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NEWCOMERS COMMITTEE

Welcoming all who enter the doors of the Cathedral is an important part of our life.

The purpose of the Newcomer Committee is welcome all newcomers and be open to their needs. The goal of the committee is help newcomers feel welcome by introducing them to parishioners and to our ministries and social activities and to assist newcomers in becoming members of our spiritual family through mentoring and follow-up calls, being always mindful of their individual needs. Events such as Newcomer Receptions and personal invitations to activities help newcomers become acquainted with parishioners in smaller settings.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION COMMITTEE
Christian Formation is a life-long process, for each individual and for the Christian community. With this in mind, the Christian Formation Committee oversees activities which provide opportunities for open discussion, reflection, study and prayer.

On Sunday mornings children attend Sunday School, while the adults engage in a group discussion based on the Sunday Gospel readings. "So Great a CloudÖof Witnesses", which meets monthly on the 1st Sunday, is a presentation and discussion about persons whose lives and writings are exemplary and inspirational.

Meeting bi-monthly are 2 bible study groups with different objectives: The Monday Night Bible Study group reads and reflects on a selected book of the Bible in the home of a parishioner. The Thursday Bible Study group meets at the Cathedral after midday Eucharist to reflect on the coming Sunday's Psalm and Epistle readings, as relevant to their lives and the world around us.

"Righteous Readers" gather once a month to review a book selected from a long list of suggestions from the participants. Quiet Days of Reflection occur quarterly throughout the year.

Our popular monthly Cathedral Institute is a long standing tradition in the Christian Formation programs. Cathedral Institute offers an evening Eucharist and a delicious pot luck supper, followed by an educational lecture and discussion session. During Lent, Cathedral Institute meets weekly. The topics whether one of a kind or a seasonal series, are broad based and therefore offer something of interest to everyone. Our discussion groups often become as lively as they are educational!

The Cathedral's Christian Formation programs attract many of our parishioners, as well as our "Friends of the Cathedral" who attend regularly and are always welcomed!
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
The Communications Committee is responsible for conveying all the happenings in and about All Saints' Cathedral to parishioners and the community at large. It is to our ultimate benefit to spread the word of who we are and what we're about.

We've established a network of community publications to contact with appropriate news. The Communications Committee is the clearinghouse for all committee communications, printing visitor information and newcomer materials, and expanding coverage in the Diocesan and area newspaper publications. Our newsletter, The Messenger, is published monthly and is chock full of interesting news, personal interviews, and the dates of special events. The Messenger surpasses all other newsletters in the quality of its contents. You can see The Messenger on this website. The Website also falls under our jurisdiction, introducing calendars of events, a detailed history and much more. Be sure to take the web virtual TOUR for an outstanding glimpse into the beauty of the Cathedral!

EVANGELISM COMMITTEE
The Evangelism Committee consists of a group of parishioners who are passionate about All Saints' Cathedral's mission to share the Faith.

The Committee meets monthly for prayer, study, and discussions of how the Cathedral can reach out most effectively and bring Christ into the lives of our parishioners, visitors, the Diocese and our community. Evangelism at the Cathedral also includes participation in prayer groups, the Shepherds program, Newcomer Receptions, sending greeting cards and notes to visitors, a parishioner picture album, posting photos of Cathedral events and life, and workshops.
FABRIC and GARDEN COMMITTEE
The Fabric Committee oversees the building and grounds maintenance of our property.

They research and plan repairs and improvements that are needed and then either hire the contractor or do the job ourselves, if it is within our abilities. They also oversee work in the garden, including planting, weeding, pruning and lawn care, all done by volunteers. The size and age of our historic buildings and yard guarantee that we are fortunate having the time and talents of volunteers, utilizing their expertise in many circumstances.
HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE
Hospitality at All Saints' Cathedral creates a climate of warmth and comfort for parishioners and guests, where everyone is welcome and made to feel at home.

As the Bishop's church, many Diocesan events are hosted at the Cathedral. Our responsibilities include the set-up, serving and clean up for Coffee Hours, receptions, dinners and many events that involve fellowship and food at All Saints'. It is not unusual for the Hospitality Committee to use their culinary skills by preparing luncheons and dinners for as many as 60-80 guests, with efficiency and a touch of elegance!
OUTREACH COMMITTEE

Outreach to the needs of the world is considered a vital extension of our Christian spirituality. This is a call that the congregation of All Saints' Cathedral takes very seriously. The Outreach Committee always keeps actively involved in the needs of others and is the umbrella organization which coordinates the many activities to this mission.

Each Sunday, non-perishable food items for food banks are collected. Parishioners assist in preparing meals for the homeless at "The Gathering" at St. James' Church and also provide occasional lunches for University of Wisconsin Milwaukee students. A July 4th cookie sale is a parish tradition, selling to the Milwaukee public as they walk to the lake for the popular fireworks. Sponsorships for the CROP and AIDS walks are generously supported. Our neighborhood Cass Street School has been "adopted" and clothing is collected on an ongoing basis for the homeless children who attend that school. Each Advent, a Mitten Tree stands ready to receive warm mittens, hats and scarves for the needy. The Cathedral also opens its doors to 12-Step groups which meet regularly.

A main function of the Outreach Committee is to assist the congregation in identifying needs for quarterly projects. These projects are divided between needs of the greater Milwaukee area and those of the larger world. The organizations selected for quarterly donations are not necessarily associated with the Episcopal Church. In the past, organizations such as Sojourner Truth House, The Heifer Project, Repairers of the Breach, The Smile Train, the Nachingwea Maternity HIV/AIDS Control Project in southern Tanzania and a women's tailoring class in India have been only a few of the recipients of our many donations of in-kind and monetary gifts. In selecting these projects, the congregation also helps to develop awareness of the needs of others.

A major outreach project is the Annual Book Sale, which brings in over $20,000 for disbursement to outside organizations. Further information on this project can be found below.

All Saints' Cathedral Parish views outreach as one symbol of its vitality.
HUNGER BOOKSALE COMMITTEE
August of 2006 marked the 25th Anniversary of the All Saints' Annual Hunger Book Sale, bringing in over $25,000 - a record breaker! All proceeds are donated to organizations that feed the hungry in our community, our country and around the world.

It really is an all parish event. In the course of the sale 50 to 60 parishioners, as well as many "Friends of the Cathedral", help in some way or another. Even though the Book Sale runs for one week, it is an ongoing process. Right after the sale, book donations begin pouring in for the next year! The chairs begin planning ahead and others are involved in picking up and sorting books year round. But the actual work is done during the summer starting in June and ending with the sale in August. After the sale, a selected group of volunteers are invited to help the committee make recommendations to Chapter regarding the recipients and distribution of the proceeds. Numbered among the recipients are: Interchange Program, Interchange Food Pantry, The Gathering, Our Next Generation, St. Benedict's Community Meal Program, Ecumenical Refugee Council, Episcopal Relief and Development, Milwaukee AIDS Project, Sojourner Truth House, Salvation Army Summer Lunch Program, Hunger Task Force,, St. John's Cathedral Women and Children Center, St. John's Cathedral Open Door CafÈ, Repairers of the Breach, All Saints' Catholic Church, America's Second Harvest of Wisconsin, Food for Families, Jewish Pantry, and Neighborhood HouseÖand the list continues to grow!
STEWARDSHIP & FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Stewardship/Finance Committee is a combination committee which meets approximately monthly. Some on the committee focus on the stewardship aspect and others on the financial aspect. In meeting together they are able to coordinate their efforts and advice to the Chapter.

Stewardship
The Stewardship Committee works in conjunction with the Dean to educate parishioners about the task of individual stewardship in Christian life through members' commitments of service and financial resources to further All Saints' mission. The committee develops communications (e.g., newsletter articles, bulletin notices) to explain and engage parishioners in the process of annual pledging to the All Saints' community. The committee also shepherds the annual pledge process by preparing pledge cards and letters to parishioners and undertaking the organization of the annual Time &Talent Faire to familiarize parishioners, new and old, with programs and services carried out to accomplish the Cathedral's mission and to encourage greater participation in our many ministries.

Finance
With the guidance of the Cathedral Treasurer, the Finance Committee reviews and analyzes the monthly financial statements received from the accountants and makes recommendations to the Chapter as the year progresses, particularly when adjustments are necessary or extraordinary expenses arise. The committee regularly brainstorms about other financial issues and makes recommendations to the Chapter for its consideration. One of its main jobs is to draft a proposed budget for Chapter's consideration and ultimate approval for the following year. This process takes several months. The proposed budget is drafted after seeking requests from the many committees and groups which carry on the Cathedral's ministries and considering past expense history, anticipated increases in insurance, pension, and cost of living; and other expenses necessary to maintaining the Cathedral's facilities and life.
COLUMBARIUM
A "Columbarium" is a place designated for the inurnment of the ashes of the dead. Since the earliest days of the Christian Church, disciples have been concerned with the reverent disposal of the remains of the faithful departed. These were typically placed in cemeteries, crypts and columbaria set apart and blessed for this purpose. The most treasured location has been within the church grounds.

At All Saints' Cathedral the place chosen for this focus of reverence is the Narthex, or entryway of the Cathedral, ensuring proximity to the sacred space of the church and thus encourages an atmosphere of prayer and recollection around death.

Preparation for a reverent facing of death should not be regarded as morbid or inappropriate. In fact, such preparation is fully consistent with our understanding of the faith journey and is a sign of effective Christian stewardship.

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