When I Was Hungry

Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • May 13, 2024

Bread for the World & Crooked Creek Food Pantry

On Sunday, we will welcome Grace Kozak from Bread for the World Indianapolis, and Kathy Hahn Keiner, Executive Director of the Crooked Creek Food Pantry. Over the years, The Garden has partnered with these two organizations to help end hunger in our communities. 


As an advocacy organization, Bread for the World urges decision makers to do all they can to pursue a world without hunger. Their mission is to educate and equip people to advocate for policies and programs that can help end hunger in the U.S. and around the world. Crooked Creek Food Pantry is a drive-thru food pantry on the northwest side of Indianapolis. They work to eliminate hunger while building relationships to support the needs of families and people it serves. This Sunday, you will be given the opportunity to dig in and help fight hunger in Indianapolis through letter writing, engaging at Crooked Creek, and helping out with Garden’s Gardens.

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes September 24, 2025
Dear Friends, Please read these two important announcements: First: We’re excited to share that The Garden has now officially moved into our new home at 7171 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240. This is a joyful new chapter for our community, and we’re so grateful for the ways you’ve helped us grow into it. If you give to The Garden through your bank, IRA, or BillPay service, please take a moment to update our new address with your financial institution so your gifts continue to reach us smoothly. Second: We hope you will be with us for our Annual All‑Church Meeting on Sunday, October 5, immediately following the 9 a.m. service at the church. As a United Methodist congregation, this is one of those “official business” gatherings we hold each year. It’s short and simple—we’ll share financial updates, answer questions, and take care of the necessary business of being a church family. Even in our untraditional way of doing things, this meeting is a reminder that we’re in this together—tending The Garden with love, transparency, and care. With gratitude and joy, Carolyn and The Garden Leadership Team P.S. Please reply to this email if you have any questions we can answer!
September 24, 2025
Your Voice Matters
By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes September 24, 2025
Twenty‑five years ago, sociologist Robert Putnam released his groundbreaking book Bowling Alone, in which he shed light on a troubling cultural shift from a society knit together by shared experiences to one increasingly dominated by individualism. In the decades since, isolating walls have grown taller, separating neighbors, friends, and often families. This Sunday at The Garden, we invite you to step into an informative exploration of how our faith may help us dismantle those walls and return to the heart of community. Together, we can engage with the incredible power of unity and how it nurtures love, encourages us, and draws us closer to Divine Spirit and to each other. As you may know, we chose the name "Together to Gather" as a nod to the strength and beauty of gathering with intention, with purpose. People joining together maintain their individuality while simultaneously creating something new and stronger than the sum of its parts: community. Let's explore what it means to belong deeply within a chosen family like The Garden. We’ll celebrate the joy of living in harmony, not as isolated individuals, but as a vibrant, interwoven community of faith and our shared desire to bring more love to the world. Come ready to be inspired, challenged, and renewed. We'll hear a couple of scripture passages and stories, reflect, and consider why gathering matters. Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your connections, embrace the beauty of fellowship, and step boldly into the life God calls us to live—together.
By Betty Brandt September 23, 2025
Building Access, Building Belonging 
By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes September 15, 2025
World Peace Day
By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanblan-Holmes September 8, 2025
When was the last time you set off on a treasure hunt?
By Rev. Richard Brendan September 3, 2025
Choosing Light When the World Feels Heavy
By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes September 3, 2025
The Garden Moves to Its New Home
By Richard Brendan August 29, 2025
Explore how everyday choices shape your inner flame and life force. Richard Brendan reflects on spiritual wisdom, emotional vitality, and conscious decision-making—featuring insights from Debbie Ford and Bradford Keeney, Ph.D.
By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes August 25, 2025
On the Bridge Between