and her new life at CCG. "This was a ministry I was familiar with in my previous congregation—a program that helps people one-on-one, which has both meaning and credibility for me." So, why does she choose to volunteer in the church? Because someone asked!
Finding Joy in Church Volunteer Opportunities
Penny is inspired in her community volunteer work by her passion for addressing the needs of those around her. She recalls her favorite quote by Helen Keller: "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." The satisfaction of helping solve someone's problem through her service not only fosters community at the church but also strengthens her own faith. "We can pursue a spiritual life on our own," she observes, "but only by being part of something larger can we fully realize our potential to be Christ's presence in a hurting world."
A Week of Respite: Local Community Outreach
Some of Penny's most impactful memories come from her involvement with IHN (Found House). This local church ministry, in connection with CCG, offered temporary housing for families in need for a week. Penny recalls watching the families drive away on Sunday mornings. Despite her concerns about their future journeys, she felt a sense of fulfillment in knowing the outreach service had provided them with a soft place to land, if only for a week. For Penny, this was a deeply meaningful accomplishment.
Seasons of Change in Christian Ministry
Spending 18 years with any organization allows one to witness its evolution. At Christ Church Glendale, church ministries have come and gone as the congregation adapts to an ever-changing world and the broader traditions of the Anglican Church. While Penny acknowledges that these transitions can be painful, she sees them as a vital sign of life. By leaning into a "spiritual foundation and genuine friendliness," the church continues to create new opportunities to serve. Although specific tasks may change, the goal remains the same: working together to be Christ's presence in a hurting world.
On any given Sunday, you'll find Penny engaged in numerous tasks around Christ Church Glendale. She might be reading from the book of Acts, offering the Eucharist, or singing with the choir. Ultimately, her favorite part of serving the community is sharing laughter with fellow parishioners along the way.
Cincy-Area Churches Team Up To Tackle Hunger With New Food Pantry
Quinn Chapel AME Church and Christ Church Glendale join hands in creating a new food pantry in the Cincinnati Ohio Tristate area.
FOREST PARK, OH — Two Greater Cincinnati churches are partnering to fight hunger
in their communities by opening a new food pantry this May.
Members of Quinn Chapel AME Church and Christ Church Glendale (CCG) have
teamed up to organize the Heaven’s Table Food Pantry, which will serve Forest Park
and other nearby neighborhoods.
In 2025, the Iglesia Episcopal de Espíritu Santo (IEES) food pantry, which served the
Forest Park area, closed. Quinn Chapel and CCG began exploring how they could help
meet the needs of people who went to the IEES pantry, as well as other neighbors who
struggle with being able to afford food for their families.
Heaven’s Table Food Pantry will open on Wednesday, May 6 at Quinn Chapel (10998
Southland Road, Forest Park OH, 45240), with hours from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The food
pantry will operate on the first and third Wednesday of every month, with volunteers
from both Quinn and CCG helping with food pickup and serving clients.
This collaboration brings people from two faith communities together to serve, and use
their unique gifts to spread God’s love in a tangible way.
The Reverend Dr. Jermaine D. Covington, Pastor of Quinn Chapel, and the Reverend
David Pfaff, Rector of Christ Church Glendale, both expressed how Heaven’s Table
answers Jesus’s call to feed and care for our neighbors.
"Over 2,000 years ago, our Savior died, ending His earthly ministry. However, He left
those of us who are His disciples to continue the work,” Covington said. “Therefore, let
us be the hands and feet of Jesus."
“We are living in a time of deep uncertainty and fear for many members of our
community, especially those who live on the margins in terms of financial resources,
employment opportunities, and access to basic services,” Pfaff said. “The need for
access to food with good nutritional content is as great as it has ever been. As we look
forward to the opening of the Heaven’s Table pantry, I am very grateful to all who have
stepped up to lay the groundwork for this ministry and am excited about the opportunity
for our two congregations to partner together to do God’s work in this part of the greater
Cincinnati community.”
There is no residency requirement; Heaven’s Table visitors will be asked to provide
basic information to register, and be given a reusable bag for future trips to the pantry.
For more information, please email quinnchapelforestpark@gmail.com.
Digital Resources for Christ Church
Worship Resources
Online Book of Common Prayer
Readings for each Sunday of the Year