A joint statement from the Very Rev. Kevin Carroll, Dean of All Saints’ Cathedral, and the Rev. Lane Hensley, Interim Rector of St. Paul’s
The Episcopal Church in Downtown Milwaukee cordially invites the People of Milwaukee to join us as we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ together. Dean Carroll and Fr. Hensley will co-officiate both Christmas Eve services, and each will offer the sermon in the other’s pulpit. Both Christmas Eve services will feature choral music and traditional Christmas hymns:
Christmas Eve
- 4 p.m.: Choral Eucharist
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 914 E. Knapp St. - 8 p.m.: Choral Eucharist
All Saints’ Cathedral, 818 E Juneau Ave.
Christmas Day
- 8 a.m.: Holy Eucharist
All Saints’ Cathedral, 818 E Juneau Ave. - 10 a.m.: Holy Eucharist at Both Locations
Members of both congregations are encouraged to attend the service that best suits their holiday schedules, and some may wish to enjoy both!
Parking for both events is behind St. Paul’s, entry off Marshall St.
Our Bishop, Clergy, Cathedral Chapter, and Parish Vestry have been in conversation with each other about collaborating in ministry in the service of a coherent and unified presence, proclamation of the Gospel, and service in downtown Milwaukee, and of good stewardship of our resources. Our shared Christmas celebration reminds us that in Christ’s incarnation, we share one Lord, one faith, and baptism. Paul expressed it this way in Ephesians 2:11-22:
Remember that at one time you gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision” — a circumcision made in the flesh by human hands — remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us, abolishing the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone; in him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
