As the rest of society spends Good Friday worshipping "the sand, sea and surf', Andrew Nixon is inviting Sydney to discover what Jesus has in store for their future.
"We have a public holiday to celebrate the death of Jesus. This is an opportunity for Christians to gather and celebrate this together while hearing some convention style talks," the Cathedral's The Bible Talks pastor and convention organiser, Andrew Nixon.
This is the third year of the St Andrew's Cathedral Easter Convention. This year the theme is "The Future of Jesus' " picking up on the momentum created by the ABC Boyer Lectures.
"While most people might go to the beach or a barbecue, we can choose to spend Good Friday afternoon with other Christians and celebrate the great news of Jesus."
Archbishop Dr Peter Jensen and the Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen will give Bible talks on the theme that Archbishop Jensen explored in the Boyer Lecture series on ABC Radio National last year.
"It's fantastic that the ABC asked Archbishop Jensen to give the lectures. He was able to generate national debate about the role of Jesus in Australian society," Mr Nixon says.
"Our community needs to be thinking these things through together."
No "easy alternative'
Mr Nixon says he does not want the Cathedral Easter Convention to be an "easy alternative' to Katoomba Easter Convention (KEC).
"KEC is a great thing where you can go away for a whole weekend of Bible teaching," he says.
"The Cathedral just recognises that there are tens of thousands of Christians in Sydney who don't go to Easter convention so we are there to cater for those people and provide another option."
CEC hits Wollongong
South of the city, St Michael's Cathedral in Wollongong is following "big brother' by hosting its own Cathedral Easter Convention for the first time on Good Friday.
"Our aim is to be a good reason for Christians to stay in Wollongong at Easter," says the Rector of St Michael's, the Rev Sandy Grant.
"Christmas and Good Friday are the only two days of the year when Australia's other great religion " sport " doesn't schedule activities."
Popular author and songwriter, the Rev John Dickson and Director of the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students Director, Richard Chin will also speak on the topic raised in the 2005 Boyer Lectures.
"We're reclaiming that Good Friday afternoon time with convention style Bible teaching," he says.
Both Cathedral Easter Conventions are on from 2-5pm, Friday April 14. Tickets are $10 or $5 for students (Wollongong only). Call St Andrew's on 9265 1661 or St Michael's on 4228 9132.
