That's a Good Idea!

Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • March 17, 2025

Let's Embark on an Adventure

This January, we embarked on an exciting journey called “The Garden Greenhouse Challenge.” Our mission? To explore a transformative question: “Beyond the Sunday experience, how might we foster sacred exploration, create vibrant community, and make a positive impact in the world in innovative ways?” 


This question ignited a series of dynamic gatherings and heartfelt conversations, through which we envisioned a future filled with purpose and creativity. We prayed, dreamed, and engaged deeply with our community—both within The Garden and beyond. The results? Over 700 incredible ideas emerged from our collective imagination!


We’ve carefully analyzed and organized these ideas, and now, we stand on the threshold of something new. We’re ready to experiment, to prototype, and to bring our top concepts to life! Along the way, we’ll ask ourselves essential questions: What if? How? Where? Who? And why not? Together, we’ll navigate this exciting path of discovery to uncover our way forward.


This Sunday, we invite you to take a bold step into uncharted territory with us. Together, we’ll explore what it means to choose a new direction and answer the call we’ve received. We’ll also draw inspiration from stories of organizations that took risks and transformed their futures, and reflect on those that hesitated and missed their opportunities.


Don’t miss this chance to be part of something extraordinary! Join us for “That’s a Good Idea,” and let’s embark on this adventure together!

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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.
July 21, 2025
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. 
a man kindly picks up a newspaper from the ground
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A heartfelt tribute to everyday heroes in one neighborhood—retirees Morrie and Sam—whose quiet acts of kindness nourish community spirit and connection.
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Together, Let's See What's Next
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Welcome, IYG, our next Big Give Recipient!
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Freedom and Responsibility
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Messages from the Mountaintop