NEWS: Lilly Grant Awarded to Prairie Campus

NEWS: Lilly Grant Awarded to Prairie Campus

A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR LAY LEADER, COREY KIDWELL

September 8, 2024

Pastor Patty will be taking a leave during the summer of 2025 for her first-ever time of renewal after 28 years in ministry. We have some good news to share in this regard!  FUMC Prairie Campus has been selected to receive a grant of $60,000, funded by the Lilly Endowment, to enable Pastor Patty to engage in this 3 month leave. Prairie’s Lay Leader, Corey Kidwell, shared the below words on Sunday as she made this joyous announcement. Pictured above, center, is some of the congregation celebrating with Pastor Patty on Sunday, Sept. 1 after the announcement.


“I became Prairie’s first “lay leader” about 10 months ago, and I have learned a lot. I have fallen in love with Prairie Campus and, most of all, Prairie People. One of the first things Patty asked me to do as lay leader was to help draft an application for the Lilly Foundation grant for clergy renewal. She warned me that the process is highly competitive and it might take multiple years of application to earn an award to support a clergy renewal leave. I heard lots of “don’t get your hopes up,” “nobody gets those grants on the first try,” and even some “don’t bother trying.” When someone tells me not to try, I am usually inspired.
 


We know that life is better together, so first we built a team. 
Pictured above, far left.

 

The renewal planning team consists of three clergy members—Steve Burnett, Steve Earnshaw, and Cathy Eskew—as well as three lay folks: Diane Williams, Marlene Bjornsrud, and myself. We are so grateful for this partnership, collective wisdom, good humor, and insight.
 
At the beginning of this process, I was struck by a question posed by one of the Lilly Foundation's leaders. In guiding consideration about where to start the process, she asked, “How do you tangibly show your love for your pastor?” We turned to you, the Prairie People, to answer that question. We gathered after church and in people’s homes to consider how we might express our love for Patty and our commitment to one another. We got excited by the chance to both journey with Patty and grow as a congregation. 

 

Together, we drafted a great plan to support Patty and have some adventures of our own. The grant document ended up being 40 pages, but this video, which we submitted along with all the words, really shows the heart of Prairie.

The Lilly Foundation awards a grant of $60K for clergy renewal with a target of 40K for the pastor and 20K for the congregation to fill the gaps during Patty’s absence. Now, the team and all of us have to get down to business to make this summer beneficial and sacred for both Patty and all our Prairie People.  

Patty, this opportunity will call each of us to reach deeper into our well of caring for one another and for you and your family. I am absolutely certain that we will be stronger for learning to lean on each other and grow closer. And that you and Roger, Luke, Maggie, and Sam will come home to us with full hearts and renewed spirits for all things FUMC Prairie Campus.

 Pictured above, far right, are Lay Leader Corey Kidwell and Pastor Patty during the announcement during the Sept. 1 service.

This is how we will show our love for our pastor by inviting you to drink deep from the well that sustains you and then come home to your beloved Prairie.”