The Power of the Pen

Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • May 12, 2026

On Sunday we will participate in our annual Bread for the World letter campaign and be reminded of “the Power of the Pen.” It is a time each year when we acknowledge we live in a world where there is more than enough for all to eat. We acknowledge Hunger is a policy choice, not an inevitability. In a season of division in our country followers of Jesus are called to put pen to paper. It is a season when we are reminded Jesus commands us, not just to "pray for the poor," but to be God's hands and feet, taking action to ensure the needy are fed.


In a democratic society, the "pen"—our letters, emails, and phone calls to legislators—is a tangible, effective tool for justice, turning compassion into public policy.


Join us Sunday as we welcome representatives from Bread for the World and share in The Power of the Pen.

Current Situation


House passed H.R. 7567, the new Farm Bill (last one 2018); sent to the Senate.


Drastic cuts in SNAP and Medicaid from the “BBB” now codified in the $390B Bill.


$60B boost in subsidies to farmers (and farm corporations); $187B in cuts to food assistance programs (SNAP).


This is the largest reduction in federal food assistance in history.

 

Impact of “BBB” / Farm Bill:


3.4 million Americans pushed off SNAP while grocery prices are rising significantly


Direct impact on local economies - grocery stores and their employees at risk


 USAID (DOGE) cuts reduced humanitarian aid by 71%; resulting in 750,000 lives lost in the first year alone; the richest cut food aid to the poorest


 If cuts stand 9.4 million lives lost with 2.5 million children under 5 by 2030


The Administration has slashed data collection to obscure and suppress the facts.



Letters from individuals make the difference in our representatives’ support.


Must ask for a specific action.


Your personalization and signature (name / address) is critical to the impact of the letter.


Personalization suggestions (select one or write your own):


1) "In the last year there has been a significant cut in food assistance; I am asking you to reject H.R.7567, and restore SNAP funding so every family can put food on the table."


2) "In Indiana, nearly one million Hoosiers, many of them children, live with food insecurity; we must do better."


3) "As a person of faith, it is my responsibility to speak up on this critical issue and ask for your support to help hungry children around the world."


Victoria Spartz - District 5

Indianapolis north of I-465

Includes Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Kokomo, Muncie, Anderson, Marion. Does not include Zionsville, Whitestown, Lebanon, Frankfort.


Andre Carson – District 7 

Most of Indianapolis from I-465 on the north, south to (but not including) Beech Grove, east to Lawrence and Cumberland, and west to Eagle Creek. Does not include Zionsville, Avon, Plainfield, Greenfield, Beech Grove, Southport or Greenwood.


Note: Jeff Shreve (District 6) is south and east of Andre Carson; Jim Baird is in a large district (4) which covers areas west and northwest in central Indiana (beyond Lafayette and to the Illinois border). 

Stepping Up

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • November 3, 2026
Have you ever used a stair climber at the gym? It’s designed so that you’re climbing the same few steps over and over and over again. You put in an incredible amount of work, sweat, and effort, but you never actually go anywhere. Does life sometimes feel that way? Like you’re taking the same few steps over and over? Are there times when you feel like you’re on a spiritual stair climber? Life wasn’t designed to work that way. As people of faith, we are called to order our steps so that our future is guided not by our own limited stride, but by a divine path and perspective. This Sunday’s message, “Stepping Up,” considers what it takes to break out of the loop, step it up, and live each day to its absolute fullest through spiritual reflection, positioning, and prospering. As Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Don’t just drift through your week. Start positioning yourself for what God wants to do next. Bring a notebook, bring a friend, and let’s get ready to step up together!
LeaAnn Koekenberg

Thank You, LeaAnn!

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • October 29, 2026
Pastor Carolyn shares news of Lea Ann’s new role and invites you to celebrate her four years of loving and teaching our children on Sunday, November 8.

Baskets for Fletcher Place

By Helen Payne • October 28, 2026
Each year at The Garden, we collect donated laundry baskets filled with specific household items to be given to families in need. These items cannot be purchased with SNAP funds, and for those living in poverty it can be difficult to afford these essentials. If you would like to donate, you can either make a monetary contribution and we will shop, or you can purchase and fill a basket and bring it to The Garden by Sunday, November 29. The following items are requested for each donation: 1 Large, Quality Laundry Basket 1 Bar of Soap 4 Toothbrushes 1 Large or 2 Smaller (4 or 5 oz) Toothpaste 1 Large (42-50 oz) Laundry Detergent 1 Large (15-16 oz) Dish Soap 1 Bottle (8 oz) Liquid Hand Soap 1 Roll Paper Towels 4-6 Rolls of Toilet Paper 1 Box of Facial Tissue 1 Large (16 oz) Bottle of Shampoo 1 Bottle (18 oz) of All-Purpose Cleaner We will also gratefully accept cash donations and volunteers to shop with.

Remember Me

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • October 28, 2026
All Saints Day

Dear John

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • October 19, 2026
 In World War II, a “Dear John” letter was synonymous with breaking up. When The Garden was founded some 30 years ago, we sent our own “Dear John” letter to the United Methodist Church. We felt the path the traditional church had taken was too narrow, and The Garden wanted to champion “many paths and one purpose.” However, about 10 years ago, we realized we needed to co-parent this message of hope and love, so we reluctantly joined the Conference as a UMC congregation. This year, I’ve had the opportunity to get reacquainted with our Methodist roots and John Wesley himself. For me, it has felt like going to a class reunion and falling back in love with a high school sweetheart—realizing that even though we took different paths, we still have so much in common, and well, maybe it's time to get back together? This Sunday, we will look at how The Garden has lived into the very core message that John Wesley preached. We will consider how being part of the UMC connection can help us transform the world with God's love, and how The Garden can help the UMC see that there are truly many loving paths. Join us this Sunday for “Dear John.”

When Grace Overflows

By Jerry Zehr • October 13, 2026
What makes some people extraordinarily generous, even when they have so little to give, while others who have so much find it difficult to share? In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul describes the Macedonian churches, whose poverty and hardships did not diminish their generosity. Instead, their joy overflowed into giving. Through personal stories and encounters with unexpected generosity, we'll explore what happens when grace becomes more than something we receive. It becomes something we share. Grace isn't something we hold on to. It's something we allow to flow through us. As The Garden reflects on its future, we have an opportunity to ask a deeper question: What kind of community do we want to create together? What would it look like to become a community where love, compassion, acceptance, and generosity overflow into the lives of others? Perhaps the greatest gift we have to offer isn't what we possess, but who we are and how we choose to share ourselves with the world. When grace overflows, generosity isn't something we have to do. It's something we get to do.

The Sacred Web of Life

By Rev. Richard Brendan • October 8, 2026
Indigenous Peoples Day invites us to pause and remember that we live on land with a story much older than our own. It is a day to listen to the voices, wisdom, stories, and resilience of Indigenous peoples and to acknowledge the painful history that is also a part of this land’s story. It calls us to move beyond simply remembering and to ask: “How might we live with greater humility, gratitude, and respect for the people and the Earth who have been here long before us?”

World Wide Communion

By Rev. Dr, Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • September 29, 2026
Although we define our world with borders, walls, and ideologies, World Communion Sunday brings us a simple reality: we belong to each other. This Sunday, we gather around a table that expands across the globe, a table of radical hospitality where all are fed, all are valued, and all are loved. Together, we commit to the collective work of peace, justice, and healing for our planet. Join us as we break bread and build bridges.

The Art of Living: The Art of Prayer

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • September 22, 2026
Be honest: When you pray, does it feel like a genuine conversation—or just another item on your to-do list? Sometimes, the most familiar things are the hardest to truly see. This Sunday, we continue week two of our series, The Art of Living, by stripping away the routine and taking a radical new look at the most famous prayer in history. Diving into the Gospel of Matthew, we're looking past the familiar recitations of the Lord's Prayer to discover what it actually takes to build a thriving spiritual life. Whether your prayer life feels vibrant, completely stuck, or non-existent right now, Jesus' words offer the reset you need. This week, we're digging into the setup, motive, and heart of prayer—moving past empty repetitions and performance checklists to find a space where true connection and forgiveness can transform our daily lives. Mastering the art of living doesn't start with striving; it starts with humility and silence in the presence of God. Join us this weekend as we discover how a simple shift in our prayer life can change everything. See you Sunday!

The Art of Living

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • September 14, 2026
A new two-week series exploring how faith connects to daily rhythms and habits — with a visual artist and writer bringing "The Art of Living" to life.