Hope Grows Here

Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes and Beth Young • October 2, 2024

Our 2025 Stewardship Campaign Has Begun

Dear Gardeners,


This is the time of year when we ask you to make a financial pledge to The Garden. We prayerfully hope that you will do so by joining our 2025 "Hope Grows Here" pledge campaign. As you may recall, we chose "hope" as our community focus in January 2024. With that focus, we have indeed seen that hope is growing and does not disappoint!


We have great reason for hope as we look forward to the future, as The Garden continues to grow and transform the world with the love of God. Hope is growing in The Garden through increased attendance, enhanced programming, and outreach. We continue to see hope come to fruition in our existing, firmly planted programs like our Big and Little Gives, Faith and Action, and participation in efforts like Soups’ On and Shalom Zone. 


This year, we brought on Betty Brandt as our Program Director. With just a few seeds, she has planted programming that has taken root and continues to grow with Together in 111 and the Art Gallery. In addition to those efforts, our Faith in Action team continues to grow, and The Garden has joined a team of churches on the north side committed to peace and unity.


Our worship continues to bring hope to Gardeners in-house and online. Our numbers are increasing on-site, and we have Gardeners watching from Montana to Delaware. Together, we all share in the spiritual connection of Shalom, Salaam, Namaste, and Peace. Doran Nash, our Music Director, continues to bring a variety of music and musicians that make Garden services deeply meaningful.


I give God thanks that Hope Grows Here in The Garden, and I believe that we are positioned perfectly to continue to grow wherever hope is planted in 2025. The Garden continues to be a dynamic, vibrant community that is committed to transforming the world with the love of God.


Please consider planting hope with a first-time pledge or planting more seeds by increasing your pledge in 2025. We hope to reach our goal of 70 family units pledging a total of $175,000. Last year we had 62 family units at $154,000. Will you please submit your pledge by Sunday, November 24? That way, we can include you in a special blessing. You will find all the information you need about pledging on the back of this letter. 


Thank you for believing that Hope Grows Here!


Peace,


Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes, Lead Pastor and Beth Young, Leadership Team Chair

The Garden Celebrates Pride

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • June 10, 2026
This Saturday, Indianapolis comes alive as we celebrate Pride 2026 with a vibrant parade, a lively festival, and a powerful celebration of resilience, activism, and community building. It’s a time to honor our journey, reflecting on the progress we’ve made while acknowledging the work that still lies ahead in achieving true equality and acceptance for all members of the LGBTQ+ community—both in Indiana and across the nation. Join us this Sunday as we pause to reflect on our journey, the milestones we've reached and the miles we still must travel toward inclusivity and love. Together, we will share in the sacred mission of creating spaces where every one of God’s children feels valued and embraced as part of our family of faith. Let’s gather to celebrate the beauty of diversity, to uplift one another, and to commit ourselves to a future where love knows no bounds. This is not just a celebration; it’s a call to action for all of us to be the welcoming arms of love at The Garden. Don’t miss this opportunity to be inspired, uplifted, and empowered as we stand together in pride and faith!

Lessons from Woodstock: Music Sunday at The Garden

May 29, 2026
Woodstock was more than a festival. It was a moment when people chose peace over violence, community over division, and love over fear. Those values still speak to our culture today--calling us to show up, stand together, and create a world that works for ALL. Join us Sunday, June 7 for Music Sunday at The Garden when the rock band Opening Day will take over our service. Opening Day is a psychedelic band from Indianapolis led by songwriter and guitarist Casper Willow. Blending a vast palette of experimental, progressive, and art/folk influences, the band crafts immersive live experiences designed to offer audiences a moment to pause, feel, and reconnect. This mini concert will feature songs by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Santana; Led Zeppelin; The Grateful Dead; The Who; Janis Joplin; and Joan Baez among others. See you there!

The Art of Community

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • May 26, 2026
What does true community look like? How can we cultivate a closer, stronger, more loving one where we all thrive, belong, and prosper? Where isolation and fear divide us, the church can be a beacon of unity and love. Community is more than a gathering of people; it is a chosen interconnectedness, a tapestry woven together by the divine within us. While we may find ourselves part of a community by circumstance, we can also join and co-create them with intention. This Sunday, we'll reimagine the meaning of community, why it matters, and how we can lovingly, compassionately, and joyfully cultivate it in our lives. Join us for "The Art of Community."

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.