A Candle of Hope

Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • November 26, 2024

The First Sunday of Advent

Advent is a season of waiting, watching, and wonder—not like “waiting in line,” but more like waiting for a concert to start, a love letter to arrive, or the stars to emerge on a crisp, clear night. It's a time of anticipation, expectation, and excitement, a season to renew our hope, peace, joy, and love as we prepare for the marvel that's on its way.


The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “arrival.” The One we eagerly await is Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Over the next four weeks, we'll read scripture, pray, sing, and light candles to remind us of the growing light of God’s presence, especially amidst shadows of despair, conflict, sorrow, and hate.


As the nights grow longer and darker, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, Advent arrives. Around December 21st, the winter solstice marks the longest night of the year. While "night" can be a metaphor for difficulty, this year, let's embrace the poetry of the stars. Dark skies are perfect for stargazing, for seeking the Light of the World amidst deep indigos, bottomless blues, and inky blacks of God’s night sky. Just as the shepherds and Magi gazed at the heavens and faithfully followed the stars, we'll spend the next four weeks training our eyes to wait, watch, and wonder at all God has done—and will do—for the love of this broken, beautiful world.


There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves…Then they will see “the Child of Humanity coming in a cloud” 

with power and great glory.  Luke 21:25-27

Be You. (What Does THAT Mean?)

By Matthew Vire • March 17, 2026
"Be you" is common advice. But what does it mean? The exhortation to "be you" is an invitation to relax into yourself and let go of worries that you don't measure up to someone else's idea of who you are or should be. "Be you" means be honest––to yourself first and then with the world––about your thoughts, feelings, insecurities, passions, interests, and inclinations. It means you're more than worthy. It means you are enough. It means you're worth knowing, seeing, and loving. Our resistance to be ourselves comes from fear, judgement, and insecurity. Fear tells us "hide." Judgment says, "you're not good enough, so you better pretend." Insecurity warns, "people won't like you if they really see you." But it can be easy to Be You. You don't have to do anything; you can just be. The only barrier is self-acceptance. Love can break through that. May this week give you space to breathe, to soften, and to trust that who you are is already held in love.

Paths to Belonging

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • March 16, 2026
This Sunday, we continue our Lenten journey with the theme of belonging. The National Institutes of Health recognizes belonging as a fundamental human need that shapes our mental, physical, and social well-being. One of the insights from our Greenhouse Challenge was the recognition that many people in the U.S. are experiencing loneliness. In response, The Garden has been exploring what it means to belong—not just socially, but spiritually and communally. During worship, we’ll check in with Scott Semester to hear how our grant initiative may help us create spaces of sanctuary—places where people feel seen, safe, and truly at home. Our Scripture this week, Ecclesiastes 4:12, reminds us that “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Belonging is not just about individual strength—it’s about the resilience we find in connection. When we walk together, support one another, and share our lives, we become stronger than we ever could be alone. May we continue to weave lives of compassion, curiosity, and courage—threads that bind us to one another and to the sacred truth that we belong.

Be Curious

By Matthew Vire • March 11, 2026
Paths to Belonging

Rooted in Memories

March 10, 2026
Hogeye Navvy Takes Over The Garden

Walking Toward a Deeper Spirit

By Betty Brandt • March 7, 2026
Discover the spiritual practice of labyrinth walking during Lent and join upcoming community walks that invite reflection, prayer, and renewed presence.

A Sacred Overlap: Ramadan and Lent Together

By Betty Brandt • March 7, 2026
A rare overlap of Ramadan and Lent invites Muslims and Christians into shared prayer, hospitality, and community during this once‑in‑a‑generation season.

Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand

By Matthew Vire • March 5, 2026
Is the "ripple effect" real? Explore how faith, Diana Ross, and peer-reviewed research prove that your smallest acts of kindness can change the world.

Be You

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • March 4, 2026
Living Waters

Be Here. Be You. Belong.

By Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes • February 23, 2026
Join us this Sunday as we embark on a transformative journey during Lent—our season of reflection, repentance, and renewal. This year, our theme is "Be Here. Be You. Belong." Our world is filled with distractions pulling us in every direction, so we often miss the profound significance of simply being present. This week, we will explore what it means to Be Here Now, to pause and embrace the moment as we deepen our connection with God. Together, we will delve into the wisdom of Brother Lawrence, whose insights on practicing the presence of God turned everyday tasks into sacred experiences. Let’s rediscover the holiness in the mundane and learn how to cultivate a spirit of mindfulness in our lives. Don’t miss this opportunity to reflect, grow, and engage more deeply with your faith. Join us as we journey together towards Easter, finding our place in God’s presence. See you Sunday!

The Beauty

By Matthew Vire • February 23, 2026
As we continue our journey through Paths to Belonging, David Wilcox’s "The Beautiful" offers a tender companion for times we feel overwhelmed and weary. David opens the song in a museum, an unexpected refuge where beauty offers a kind of shelter from a world that feels tragic and too heavy to hold. He names a truth many of us carry: that in the “ocean deep,” when the waves of sorrow or fear rise, our most dearly-held hopes and even our faith can feel thin. And he reminds us that beauty–quiet, ordinary, human beauty–can help steady us. A smile from a stranger, a moment of kindness, a glimpse of light and shadow can warm the heart enough to keep going. We invite you to listen and spend a few moments reflecting on the feelings, images, and memories the song evokes in you. Remember you are not alone and that belonging reveals itself in simple, grace-filled moments of human connection and Divine presence.