TJ Connection - Winter 2002

Many of our congregations in theTJ District have recently conducted a special Sunday service on the UUA’s funding initiative called Mind the Gap. This phrase is based on warnings used on the British subway system. The gap that is referred to is a gap in our intergenerational communities.

In many UU congregations, two age groups dominate -children and youth at one extreme, and middle aged and older people at the other. There is a gap between these two groups, because so many UUs go off to college and do not return as young adults. It is estimated that as many as 90% of our young people fall into this gap. We teach our children to question, and this lesson may take the form of rebellion against the UU tradition in which they were raised.

Those who do return may find that the programming in our congregations does not meet their needs. Folks over forty tend to prefer a left-brained, sermon-centered service, while younger people often resonate to more ritual and multi-sensual experiences.

Meeting the needs of diverse age and interest groups is a challenge from which neither our congregation nor the wider UU movement can afford to shrink. The first level of response is simply to be aware of the gap.

Awareness can lead to understanding, and hopefully to solutions. Some of the solutions for minding the gap that UU congregations have tried include formation and support of a Young Adult Group, creating alternative services, and sponsoring campus ministry.

Alternative services targeted to young adults usually include contemporary music, such as jazz, folk, rock or rap, live as often as possible. Usually held in the evening, such services are often called Soulful Sundown.

You may have read in the September/October 2002 World magazine about the fledgling UU campus ministry movement. The UUA hopes to raise 2 million dollars in the Mind the Gap initiative. The money will be used to generate grants, curriculum, trainings, and other
resources for youth, campus, and young adult ministries within our congregations, in districts, and on the continental level. In order to reach that goal, they are asking for an average donation of $50 per person. I hope the rest of you will make a similar calculation and support this worthy cause.

You can still write a check to this worthy cause. If you have questions, go to the web at http://www.uua.org/sunday2002/

Who's Minding the Gap?
We are! To date, 10 congregations in TJD have scheduled a Mind the Gap: Youth and Young Adult Ministry fundraising Sunday service. This campaign is a continental-wide effort to raise $2 million to generate grants, curriculum, trainings and other resources for youth, campus and young adult ministries in congregations, in districts and on the continental level. In order to reach our goal congregations are asking for an average donation of $50 per person.

The following congregations have scheduled services:
UF of Hilton Head Island, SC - Sept. 22
Community Church of Chapel Hill, UU, NC - Oct. 6
Eno River UU Fellowship, Durham, NC - Oct. 13
UU Fellowship of the New River Valley, Blacksburg, VA - Oct. 13
UUC Greensboro, NC - Oct. 20
UU Church of Charlotte, NC - Oct. 27
UU Fellowship of the Peninsula, Newport News, VA - Nov. 9
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church, UU - Nov. 17
UUC Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk, NC - Nov. 17
Piedmont UU Church, Charlotte, NC - Dec. 1

For more information on how your church can get involved, contact Alison Miller at Amiller@uua.org or 617-948-6105.

TJ Connection - Winter 2002

Wishing You a Happy Holiday Season and a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year! The Thomas Jefferson District Board and Staff

Mind the Gap: Youth and Young Adult Ministry Sunday

Wishing You a Happy Holiday Season and a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year!
The Thomas Jefferson District Board and Staff