This Sunday

Martin Luther King Jr.; A Steward of Democracy

Join us this Sunday at Fountain Street Church, either in person at our Sanctuary or virtually through our YouTube channel, as Dr. Randal Jelks joins us to offer us a message in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with musical gifts provided by organist Rev. Christopher Roe and pianist Margi Peterson. 

Children & Youth Programming

From Your Ministers & Staff

Stewardship Update- Thank You!

Because of your generous acts of love we have received pledges of $532,858.33 toward our $650,000 goal! This generosity is a symbol of your deep faith and hope in a brighter future and your love for this beloved community. Thank you!

If you haven't yet been able to, please take the time to express your own gratitude by making your pledge. You can do so by clicking this link: https://fountainstreet.org/pledge or by sending in the pledge form that was mailed to you in early October. Thank you to all of those who have already pledged and thanks in advance to those who are planning to do so. We couldn't do this without you! 

Letters to Martin: Book Discussion with Dr. Jelks

You are invited to a book discussion with Dr. Jelks at Books and Mortar Bookstore (955 Cherry Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503) this Sunday afternoon (January 16) at 2:30pm, where he will be discussing his new book Letters to Martin. Everyone is invited!

Me + White Supremacy Journal Learning Group

Starting in February, Rev. Greta Jo will be hosting a learning group guided by the Me + White Supremacy Journal by Layla F. Saad - All are welcome to join and encouraged to register as soon as possible. 

• We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month from 6:30pm-8:00pm via Zoom.
• All are welcome to participate, regardless of previous reading/participation.
• The journal is available at a discounted group rate at Books & Mortar on Cherry Street no later than the first week of February.
• FSC will cover the cost of the book for anyone who needs it - simply tell Books & Mortar that you're part of the FSC group when you pick up your copy!
• You do not need to have read the original book in order to participate in this group.

To register, please fill out the form or connect through the FSC Office: https://forms.gle/3nZAbHYxMQMcravK9

Any questions? Please reach out to Rev. Greta Jo - gseidohl@fountainstreet.org

Important News & Reminders

Afghan Project

     FSC’s Afghan family left their home and life in Afghanistan abruptly with only one luggage bag. After fighting to get on a US Military airplane in Kabul, the family’s first stop was in Qatar for 11 days; then on to a US military base in Germany for 1 month, on to a Virginia military base for 1 month, on to Camp McCoy in Wisconsin for 1 month. They arrived in Grand Rapids in November, staying at a temporary residence hotel for 3 weeks, before securing permanent housing placement.  
     The first family members arrived at their new home in Eastown on December 21st. The family consists of mother, three children (sons ages 9 & 6, & daughter age 4) and nephew 17. On January 11, the mother’s brother, wife and 3-year-old son joined the household. Our household now consists of eight, (with the nephew having good English language skills so helpful for translations).      
     The initial goal for the family was to prepare the home with household bedding and bath supplies, kitchen equipment, furniture and beds as well as clothing and winter wear for each individual. The immediate goals for their first month are to provide the appropriate series of immunizations through, provide the required service & support cards, health insurance card, the US Employment Authorization, Bridge Card for food and household supplies, and a Social Security card. Our team and FSC volunteers are enrolling the younger children and high school age nephew into school. It has been 4 months since the families left the airport at Kabul, and the children are very anxious to get back into school.  
     We have started in home, twice weekly, English language lessons for the adult family members with FSC volunteers assisting. Our next goal is to work closely with Samaritas to find jobs for the adults. The family is expected, by the end of six months, to be financially self-sufficient. FSC’s Afghan Project in conjunction as a Co-Sponsor with Samaritas, is to provide resettlement supports for a one year period.  
     Our team has been overjoyed with the graciousness of our Afghan family members and their eagerness to be part of the American community. They are warm, humorous, and love welcoming visitors to their home, always insisting we stay for tea and sharing their wonderful Afghan homemade goodies.  
     The FSC congregation and community members have been generous with contributions of household items, furniture, and equally important, financial support to purchase needed clothing especially coats and boots for the winter season, and support groceries. We will continue to depend on financial donations to enable our team to appropriately supplement their limited budgets throughout 2022. Our Lead Team would like to thank all the congregational members who have provided these gifts. Our team is committed to share the mission, as a Faith Based Service Project, for the resettlement of refugees into our community.  

Thanks to the Volunteers of the month:  Penny Schlinder, Pat Burke, Pat Eaman, the Pebley family (Don, Chrisie & Matt), Joan LaFranca, Peter Lundeen, Denise Joseph, Gretchen Zuiderveen and John Schweizer.  
The Afghan Project Lead Team: Dale Eaman, Katlin Mills, Deb Pebley, and Kirsten Lundeen.  

 

Church Tours Continue...

Our unique -- beautiful -- historic church building contains artistic expressions of history, technology, symbolism, art and design.  THIS SUNDAY, JAN. 16, immediately following the service, our second presentation on the art and architecture of Fountain Street Church is offered.  Our presenter this week will be Jay Fowler, who will talk about the unique and unusual features of the sanctuary. Lasting approximately half an hour, questions afterward are encouraged. 

These tours are provided by the Education and Art Committees and will continue in the coming weeks, focusing on a different area of the church and its history.

 For further information contact Penny Barstow (pennybarstow@aol.com)

Upcoming Climate Justice Events

Clothing Drive (In coordination with In the Image): Sunday, Jan. 16th

We will be accepting clothing before and after the Sunday service for In The Image. They can use:

• Baby Basics
• Basic Attire
• Career Clothes 
• Dental Care
• Feminine Care
• Halloween 
• New Boots
• Personal Care
• Socks and Underwear
• Used Shoes
• Toys and Games
• Winter Wear

Polystyrene Recycling (In coordination with Michigan Foam): Sunday, Jan. 9th - Sunday, Jan.16th 

For more details from our partner see: Michigan Foam Products

Citizen Climate Lobby Book Discussions

For the past five years FSC's Climate Justice Team has been partnering with Grand Rapids Citizen Climate Lobby and we would like to invite you to attend two book discussions that the CCL Environmental Justice Committee is hosting via Zoom. We encourage you to register for one or both of the book talks. See you there! 

Book One:
Climate Justice: Hope, Resilience, and the Fight for a Sustainable Future
By Mary Robinson
January 12th & 26th @7:00 PM
Register

Book Two:
Climate Change Is Racist: Race, Privilege and the Struggle for Climate Justice
By Jeremy Williams
February 9th & 23rd @7:00 PM
Register

Women's Intergenerational Book Group

The Women's Intergenerational Book Group invites fellow women of all ages to join a Zoom discussion of Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline on Monday, January 24th, at 1pm. Please contact Carole at cm.vh.xxiii@gmail.com for more information.

Did You Know?

According to an Audubon Society Monitoring site, a colony of 40 chimney swifts was sighted at Fountain Street Church in September of 2019. These insect-eating, city dweller have suffered steep declines in recent years. If you know more about this sighting, please contact the church office.
 Chimney Swift Monitoring Site
 

Seeking: Reclining Chair

One of our members recently suffered an injury that has resulted in a long-term recovery process. As part of that recovery it would be beneficial for them to have a reclining chair that also raises electronically. If you have a chair like this or think you have a chair that might work and would be willing to lend the chair, please contact the church office to let us know. Thank you!