Sydney churches have seen good attendance this Christmas season with St Andrew’s Cathedral using a seating reservation system for Christmas Eve carols for the first time.

Some churches had already hosted carol events throughout December, including Figtree in Wollongong which ran a community event for five thousand people featuring James Morrison and Colin Buchanan.

Christmas Eve at the Cathedral was packed with worshippers and the three services included a children’s celebration in the afternoon.
(Pictured: Cathedral Music Director Ross Cobb conducts ‘O Little town of Bethlehem’)

Archbishop Dr Peter Jensen addressed the Christmas morning service, saying Christmas was about Jesus and his ministry to those who fail God and fail others.

“The Bible says Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners - those who have failed. Christmas celegrates the joy of his arrival and challenges us to bring our failings to him.”

Earlier in his Christmas message, Dr Jensen referred to the tough economic times saying “Our community is going to need love " compassionate and generous care for each other, looking out for each other when things are hard.”
(Pictured:Archbishop Jensen poses for photos with Cathedral choir members)

Dr Jensen has also contributed to the ABC website, Unleashed, about the real meaning of christmas.

In an Opinion piece, the Archbishop said prayers for world peace at Christmas are admirable but “...desirable though it may be, world peace in this sense was not actually what the angels said. The peace they sang about is not peace between human beings, but peace with God.”