Fountain Street Church - Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

Check back often for an updated list of upcoming events, lectures, speakers, and musical performances taking place at FSC during the 2010-2011 season. Also check our Beyond Sunday Shared Ministry and Activities Listings for Church and FSC community-related events and activities to enjoy.

Monthly Marital Justice Rally
Rosa Parks Circle

Rev. Fred Wooden & Rev. Matthew Cockrum are joined by Fountain Streeters and Friends at Rosa Parks Circle, on the 1st Wednesday of each month, at 12:15 p.m., to demonstrate in support of marital rights. Come join them, bring your rainbows and signs, and spend some time as an advocate and visible presence! If you are interested in receiving e-mail reminders, correspondence, etc., please e-mail Kim Jordan in the Church Office at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Really Really Free Market
Fountain Street Church
February 5, 2012
1:30-5:00 p.m.

It takes repeating the word "Really" for people to understand that free means free when Occupy Grand Rapids opens it "Free Market" from time to time. On February 5th, they go indoors for the first time at FSC! Similar to freecycling and the Church's Free Garage Sale for Herkimer residents, the Really Really Free Market is a place where anyone can bring useful goods that they no longer need and/or take home things that they may find useful. All without charge! Those wishing to donate items may bring them earlier that day or at opening time. The Church Social Hall will be set up to display items and both members of Occupy GR and FSC will be on-site to assist with sorting and/or organizing. This is not a charity event, but an organized way to do what people have always done. Most people have shared items like baby clothes, books, and kitchenware from time to time. Free Markets are a way to extend the informal sharing that has always been a part of our economy, but goes largely unnoticed. Occupy GR has been active since October 2011 and has been "in residence" outside of FSC soon thereafter. In October they met with guest speaker, Jim Wallis, CEO of Sojourners Magazine, and Mayor George Heartwell. At Thanksgiving they held a joint dinner with FSC. They hosted a movie night in the Church in December and recently worked with the Duncan Littlefair Great Speakers Series to present David Cobb from www.movetoamend.org. The general community is invited to take part in the Really Really Free Market! For additional information, please contact FSC's Front Office at (616) 459-8386.

GRCC Diversity Lecture Series
Fountain Street Church
February 15, 2012

Jeff Johnson, Author, Journalist, Social Activist
"Everything I'm Not Made Me Everything I Am"
Jeff Johnson is renowned both for his conversations with world figures in the political, business, and entertainment arenas and his grass-roots work seeking to inspire the next generation of leaders. Johnson is a trailblazing social entrepreneur and authentic voice for change. Sometimes called the "conscience voice" of BET Networks, Johnson looks for ways to merge the worlds of politics and popular culture, through broad-based communication, including as a contributor to the Tom Joyner Morning Show. He is the Author ofEverything I'm Not Made Me Everything I Am. This lecture begins at 7:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Ladies Tea
February 19, 2012
12:30-2:00 p.m.

Please join us for Tea! We will have sugar and spice and everything nice...food galore, tea, and lemonade on ice. The Parents Circle is sponsoring our 2nd Annual Intergenerational Tea for Ladies, ages 5 to 105. Enjoy time with women young and old. Come alone, or bring your mom, sister, aunt, best friend, daughter, any lady that is important in your life. The Ladies Tea is free and we will be taking free-will donations for a good cause, (TBA at the Tea). Entertainment and door prizes will be part of the fun! Childcare will be availabe. To register, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the Welcome/Information Table, where a sign-up sheet will be available. Please register by February 12th.

Another Organ Recital at FSC!

The Grand Rapids Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, (AGO), will hold their Annual Member's Recital in the Fountain Street Church Sanctuary on Sunday, February 19th, at 3:00 p.m. Approximately 10 different area Organists will perform a variety of organ pieces at this Program, which is free and open to the public!

February Organ Recital Series

Plan to attend one or all of the FREE Friday Organ Recitals during February in the FSC Sanctuary. Concerts begin at 12:30 p.m. and will last approximately 40 minutes. A light lunch, ($5.00 charge), will be served each week beginning at 11:30 a.m. This year's roster of Organists include:

February 10 - Jonathan Tuuk, Organist at Mayflower Congregational Church

February 17 - Steven Ball, Carillon Faculty, University of Michigan

February 24 - Helen Hawley, Organist at Westminster Presbyterian Church

If you are available any or all of the Fridays in February to assist with the Organ Recital lunches, please contact Marilyn Ossentjuk at either (616) 459-8386 ext. 222 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

History A La Carte
Fountain Street Church
History Forum & Lunch
8 Sundays, 8 Great Speakers, 8 Topics

March 18 - Gerry Bose - Historical Perspectives on the Study of Cosmology

March 25 - Don Chaffee - Two Kings of Uganda: Idi Amin and Yoweri Museveni

April 1 - Charlie Gallmeyer - The Middle Ages and the Dawn of Modern Technology

April 8 - Jeff Smith - History of US Social Movements

April 15 - Gordon Olson - The Notorious Lt. Earl: Counter Terrorism in the Civil War

April 21 - Lisa Locke - Reflections on the Environmental Movement: An Ethical Imperative

April 29 - Diana Barrett - Grand Rapids' own Magdalen

May 6 - Bill Hill - History of Libraries

Where: Room 109
When: 12:20-1:30 p.m.
This program is free and open to the public! Pay only for the lunch you order from the take-out menu.

If you have any questions and/or concerns, please contact Paul Arnold at either (616) 791-4534 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Gilda's Club LaughFest
Fountain Street Church
March 8-18, 2012

The laughs will continue at FSC! Please click HERE for the line-up.

GRCC Diversity Lecture Series
Fountain Street Church
March 14, 2012

Naomi Wolf, Author, Social Critic, Political Activist
"Beyond Victimization: The Beauty Myth Revisited"
Author of seven books, including the New York Times best seller, The Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf focuses on gender equality, pervasive inequities in society and politics, the defense of liberty in America and internationally, and body image. She is the Co-founder of the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership, which teaches ethics and empowerment to young women leaders. In Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries, Wolf argues that breathtaking changes take place when ordinary citizens engage in the democratic system the way the founders intended, through civic engagement. This lecture begins at 7:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Interfaith Passover Celebration
March 25, 2012
6:00 p.m.

Passover is one of the primary festivals of Judaism. With the guidance of Congregation Ahavas Israel, we will enjoy the experience of a Passover Seder, with its food, stories, and fellowship, All are welcome, including children and elders! The cost for FSC members and Church neighbors is $10/adult, $5/child under age 12, and free for children ages 0-2. The cost covers all food, beverages, and other event costs. Seating is limited and admission is by reservation only. To reserve your seat, please call Fountain Street Church at (616) 459-8386 or e-mail Kim Jordan at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Oratorio Concert
Fountain Street Church
April 1, 2012
4:00 p.m.

This year's Concert will be an all-Mozart Program, featuring Mozart's "Requiem", "Regina Coeli" and "Ave Verum Corpus", all accompanied by professional orchestra. A reception will follow in the Social Hall. Funding for the Concert is mainly from donations contributed in memory of, or in honor of, someone who is important to you. Any monies generated through this Concert will be used to pay for the orchestra musicians, as well as other technical support for the Concert. To become a sponsor of the Concert, please click HERE.

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