Co-Pastor Carol Lillie

I was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico and think of myself as a “desert rat”. I love the Southwest and consider Northern New Mexico, Colorado and the Four Corners region to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. I feel privileged to live and serve in this beautiful community!

In 1992, I returned to college after a busy 16 year “time out” from school. The majority of my work experience outside the church has been in construction offices from home contractors to commercial builders. I've also done a lot of work in fundraising and community service. For several years I organized a benefit golf tournament for the N.M. Boys and Girls Ranch and taught Lamaze classes part-time.

Dave and I attended the same High School but never met until after my High School graduation in 1976 (yes, there were schools WAAAY back then). We went on our first date in October 1976 and were married in March, 1977. We have three grown children: Megan 29, Bryson 27 and Colin 25. Two of our three kids were married in 2008. Megan is married to Aaron and has completed a Master's Degree at Texas A&M and Aaron has completed his Doctorate as well. Bryson is married to Sarah and they live near Kansas City where Sarah is teaching and working on her Masters degree in Music Education, and Bryson is a student at St. Paul's Seminary (he is also a youth pastor at a church in Independence Missouri. Ministry is becoming the family business). Colin is married to Heather and they both are attending Colorado State University. We also have a long haired Chihuahua named “Grommit” who isn't the “brightest crayon in the box” - but we like her anyway, and two short-haired Chihuahuas named Twinkie and Peanut.

I graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, in 1996 with a Major in Sociology and a Minor in Women's Studies. I graduated from Iliff School of Theology in Denver, in 2000 with Master's of Divinity degree. I was Ordained an Elder in “full connection” in The United Methodist Church in 2005.

Helping to “birth” a brand new church on the West side of Albuquerque in the mid-1980's was a life-changing event for me. I had the opportunity as a lay person to step out in faith, take risks and learn about Christian leadership at a grass roots level. We honored God's call to full-time professional ministry when we moved to Denver in 1991, so that Dave could start Seminary. I had to complete undergraduate work before I could begin work on my Master's degree so I commuted to Greeley for several years - later I commuted daily from Loveland to Denver to attend classes at Iliff.

My ministry experience is quite varied. I have worked as a Chaplain, as the Pastor of a small, rural, church (Howard UMC, Last Chance, Co.), as the Associate Pastor of First UMC, Greeley, the Director of Wesley Foundation Campus Ministries in Laramie and now as the Co-Pastor of First United Methodist Church - Longmont.

Creativity is an essential part of my life. Ministry gives me the chance to use my creative ability to help people discover and express Christ's presence in their lives. I love visiting with folks and hearing their life stories. Ministry is a job that constantly changes and I really thrive on it's variety and challenge. Whether I'm teaching a class, preaching or facilitating a retreat, I'm always learning something new and exciting. Faith is an adventure that is always fresh and new ... I'd love to visit with you about your adventure and how Christ can become an even bigger part of it!