As Reverend Gordon Bradbery stood before a congregation of 200 on a cloudy Christmas morning, he had a simple message; we are all human.
Yesterday's morning service at Wollongong's Wesley Uniting Church brought together representatives of the Islamic, Buddhist and Christian faiths.
For nearly an hour and a half the troubles of the year were forgotten as faithful of all ages and cultures sang to the rafters at the Church on the Mall.
Rev Bradbery said Christmas was a time to break down barriers between different faiths.
"In all traditions, Jesus is mentioned. Today was a re-enactment that Jesus was for all people," he said.
Rev Bradbery took a moment to thank the people of the Illawarra for their support during the past 12 months, as he fought a decision by the Wesley Uniting Church to transfer him out of the region.
"I am so grateful for the people of the Illawarra for all their messages of affirmation and support," he said. "I'm truly blessed to be a minister in the Illawarra."
Catholic Bishop of Wollongong, Most Reverend Peter Ingham, said strong crowds, particularly at St Francis Xavier's Cathedral for Midnight Mass, showed the true spirit of Christmas was still alive and well with Illawarra Catholics.
"People certainly came and from that you can take that the real meaning of Christmas is certainly high on the agenda of our Catholic people," Bishop Ingham said.
He described the atmosphere of the Midnight Mass as "magic" and said classic Christmas carols such as Silent Night were a way to connect with the original Christmas message.
"The carols we know so well really express what Christmas is about," he said.
Looking towards the new year, Rev Bradbery said regardless of religious belief, there was a need to embrace what linked us all together.
"There's one thing we all hold in common - we're all human. We need to find a way to live together in peace and harmony and cooperation," he said.
Services were held throughout the Illawarra to mark Christmas Day, including a family service at Shellharbour City Centre Anglican Church, a celebration at the Salvation Army's Wollongong office, and Catholic Masses at St Francis Xavier Cathedral at midnight, 7am, 9am and 10.30am.
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