It may not be seemly to call it record-breaking, but St Andrew’s Cathedral is preparing to hold 13 Christmas events in 7 days.

In what has become a major logistical operation, several of the events are also now fixtures in the Cathedral calendar including ‘Seniors Christmas’ with John Chapman and Colin Buchanan’s Christmas concert for children.

“This year all our preaching centres around Luke’s Gospel” says Cathedral Senior Minister Chris Moroney “because we have set aside three thousand copies of ‘The Essential Jesus’ to give to those who come.”

The Archbishop and the Dean head the preaching program, with the Archbishop preaching at the Lessons and Carols service on Tuesday the 22nd of December at 7pm, and at the 10am Christmas Celebration.

Dean Phillip Jensen speaks at the three evening services on Christmas Eve at 6pm, 8pm and 11pm. There will be a special family service at 4pm on Christmas eve to cater for the crowds in the city at that time.

As well as ‘The Essential Jesus’, the cathedral choir sings 3 songs on a gift CD to be given away throughout the week.

The full program is available on the Cathedral website and Mr Moroney suggests arriving early for the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services as seats fill quickly.