A New Day
Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • May 21, 2024
Takeaways from the General Conference
After delays and postponements, the General Conference of The United Methodist Church conducted its international session in Charlotte, North Carolina from April 23 to May 3, 2024. It was worth the wait! The conference marked a watershed moment, sweeping away outdated language and lifting ordination barriers tied to human sexuality. This bold stride forward heralds a new era for the church, one that embraces every individual as a cherished part of God’s diverse family. This Sunday, we'll share an overview of resolutions passed and contemplate the exciting journey ahead for the United Methodist Church as it steps into a future that embraces loving inclusivity.

This Sunday, The Garden welcomes visionary composer and musician Ryan Lott, founder of the genre-defying band Son Lux. Known for his emotionally rich soundscapes and collaborations with artists like Mitski, David Byrne, and Paul Simon, Lott has scored major films including the recent Marvel blockbuster, Thunderbolts* , and the acclaimed Everything Everywhere All at Once , earning Academy Award and BAFTA nominations. In conversation with Richard Brendan, Ryan will share insights into his creative journey as we explore the transformative power of imagination. We hope to see you at our temporary venue—740 E 86th Street, Indianapolis—at 9 a.m. for “Celebrating the Creative Spirit.” Join us for a morning of inspiration, music, and meaningful conversation.

In "Together to Gather" after our first service at our temporary new venue, we enjoyed a look back to The Garden's beginning and its evolution over the past 30 years. Joleen House, who has been with The Garden since day one, shared some memories and a clip of Rev. Linda McCoy. In the clip, Linda spoke of her inspiration to create The Garden. A slide show of photos through the years followed, with discussion. Please note that we recorded this on the spur of the moment by request and a mobile phone -- while the band was doing its necessary break-down and load-out of our equipment from the space. Because of this, the audio may be difficult to hear at times.