Mattoon church dedicates earth-friendly prayer garden

MATTOON, Ill. (AP) - As vehicles sped by on nearby Illinois Route 16, First Presbyterian Church members stopped and took time on a recent Sunday afternoon to appreciate a new garden oasis on the church's campus.

The parishioners were taking part in a dedication ceremony for an environmentally friendly prayer garden at the northeast corner of Route 16/Charleston Avenue and First Street. The garden was planted this summer after First Presbyterian received a $9,000 grant from Faith in Place through the Mattoon-based Lumpkin Family Foundation, the Mattoon Journal Gazette & Times-Courier reports.

'œOur goal is to help people of faith do a better job of stewarding creation,'ť said Faith in Place Policy Coordinator Christina Krost of Mattoon. She added that this multi-faith environmental justice nonprofit organization's efforts include reducing energy use and capturing more carbon dioxide through nature-based landscaping strategies.

Krost said Faith in Place is thrilled to collaborate with the First Presbyterian Green Team, which advocates for a more environmentally healthy community, and with the Lumpkin Foundation to do 'œour little part'ť to capture carbon and improve air quality in Mattoon.

'œWe are just thankful for this partnership, so let's keep going,'ť Krost exclaimed during the ceremony.

First Presbyterian acquired the corner property at Route 16 and First Street two years ago and started considering possible uses for this former house lot, which is west of the church building. This lot is south of a Fit-2-Serve community garden plot.

Their brainstorming culminated in Alwerdt's Gardens in Altamont creating a prayer garden that includes trees, such as Prairie Expedition American Elm, and pollinator plants and tall grasses, such as black-eyed Susan and switchgrass.

Rev. Matthew Froeschle said the garden comprises East Central Illinois native vegetation that will replenish the soil and sustain the environment. He noted that the garden also includes a bench made from recycled plastic bottle caps and that is dedicated in memory of Barbara A. Hill and of Raymond W. Jones.

'œThe garden is a place for prayer, inspiration and sabbath (rest),'ť Froeschle said.

The Lumpkin Family Foundation, a private foundation created in 1953 from the estate of Besse A. Lumpkin of Mattoon, awards grants with the aim of helping build sustainable communities in East Central Illinois and across the United States.

First Presbyterian member John Swick noted during the ceremony that the prayer garden also received support from others in the community who think it is a worthy goal, including a donation from the Mattoon Lions Club for two additional trees.

Green Team member Jean Jones said she feels that everyone who worked on the prayer garden project did a wonderful job. Jones said seeing the completed garden in place is 'œawesome'ť and she is particularly looking forward to seeing the trees there fully leafed and in flower next year.

'œThey are pretty little trees. They will be so pretty in the spring,'ť Jones said.