C3 Teacher Kent Dobson is back with us on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. at the Grand Haven Community Center, and via livestream on C3’s Facebook page. After four weeks away, Kent will share his latest teaching in the series Born for These Times: Challenges and Opportunities. What a sequence of great Guest Teachers we enjoyed in October. We’re grateful to Rob Davidson, Drew Nelson, Gregory Foster aka Auto Pilot, and Jenny Atlee-Loudon for sharing their wisdom and presence with us, but we’re also happy to welcome Kent back in our midst! (Remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday night).
Headed to us from Lansing to share her musical prowess is good friend Jen Sygit. It will be great to see her again in person. She was kind enough to join us three times during the pandemic via Facebook. Did you know that Jen hosts the radio show Eclecticana on LCC Radio WLNZ 89.7 from 1:00–3:00 p.m. on Fridays? Such a multi-talented woman!
- 9:00 a.m.: Pre-Talk: In Person
Meet the morning’s teacher in a small group setting for an open discussion of the morning’s theme. - 10:00 a.m.: Gathering: In Person + Livestream on Facebook
Welcome, readings, mediation from a community member, teaching and music
- 11:00 a.m.: Talk Back: In Person
A chance to share questions, comments and stories related to the morning gathering.
Additional Resources
- YouTube Channel: Weekly Teaching Videos*
- YouTube Channel: Weekly Meditation Videos*
- Podcast Channel: Weekly Teaching Audios*
*posted Sunday afternoons or later in week - Printable list of C3 Values
- Last week’s Newsletter: C3 Update for October 31, 2021
Jenny Atlee-Loudon, October 31, 2021
Each week we provide a safe and welcoming environment for kids starting at 10:00 a.m., with masked and vaccinated adult caregivers only, and CDC-recommended safety measures in effect. If you are looking for a Sunday morning experience for your kids that includes C3 Values, creative activities, toys, books, games and outdoor fun (when weather permits), we are here to make it happen! Miss Mary has missed your kids and is eager to be with them again. C3 Kids meet upstairs in the Woodbine Room. Click here to view the document “Safety for All in the C3 Kids Program.”
Join Us!
Just a reminder to members who miss the comfort of community and the energy of live music, that we are back to meeting in person on Sunday mornings at the Grand Haven Community Center. Of course, safety is our number one concern, and we are following a number of safety measures, including the wearing of masks and spacing of seating. Please consider joining us.
News from the Board of Trustees
The adoption of the new C3 logo is generating a lot of extra design work. All banners, objects, and papers having our logo must be redesigned and acquired. All current items with the old logo must be recycled or removed. The Board of Trustees has has assigned the management of this process to Annie Wassmann and Tom Edwards. The first phase of this process includes the main outside banner, the indoor lobby table runners, and the collection boxes. If your committee or event needs an object or document with the new logo, please contact Annie or Tom.
Please consider if you would like to run to serve on the Board of Trustees. The election will be in February, but it ’s not too early to start thinking if this is a way you ’d like to serve the C3 community. If you ’re interested or have questions, talk to any Board member: Sally Alderink, Beth Buelow, Teresa Colbry, Kim Crozier, Tom Edwards, Valerie Engeltjes, Charity McMaster, Mark Smith, Sandy Kate Stephens, or Rod Van Abbema.
Now that we are meeting once again at the Community Center, it’s time to reinstate our traditional Week 3@C3 program, in which the Community Life Committee researches and selects a local nonprofit organization which C3ers support by donating needed items. This gives us the opportunity to join together for the good of the greater community, while reinforcing our sense of shared C3 Community.
The effort this month supports the Greater Ottawa County United Way United for Warmth Winter Clothing Drive. C3 will collect new and unused winter clothing items for men, women, and children, and United Way will arrange for our donations to be picked up and distributed to families in need of them. Bring these items to our Gathering on November 7, 14, or 21. United Way suggests:
• Coats, jackets, and vests
• Mittens, gloves, and hand warmers
• Hats and scarves
• Heavy sweatshirts and sweaters
• Snowpants
Volunteers Needed for Thanksgiving Feast
This year’s community feast will be held in honor of Pete Theune, who helped get it all started. C3 has a long history of supporting this event. Since food donations are not being accepted this year, C3 Outreach Team will send $250 to St. Mary’s to help with the purchase of food for the Feast. Thank you for your support of C3, which enables us to reach out to our community!
Individual donations to fund the feast are also welcome, by sending a check (with“Thanksgiving Feast” notation) to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 406 E. Savidge Street, Spring Lake, MI 49456.
Judy Burnside at St. Mary ’s is organizing volunteers to help out with the Thanksgiving Feast on November 25. People are needed to
• help assemble the meals a couple days beforehand
• deliver meals on Thanksgiving
• assist with curbside handout of meals on Thanksgiving.
If this is something you would like to do, send Judy an email (jwb57 [at] charter [dot] net) or call and leave a message for her at 616-847-9719 or 616-842-8564, and she will return your call.
Vigil for Peace and Justice
As the Rumi poem that was read during the Gathering last week says, you have to ask for what you really want. We want peace and justice, so we will stand weekly and ask for peace and justice! Our location remains Washington Avenue at Central Park in Grand Haven. All are invited to join us from noon–1:00 p.m. We have lots of signs to choose from, or create your own! Bring a chair to sit, if that works better for you, and be sure to dress for the weather and have peace in your heart!
We will meet at 6:30 p.m. this Tuesday, November 9, at Valerie Engeltjes’ home, 5935 Beaver Creek Drive, Coopersville. It should be an entertaining discussion about the book, Straight Man by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Russo. This proved to be a GREAT read, perfect for the fall!
- “The funniest serious novel I have read since—well, maybe since Portnoy’s Complaint.”–Tom De Haven, The New York Times Book Review
- “There is a big, wry heart beating at the center of Russo’s fiction.”–The New Yorker
Depending on the group ’s decision at this meeting, our meetings might continue in person or go back to Zoom for the coming snow season.
December 7: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
C3 Men’s Group
The C3 Men’s Group meets in person every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Until further notice, the group will gather at the C3 Office, located at 1447 Washington, Grand Haven. For additional information contact Phil Koster at 616-402-1751.
Town Hall on Racism in the Church Today
Register now for the Virtual Town Hall on Race and Racism: Racism in the Church Today, which will be held on Monday, November 8, 6:30–8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Brian Berghoef, former candidate for State Representative, two-time Guest Teacher at C3, and pastor of Holland UCC, will join Henry Cherry from I Am Academy and Denise Grier from 1Cor13 project, as one of the panelists.The presentations by the panelists and the small-group discussions held during these Town Halls are always revelatory and helpful in moving us along on our anti-racism journey.
Dinner and Movie Night Ties in to Town Hall
Recommended for viewing after the Town Hall on Racism in the Church Today is the movie White Savior: Racism in the American Church, which will be shown at the Momentum Center on Friday, November 12, at Free Dinner and Movie Night. Dinner starts at 5:00 p.m.; the movie starts at 6:00 p.m. View details here.
Do you know of anyone who would enjoy a free Thanksgiving dinner? Let them know about this year’s community Thanksgiving Feast! The full dinner with all the trimmings will be available by delivery or curbside pickup at St. Mary’s Church on Thanksgiving Day (November 25). Note that you need to call 616-842-1702 by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 19 to request a meal. See the flyer here.
12:00–1:00 p.m.: Vigil for Peace and Justice, Central Park (421 Columbus Ave., GH)
Sunday, November 7 (Set your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday night)
Grand Haven Community Center (421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9:00 a.m.: Pre-Talk, In Person
10:00 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- C3 Teacher: Kent Dobson
- Music: Jen Sygit
- Meditation: Beth Buelow
11:00 a.m.: Talk Back, In Person
Tuesday, November 9
6:30 p.m.: C3 and Friends Book Discussion Group, Valerie Engeltjes (5935 Beaver Creek Drive, Coopersville)
7:00 p.m.: C3 Men’s Group, C3 Office (1447 Washington, GH)
Saturday, November 13
12:00–1:00 p.m.: Vigil for Peace and Justice, Central Park (421 Columbus Ave., GH)
Sunday, November 14
Grand Haven Community Center (421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9:00 a.m.: Pre-Talk, In Person
10:00 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- C3 Teacher: Kent Dobson
- Music: Folias Duo
- Meditation: Charity McMaster
11:00 a.m.: Talk Back, In Person
