DOTY 2009 (Day Of the Youth)

Sunday, 20 September 2009, marked the Day of the Youth in the Cape District Church. This annual event is the highlight on the Church’s calendar for the youth.
The customary week long buildup to this event was filled with a hive of exciting events and activities that were geared at cementing the bonds of fellowship and friendship among the young people. Choir and orchestra practices, as well as youth meetings, Coffee shops and outings served as an outlet for the youth to give expression to their spirituality and youthfulness. Many guest speakers were also invited to the informal events at the various locations to address the youth on the dangers related to substance abuse, peer pressure and various issues that affect young people directly.
On the Sunday morning there was great excitement as thousands of youth descended on various designated venues to experience and celebrate their annual highlight: The Day of the Youth divine service. In some of the remote areas of South Africa, like the town of Upington in the Northern Cape and also in the country of Namibia, several of the youth covered great distances to be at the centralized venues. Reports received from Namibia noted that a number of youth could not be in attendance for this annual highlight due to seasonal flooding in the interior region of the Caprivi.
Before the start of the divine service the halls were filled with the sweet sounds of music rendered by the choirs, soloists and instrumentalists. This created a beautiful atmosphere of praise and thanks that prepared the hearts for the word.
At 10:00 youthful voices raised in unison with the singing of the opening hymn, signaling the start of the divine service. The day also coincided with the International Day of Prayer for Peace on September 21, which called for a prayer of peace by all Churches. Chief Apostle Leber’s request that this be observed was carried out by the officiants in the opening prayer of the youth services with a few thoughts on the importance of peace that followed during the service.
The Bible text: “But let your Yes be Yes, and your No; No . . .” (James 5, a portion of verse 12) set the tone for a sermon that identified with the needs of young people. The message, “May we in all situations of life have the courage of our convictions to apply the principle: Let your Yes be Yes and your No, NO!” was the central theme to which young people can align their lives.
In the closing prayer of the service the officiants also prayed for all matriculants who enter the last quarter of their school year with their final examinations pending. This surely brought about the reassurance that they are not alone and are remembered in our prayers.
All too soon the divine service came to a close but not before all in attendance enjoyed an informative fellowship programme prepared by the youth with some hearty interaction that concluded the day.