Go Nowhere With Me

Betty Brandt • January 29, 2026

What Happens When We Stop Moving?

It had been a busy Monday morning. I managed to do the week’s wash, put dinner in the crockpot, vacuum the bedroom, pay some bills, write a blog post, answer my emails, send some texts and clean up an accumulated pile of stuff. I even cleaned out the slow drain in my bathroom sink.


Before I went on to an afternoon project (writing this post), I decided to just sit and look out the window. I wanted to notice what had changed recently. I wanted to watch the squirrels run along the fence. I wanted to see the patterns the sun and shadows made on the ground. I wanted to be grateful for the luxury of just going nowhere and doing nothing in the middle of the day.


The inspiration for my going nowhere in the middle of the day was travel writer, Pico Iyer. He has written a little book, The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere. Iyer has spent his entire life traveling the world and sharing his adventures with his readers. Now at the age of 68, he treasures more and more those minutes, hours, days and weeks of going nowhere. He writes, “At some point, all the horizontal trips in the world stop compensating for the need to go deep, into somewhere challenging and unexpected; movement makes the most sense when it is grounded in stillness.”


Lent is the perfect time to being this practice of going nowhere. I only have to stop, sit down, take a deep breath, and sink into stillness. What will I find? Who knows? A deep insight? A moment of clarity? Just a restful moment in a busy day?


Won’t you join me in going nowhere? A six-week Lenten guide, Paths to Belonging, will be available starting Ash Wednesday, February 18 in paper form (you can pick up a copy at 7171 N. Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis) and on this website. The guide provides daily prompts to encourage a meaningful experience, dates for special Open Labyrinth Walk events, and reading recommendations. One of those recommendations is the Pico Iyer book mentioned above.


Watch Iyer's TEDtalk on stillness:

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.

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!

Beloved Community

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • January 13, 2026
When the civil rights movement gained momentum in the 1950s, it found a powerful champion in Martin Luther King Jr., who drew inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi and Henry David Thoreau. Ghandi successfully used nonviolent resistance to free India from British colonial rule, and Henry David Thoreau coined the phrase "Civil Disobedience," arguing that individuals have a moral duty to refuse cooperation with unjust laws. King advocated for nonviolent resistance as a transformative force for justice and equality. His philosophy centered on love, moral courage, and disrupting unjust systems—not through hatred or violence, but through the redemptive power of unearned suffering.  King's approach was far from passive. Through boycotts, marches, and civil disobedience, he actively resisted evil while refusing to humiliate opponents. His goal was to defeat injustice itself, not the people perpetuating it, and to awaken understanding that could convert adversaries into allies. This courageous method aimed to create what King called the "Beloved Community"—a society built on reconciliation and mutual respect. On Sunday, we will remember MLK's legacy and consider how we can continue building beloved community through our own peaceful revolution.

Let's Get Started

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • January 6, 2026
Join us this Sunday for a hope‑filled gathering as we pause to celebrate where The Garden has been and dream boldly about where God is leading us next. It’s a moment to breathe, to remember, and to imagine—together. We’ll look back on our first season in our new home at FCIndy, celebrating the programs, services, and community partnerships that have helped us take root and flourish. We’ll revisit the seeds planted during our 2025 Greenhouse Challenge and share a special announcement you won't want to miss: a new initiative designed to spark creativity, deepen connection, and nurture growth in the year ahead. Through shared visioning and prayer, let's listen for God’s whisper and step into the future with courage, curiosity, and mindful, determined joy. Come be part of this uplifting service "Let's Get Started" for the journey still unfolding.

Finding Our Way

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • December 29, 2025
Today, with GPS at our fingertips, most of us rarely unfold a map—let alone look up to the stars. We navigate by screens that pull our attention downward, keeping our focus just a few inches from our faces. This Sunday, we’ll take a step back in time to when travelers—like the Magi—lifted their eyes to the night sky for direction and inspiration. As we enter the season of Epiphany, we’ll explore what it means to look up again, to notice the light around us, and to follow the kinds of “stars” that guide us toward meaning, connection, and the places that feel most sacred in our lives. Join us Sunday for “Finding Our Way.”
A hand writes in a notebook with a pencil. A window in the background shows an orange sunset.

My One Word

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • December 22, 2025
A New Page, A New Dawn

Christmas Eve 2025

December 22, 2025
This Christmas Eve, First Congregational Church of Indy and The Garden come together to celebrate the joy and wonder of Jesus’ birth in this shared service. We are delighted to join voices and hearts for this special evening. The service will weave together gifts of both congregations—music, prayer, readings, and storytelling—in a spirit of unity and welcome. Whether you are part of FCIndy or The Garden, or simply seeking a place to experience the wonder of Christmas, we welcome you as we celebrate the light that shines in the darkness and the hope that brings us together.

Do You Feel What I Feel?

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • December 15, 2025
This Sunday is the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. On this Longest Night, we pause to remember that God is with us through it all. From moments of awe and beauty to times of sickness and grief, we are never alone. This season brings with it all kinds of feelings. Sometimes it helps to acknowledge that the twinkling lights and merry songs of Christmas can also deepen the shadows for those coping with grief, pain, fear, or loss. It is not always easy to hear “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!” and other cheerful tunes when we may be personally struggling. On Sunday, we will conclude our Advent journey with the theme “Do You Feel What I Feel?” Together, we’ll recognize that we each come to this season with different emotions and experiences. Let’s pause and explore how we can support and care for one another, knowing that we all arrive here from different places and with different stories. Join us for “Do You Feel What I Feel?”