With the weather keeping temperatures nearer to a Northern Christmas than usual, churches through Sydney and the Illawarra have seen good attendances at carols events as they gear up for services on Christmas weekend.

Headlined by a telecast of a national ABC telecast of a carols service from 6pm on Christmas Eve, St Andrew’s Cathedral also has ten services this week ranging from Tuesday’s Seniors' Christmas Service to a Family Service at 4pm on Saturday. The Archbishop will preach three times, at the Healing Ministry Christmas Service at 6pm on Wednesday, the Lessons and Carols at 7pm Thursday and at 10am on Sunday morning.

The weather may also have played a part in some of carols events held last weekend, as it was generally milder than normal, which might have encouraged the larger crowds being reported in some areas.

Demand was also up for the visitor’s supplement produced with the December edition of the Diocesan newspaper Southern Cross. More than 40 thousand copies of ‘Connect for Life’ were printed. One church reported that a railway station giveaway of the magazine was well received, especially with the cover story on Masterchef winner, Kate Bracks.

Archbishop Jensen’s Christmas message will be released on Saturday.