... Because truly everyone belongs to Fountain Street Church. That, and once a year we invite animals to join us in honor of Earth Day and the legacy of Albert Schweitzer. In addition to llamas you will also find African Drummers, Bluegrass strummers, Gospel singers, bell ringers, operatic divas, three different choirs, Muslims, Jews, Native Americans, and even a preacher or two.
Is this really worship? For us worship means to “shape worth,” which is what the English word comes from. Sundays for us are a time for 'looking outward' and 'looking inward,' to appreciate and take a reckoning. We come to reflect on how well we have lived the last week, reconnect to what we hold is ultimately important, and find the resolve and strength to head into another week.
In appearance, worship at FSC is very much like a Protestant service. You will hear a musical prelude, hear treasured texts, sing hymns, pray, listen to music, hear a sermon. It is in the content and intent that we are distinct.
- We believe all music can be inspirational, sacred or not. We greet one another every week with a handshake or a wave. We are a community as well as individuals.
- All great texts are sacred to us, and so you will hear the Sunday newspaper, a current book, a poem, a popular song, as well as religious texts.
- We include our children, who join us for the first part of every service. We set aside a few minutes to speak to every age every week.
- Our prayers are spontaneous and open. The language may be religious, or not. The time of silence is more powerful than the words beforehand.
- Now and then something completely different will be happening. We may listen to an especially powerful piece of music as our sermon, perform a little play instead of readings, or watch a picture being painted on the spot.
If it quickens the mind, stirs the spirit, soothes the heart, rouses the will, we will do it. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. But you will never have to say, “same old same old.”