What Color is Your Parachute?

Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • March 25, 2025

Freeing Your Spiritual Gifts

This Sunday, we continue our Lenten journey and embark on a deeper exploration of the beautiful world of spiritual gifts. Each of us has been lovingly and intentionally designed by God with specific talents, abilities, and perspectives. These unique attributes are not merely coincidences—-they are purposeful flowers in the gardens of our creation. Our differences, rather than dividing us, enrich the collective strength of our communities and the world.


Think for a moment about the diversity in nature. Each flower, each leaf, each snowflake is a masterpiece of uniqueness, and yet they all belong to the same creation. Similarly, we are each crafted with distinctive qualities that contribute to the greater whole. Together, our uniqueness forms a gloriously diverse and rich garden of purpose and potential.


Consider the seeds of thriving plants like dandelions, milkweed, cottonwoods, and thistles. These beings rely on nature’s gift of wind to carry their seeds far and wide. Each seed is cradled by a delicate parachute of silky filaments, enabling it to soar gracefully through the air until it finds its place to take root and grow. These seeds remind us of our own spiritual gifts, which are designed to lift us, guide us, and help us find fertile ground where we can thrive and serve. Just as its parachute helps provide lift and movement for the seed, your spiritual gifts are your God-given tools for navigating life’s challenges and fulfilling your purpose.


These gifts are not meant to be hidden or held back. Like seeds that rise into the wind, our spiritual gifts are meant to spread beauty and hope, reaching places we may never have imagined. When you embrace your gifts—your vibrant colors—you become part of a divine cycle, planting seeds of light, love, and transformation in the hearts of those around you.


This week, we invite you to pause and reflect on the ways God has uniquely equipped you. What are the talents and passions that set your heart on fire? How can you use these gifts to serve and to live each day more fully? Discovering and embracing these spiritual gifts is not just about self-fulfillment; it’s about stepping into your calling and fertilizing and enriching the garden of life.


Join us this Sunday as we contemplate the truth that each of us has been wonderfully made for a purpose. Together, we will explore how to identify our unique gifts, how to lean into our calling, and how to walk through our lives meaningfully and intentionally. Are you ready to soar? 

Surviving the Desert

By Matthew Vire • February 17, 2026
The Garden welcomes Josh Riddick for a message on justice, faith, and how Jesus’ desert journey offers courage and clarity for our moment.

A Sacred Romance

By Rev. Richard Brendan • February 9, 2026
To Be Known, Chosen, and Loved

Never Again

February 3, 2026
A powerful call to action from a local vigil: “Never Again” is now. Stand up for dignity, justice, and immigrant rights in Indianapolis.

Revisioning Christianity: A Universal Christ?

February 2, 2026
With The Universal Christ , Richard Rohr presents a vision of Christ not as a figure confined to Jesus alone or to Christianity, but as the eternal, cosmic presence of God permeating all creation from the beginning. Rohr distinguishes between Jesus (the historical person) and Christ (the divine reality revealed through Jesus). He argues that Jesus is the “first incarnation,” present in every person, place, and particle of the universe. Drawing on Scripture—especially John 1, Colossians 1, and Paul—along with early Christian mystics and contemporary science, Rohr reframes salvation. Rather than describing it as rescue from a fallen world, he presents salvation as awakening to the divine presence already within and among us. This universal, incarnational vision invites a way of life grounded in compassion, solidarity with suffering, and participation in the healing and transformation of the whole world. Rohr’s approach also offers a theological grounding that aligns with The Garden’s emphasis on finding the sacred in the ordinary and celebrating a universal spiritual nature. Come explore this with us Sunday at The Garden.

Lift Every Voice and Sing

By Betty Brandt • February 2, 2026
A stirring reflection on the Black National Anthem’s enduring message of hope, unity, and the pursuit of freedom—honoring Black History Month through song and story.

A Community Celebration of Dr. King’s Life and Vision

By Betty Brandt • January 29, 2026
Reflections on a community celebration honoring Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., with powerful storytelling, music, and recognition of local justice work, hosted by northside Indianapolis Shalom Zone churches.

Go Nowhere With Me

By Betty Brandt • January 29, 2026
A gentle reflection on the spiritual practice of stillness—inviting readers to pause, notice, and embrace the quiet beauty of going nowhere during Lent.

Hello, Sun in My Face

By Betty Brandt • January 27, 2026
Learning to Greet the Day With Wonder

Been There, Done That

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • January 27, 2026
As February 2nd approaches, we find ourselves reflecting on Groundhog Day—a moment filled with anticipation and hope. Just like that furry little creature who predicts the end of winter, we often face our own shadows and uncertainties. Are you tired of the cold and darkness, yearning for the warmth of spring? Maybe you’ve felt stuck in a season that just won’t seem to shift, repeating the same patterns and wondering when change will come. This Sunday, we’ll explore how to step forth in faith amidst life's challenges, seeking light and renewal even when the world feels overwhelming. Come as you are, and let’s lean into transformation together. Don't miss this opportunity to gather in community and discover ways to embrace hope and resilience! See you there!

Stop, Drop, Enroll

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • January 20, 2026
In elementary school, we learn the life-saving phrase “stop, drop, and roll.” It’s a simple yet powerful reminder that can literally save lives. This phrase resonates with me when I reflect on Jesus’ call to his first disciples. He calls these fishermen right in the midst of their daily routines to stop everything and embark on a mission that would transform their lives forever. This Sunday, let’s take a moment to pause and consider what could happen if we were to stop, drop our distractions, and enroll in the invitation to live our best lives. Join us as we explore how answering this call can ignite a profound change within us!