Sonnenberg, RonelleNel, MalanDe Kock, JosMarcel, Barnard, 1957-2015-11-252015-11-252015-08-31Sonnenberg, P.M., Nel, M., De Kock, A. & Barnard, M., 2015, ‘Being together in youth worship: An empirical study in Protestant Dutch contexts’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 71(2), Art. #2832, 10 pages. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.4102/hts.v71i2.2832.0259-9422 (print)2072-8050 (online)10.4102/hts.v71i2.2832http://hdl.handle.net/2263/50917This article is based on a part of Ronelle Sonnenberg’s PhD thesis ‘Youth worship in protestant contexts. A practical theological theory of participation of adolescents’ (2015). Her supervisors were Prof. M. Barnard, Prof. M. Nel and Dr A. de Kock.In a qualitative empirical research project on youth worship, we discovered that ‘being together’ is primary quality of youth worship. This primary quality consists of at least four aspects. Firstly, community is celebrated through physical presence. More specifically, the physical presence of siblings plays an important part in the participation of youth in worship. Secondly, an empathetic and emotional aspect is essential for adolescents. ‘Being together’ in youth worship means being together in unity and trust and in equality, as kindred spirits. Thirdly, ‘being together’ in youth worship yields possibilities to cross social and ecclesiological boundaries. Fourthly, there is a theological aspect in ‘being together’ that could be described as ‘sharing faith and being in God’s presence’.en© 2015. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.Youth worshipBeing togetherPhysical presenceEmpathyEmotionsUnity and trustEqualitySharing faithBeing in God’s presenceCross social boundariesEcclesiological boundariesTheology articles SDG-04SDG-04: Quality educationTheology articles SDG-10SDG-10: Reduced inequalitiesTheology articles SDG-16SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutionsArticle