Fear of Missing Out

Betty Brandt • February 14, 2025

One Time FOMO Paid Off

I’ll confess! I have an extreme case of FOMO – fear of missing out. Sometimes this gets me into trouble and I won’t bore you with those details. I’d rather focus on a time my FOMO paid off.


Recently I heard an interesting lecture by the author John Green in the late afternoon. My brain was full of stimulating ideas. Any sane person would have gone home and savored that experience. Instead, I rushed home, grabbed something to eat and headed back out to a local bookstore to attend a “Hear Our Stories” event. These events feature people who have been incarcerated for various reasons. They share their stories about life before, during, and after incarceration. I didn’t want to miss out! 


If you want to hear stories of transformation, these events are for you. Sometimes the transformative moment is finding God, but others are transformed by serving another human being or finding friendship within a circle of former inmates as they open their hearts in a safe space. These stories shatter every stereotype I might have held about people who have served time for committing violent crimes.



One of the storytellers that evening was a former drug dealer, Montez Day, who began to sell drugs at the age of 12 and worked his way up to armed robbery until his incarceration in the Federal Prison in Terre Haute. At this event I heard how Montez volunteered to teach a fellow inmate to read so that the inmate wouldn’t lose his prison job. Montez and the inmate met in the prison library twice a week for 6 months. The inmate’s life was forever changed because he learned to read and kept his prison job. More importantly, Montez found purpose in his life. He said that he had been angry and lost ever since he was 12 years old and could never figure out why he was alive. Being of service to another human being and using teaching skills he didn’t even know he had set him on a path as an educator and leader. Now he works for a large not-for-profit as a workshop facilitator. What a transformation!


I don’t want to miss out on these opportunities to hear stories of transformation and hope. I need them to balance the invitations that are readily available every day to become despairing and cynical. This time my FOMO paid off. I’m not encouraging you to take up the FOMO practice but I am encouraging you to look for stories of transformation and hope. Then share those stories with anyone who will listen. 


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* The Garden supports “Hear Our Stories” but the heavy lifting of coaching the storytellers and finding the venues is done by Storytelling Arts of Indiana. You can see a picture of Montez Day on Storytelling Arts of Indiana's Home page – www.storytellingarts.org

Addressing Hunger with the Power of the Pen

By Mike Ransom • May 19, 2026
Hunger is Rising — and God Calls Us to Respond

The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • May 19, 2026
We All Lose Sometimes

The Power of the Pen

By 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.

Welcome to Mothering Sunday

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • May 5, 2026
This weekend, we invite you to return to your mother church, The Garden, as we celebrate the beautiful tradition of Mothering Sunday! Originating in England on the fourth Sunday of Lent, this special day has deep roots stretching back to the 16th century when families would gather at their "mother church" for a communal service. Over the years, it blossomed into a joyous occasion where children express their love through gifts, flowers, and heartfelt cards for their mothers. Today, Mothering Sunday reminds us not only to honor our mothers and mother figures but also to cherish the nurturing spirit within our community. Let us come together to acknowledge the love, support, and guidance that shapes our lives.  Join us as we celebrate the vital role of mothering in our journeys and how each of us is called to nurture one another. Don’t miss this heartfelt service filled with reflection, love, and connection!

Home, Sweet Home

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • April 28, 2026
Creating Space for Spirit, Connection, and Grace

Whichever Way You Turn, There is the Face of God

By Betty Brandt • April 24, 2026
Betty Brandt explores moving beyond traditional hymns toward a spirituality rooted in peace, love, and shared sacred wisdom.

We Are Family

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • April 21, 2026
Have you ever heard the phrase “blood is thicker than water”? Many people assume it comes from the Bible and refers to the strength of our biological family ties. But what if there’s more to it than we’ve been led to believe? This Sunday, we’ll explore the surprising origins of this saying and what it really invites us to consider. We’ll also welcome our Big Give recipient, Safe Families for Children , as we reflect on what it means to be family in the deepest sense. Together, we’ll take a fresh look at another timeless idea: “It takes a village.” Who makes up our village, and how do we create communities of love, comfort, and safety? Join us Sunday for "We Are Family" as we explore the meaning of belonging, connection, and the families we form along the way.

Seeds of Hope

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • April 14, 2026
This Sunday at The Garden, we celebrated creation and explore the profound connection we share with our planet. We looked at the text from Genesis where humanity is called to have dominion over creation. We considered what that means to claim this responsibility and duty to care for and protect creation. Together, let's uncover how our faith compels us to be stewards of creation.

Peace I Leave With You

April 7, 2026
What Does It Mean to Work for Peace?

Easter Sunday | Choose to Belong

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • March 31, 2026
This Sunday we conclude our Lenten series with a heartfelt message, “Choose to Belong.” We’ll celebrate Easter—both as a remembrance of the resurrection and as a celebration of new beginnings, including welcoming new Gardner members into our inclusive community. Easter's beautiful expression of love and hope represents a tradition that calls us to notice the ways love rises again in our lives, dispelling darkness. Whether you interpret the resurrection story literally or embrace it as a metaphor of love overcoming despair, there is a place for you here. This weekend we’ll explore what it means to belong, and how our faith deepens through our connections with one another and with the sacred. Come experience the joy of community and discover how we can embody the transformative love of Christ together. Join us as we celebrate this meaningful day. Let’s embrace new beginnings and growth as one community. We can’t wait to see you.