SUNDAY BULLETIN | September 14, 2025
Hidden Treasure
When was the last time you went on a treasure hunt? Sometimes the most valuable treasures are hiding in plain sight — just waiting for someone curious enough to look. This Sunday at The Garden, we’re setting out on a search inspired by two short but powerful stories from Matthew 13:44–46 — where hidden treasures and priceless pearls become symbols of life’s most meaningful discoveries.
We’ll explore what it means to notice, pursue, and embrace the things that truly matter — the kind of treasures that can change how we see the world and how we live in it.
At The Garden, we believe the sacred can be found in everyday places, and that love and meaning can show up anywhere. So bring your curiosity, your questions, and a heart ready to dig in. You might just uncover something priceless that’s been right in front of you all along.
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:44
ORDER OF SERVICE | |
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SONG: "Doctor My Eyes" | Written by Jackson Browne | Michael Read |
Welcome and Announcements | Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes |
Stepping Stones | LeaAnn Koekenberg |
Intro to the Service | Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes |
Candle Lighting, Devotional, & Words of Wisdom | Rev. Richard Brendan |
Prayer & Harvest Basket | Patrice Bradley |
SONG: "Show Me The Way" | Written by Dennis Deyoung | Kimberly Morgan |
Message | Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes |
SONG: "Right in Front of You" | Written by David Siegel, Kara DioGuardi, Sheppard Solomon & Steve Morales | Abby Cole |
Closing | Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes |
DEVOTIONAL MOMENT
"Let Us Live Joyfully"
Let us live joyfully.
Let us form a community of love,
in a world full of hatred.
Let us live without any kind of hatred.
Let us live joyfully.
Let us form a community of spiritual
health, in a world full of illness.
Let us live without any kind of spiritual darkness.
Let us live joyfully.
Let us form a community of peace,
in a world full of rivalry.
Let us live without any kind of
rivalry.
Let us live joyfully.
Let us form a community which
possesses nothing.
Let us live on spiritual bliss, radiating spiritual light.
From Dhammapada, part of the Pali canon – The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom (c. 500 BCE–200 CE), India.
OUR SERVING TEAMS: | |
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The Good Earth Band | Music Director: Doran Nash; Keyboards - Michael Read; Guitar - Michael Clark; Drums - Mike Kessler |
Creative Team | Creative Director: Dave Bradley, Betty Brandt, Becky Cheetham, Christina Fidone, Joleen House, Kimberly Morgan, Doran Nash, Marci Struble |
Hospitality Team | Hospitality Director: Tricia Frye, Kevin & Jessica Young, Konnie & John Schlechte, Tom Ford, Shannon Robinson, Beth Young |
Technical Team | Technical Director: Scott Carroll, Matthew Vire, Tom Ford, Arcy Clark, Jaco Carroll |
Stepping Stones | Program Coordinator: LeaAnn Koekenberg |
OPPORTUNITIES:
List of Services
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Sept 14 - TOGETHER TO GATHER
Join us for a Scavenger Hunt to learn about First Congregational's building and history.
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Sept 19 -"THE MOUNTAIN TOP" AT DISTRICT THEATRE
This play explores the final night of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, specifically the evening before his assassination on April 3, 1968. King, after delivering his famous "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech, is visited in his room by a mysterious maid, Camae, who challenges him to confront his mortality and legacy. Through their conversations, King grapples with the weight of his role as a leader and the looming threat of death. District Theater, 627 Massachusetts Ave. Care to join for dinner at Thaitanium at 5:30 p.m. before the show? Contact betty@thegardenonline.org.
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Sept 14 - INDY FESTIVAL OF FAITHS: ONE SOURCE, MANY STREAMS
INDY FESTIVAL OF FAITHS: One Source, Many Streams
Every year the Center for Interfaith Cooperation (CIC) organizes Indy Festival of Faiths, Indiana’s largest one-day celebration of our diverse religious landscape. Expect joyful music, dance performances, interfaith dialogue, interactive booths and delicious local eats. Join Betty and meet people from Indy’s diverse faith community. Sunday, September 14, 1-5pm, University Park, 325 N. Meridian St, Indy, free, no registration
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Sept 20 - SERVANTS AT WORK (SAWS) RAMP BUILD
Join a team from Shalom Zone churches to provide a ramp for someone in our community with a disability that restricts them to their home. No experience is required. SAWS sends an experienced supervisor who will manage the project. You must register and complete the volunteer form for this project at the link below (scroll down to the Sept 20 project)
Please email betty@thegardenonline.org if you plan on attending. Saturday, September 20, 8am-12pm, location TBA
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Sept 25 - STRONGER FUTURES THROUGH ECONOMIC MOBILITY
The guest speaker for this fall’s Faith & Action Event is Raj Chetty, author & global economic mobility expert. He will offer a data-driven look at what’s working in cities across the country to reduce poverty and improve children’s outcomes. Thursday, September 25, 4:30 p.m., Schrott Arts Center, Butler University, 610 W. 46th St. Free, ticket required.
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Sept 30 - LEARN ABOUT MIRRORINDY
Ariana Beedie, Community Journalism Director at MirrorIndy, will speak about the mission of MirrorIndy.com and share stories focused on housing and immigration in Indianapolis, highlighting how community-based journalism can inform and empower residents to shape the city for the better. This free event is hosted by The Garden, part of the sponsoring organization Shalom Zone, and will take place on Tuesday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m. at First Friends Meeting, 3030 Kessler Blvd. E. Dr., Indianapolis. No registration required.
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October Book Club - LOSE, LOVE, LIVE with AUTHOR DAN MOSELEY
Local scholar, writer, and speaker Dan Moseley will graciously lead a three-week study of his book Lose, Love, Live: The Spiritual Gifts of Loss and Change. In it, Dan invites us to explore the many dimensions of loss—those inevitable experiences that shape our lives—and to discover the spiritual gifts they may offer.
“This book is an invitation to wake up to your life, to live your life as you go, and to love your life as you experience it.” —Dan Moseley
Thursdays, October 16, 23 & 30. No fee • Donations gladly accepted • Registration required • Limited to 30 participants
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Now - CONSIDER JOINING THE FAITH IN ACTION TEAM
Interested in working in the areas of civil rights, homelessness, reducing gun violence, food insecurity, environmental issues and more? The Garden's Faith in Action team meets via Zoom the 2nd Tuesday of each month.
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Now - STREETS TO HOME INITIATIVE
The Garden joins other faith communities in a powerful effort to end chronic homelessness. This bold partnership between the City of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Foundation, the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and faith communities will provide permanent housing and supportive services for 350 of our most vulnerable neighbors by June 2026. Make a donation to the Garden with “Streets to Home” on the memo line today. These donations go towards achieving the faith communities’ goal of $270,000.