Music and prayer set for revival

Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Nov 07/05) - Between 300 and 500 young people from across the Eastern Arctic will gather in Iqaluit for the third annual youth revival at Nakasuk school in Iqaluit from Nov. 9-13.

NNSL Photo/graphic

Debbie Oyukuluk plays drums with the Aqsarniit Anglican youth group. The Arctic Bay group is planning to attend the third annual youth revival in Iqaluit this week. - photo courtesy of Ron Elliot

Young people from Pangnirtung, Cape Dorset and several other communities are making the trip. A delegation from Victoria. B.C., will also attend.

"The message of the event is that God really accepts (the youth) where they are," said Reverend Captain Ron McLean of the Saint Jude's and St. Simon Anglican Church in Iqaluit. "He loves them and thinks they are all valuable as people."

Music will be a big part of the event.

"There will be guitars, drums, accordions, keyboards and whatever instruments the different groups bring," he said. "Music has always been a very important part of the church. It's a real deep meaning of expression. Music is a way of expressing our feelings and honouring people. We're honouring God through music and expressing our feelings through music."

Becky May, an organizer with the Aqsarniit Anglican youth group in Arctic Bay, said 27 people from her community are planning to take part.

"We've been trying everything and anything we can to fundraise, from dances to bake sales," she said. "It will be a good experience to meet new people because other youth from other communities get to go there, too. It's been a hard year, but it's all worth it."

The youth group has been practising four Inuktitut songs five nights a week for the past month to perform in Iqaluit. Their group includes some drummers and guitarists, as well.

The public is invited to attend the musical performances at the school each evening.

"I just pray that people will come out and receive what the Lord has in store for them during the revival and the days to come," Saint Jude's Youth Ministry organizer Takialuk Peter said.