We are happy to welcome Barbara Lee Van Horssen as Guest Teacher for the first time since she served as C3’s Interim Leader in 2015. Focusing on the teaching series Be of Value – Common Humanity, her teaching is about Being Community. As many of you know, Barbara is the Experi-Mentor of the Momentum Center for Social Engagement and devotes her time and prodigious energy to creating a stigma-free community.
Making a return appearance as musician is Loren Johnson, formerly of Grand Haven, now living in Grand Rapids. The first music she recorded and released was Sleepsick in 2016, which rose to iTunes Top 10 best new singer-songwriter releases. A second disc, Into the Morning, was released just as the pandemic lockdown happened. She released a single, Patterns, in January 2021. Her vision is to be creative with the people she loves in the places she adores, and have a good time doing it.
COVID Concerns:
West Michigan continues to experience high numbers of COVID cases, including cases in vaccinated individuals and sometimes even those with booster shots, and now the Omicron variant adds an extra measure of concern. Please know that C3’s Board of Trustees continually discusses our approach to gathering. Currently we feel comfortable with continuing to gather as we have been, chairs spaced apart, wearing masks. But we also wish to remind everyone that being in a large, public group poses a risk. We have had members test positive and inform close contacts. As cases are on the rise in Ottawa County, we may see more positive cases in our community. And we continue to assess. We encourage each person to do what is comfortable for them, to be responsible and stay home if they are feeling sick, and join us in the way that is best for them, in person or online.
Sundays at the Grand Haven Community Center (421 Columbus Ave., Grand Haven)
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, meditation from a community member, teaching and music
10:00 a.m. C3 Kids: In Person (Woodbine Room)
A safe and welcoming environment for kids with masked and vaccinated adult caregivers only, and CDC-recommended safety measures in effect. Click here to view the document “Safety for All in the C3 Kids Program.”
11:00 a.m. Talk Back: In Person
A chance to share questions, comments and stories related to the morning gathering.
Lead Teacher Kent Dobson
There is a lot more to discover and learn from Kent Dobson on his website, and by listening to his podcast “Hints and Guesses.”
C3’s “Just Cause”
The board has been engaged in high-level discussions about how C3 has come through this pandemic and where we are as a spiritual community four years into Kent ’s time with us. Those discussions have evolved into a decision to engage in a “Just Cause” process that will support C3 in answering the question, “Why do we exist, and why should anyone care?” Beth Buelow is volunteering her services as facilitator of the process. We’ve started (see photos below) with the board and some folks who are active leaders of various committees. Eventually we’ll bring in everyone to be involved in different ways. The final result will be a statement that speaks to our relevancy and sustainability, keeps us centered in our relationship in the larger West Michigan community, and helps to serve as our north star as we move forward. Please stay tuned for more information and invitations to share your thoughts in the coming months. We’re excited to be having this conversation and look forward to your input and participation!
Annual C3 Meeting
On Sunday, February 6, we will hold our Annual Community Meeting. It will be a time to affirm our efforts to offer West Michigan an alternative to church as usual. There will be a membership meeting, vote on proposed 2022 budget, election of board members, and a short affirmation. We have two open seats and four members up for re-election (link to candidates here).
If you will not be able to attend, we will have absentee and proxy voting available to you. Please contact Jeff Baldus to arrange for an absentee or proxy ballot. Absentee and proxy ballots need to be returned to the C3 office by Friday, February 4. Note: If you plan on mailing your ballot to the office, please remember the current postal delays and plan accordingly.
Only C3 members can vote. If you need to update your member information or become a member, cards will be available each Sunday at the Welcome table
C3 Volunteer Opportunity
We are seeking two or more volunteers to join the Blue Host Team with Mark and Kathy Smith. Each Host Team is scheduled once every five weeks to provide a friendly welcome to all members, friends and newcomers at the entry and in the lobby before and after Sunday Gathering. Contact Ellie in person at the Welcome Table on Sunday morning.
Donation of Stocks, Bonds or Mutual Funds
We are excited to let you know that we are now able to accept donations of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. Did you know that when you donate stock to charity, you’ll generally take a tax deduction for the full fair market value? And because you are donating stock, your contribution and tax deduction may instantly increase over 20%. If this sounds like an option for you, please talk to your financial services representative and if you have any questions re: process, please see me. Thank you for your ongoing support of C3!
Mark Smith, Treasurer
Behind the Scenes at the Gathering
There are a lot of people who help make our Gathering a success. First, our thanks to Tom Webber (left) who masterfully re-crafted the wooden donation boxes with our new logo. Secondly, our gratitude to Chuck Tawney and Chase Gue who expertly manage sound and video (and more) each Sunday at the Community Center.
Week 3@C3 for January
This is the last Sunday to bring items for the Community Free Store in Whitehall, run by the White Lake United Methodist Church. We are collecting the following household and personal care items:
laundry soap
bar soap
shampoo
baby diapers
adult incontinence products
feminine hygiene products
Please note: Diapers of all sizes are really in demand and needed! Printable list and flyer here.
Year-End Reports from Partner Organizations
It’s that time of year when organizations issue reports telling about their efforts during the previous year. Attached below are links to a few of the organizations that C3 supports through efforts of our Outreach Committee.
CCD Year-End Review
Attached here you will find the 2021 year-end report from the Coalition for Community Development, which was founded by our dear Dr. Doris Rucks (one of our members before her death in 2016). Several C3 members volunteer with the CCD in the Muskegon Heights schools. Talk to Charmaine Kole if you would like more information about volunteering in the schools.
The Diatribe
We have enjoyed several guest teachers from The Diatribe in recent years, and we look for ways to support their work in Grand Rapids and the greater West Michigan area. Take a look here to see what this enterprising group has been up to in the past year.
Humanity for Prisoners
Both Doug and Matt Tjapkes have been Guest Teachers at C3, and several C3 members have volunteered at HFP events in the past. Here’s a link to the January 2022 HFP Communicator.
C3 Men’s Group — Now Meeting by Zoom
With most members out of town during the winter months, the C3 Men’s Group has resumed meeting via Zoom on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. To join via the Zoom link, contact Phil Koster .
C3 and Friends Book Discussion Group
Please note: There will be no C3 Book Club meeting in February! But you do have an assignment that is due when the C3 and Friends Book Discussion Group meets via Zoom on Tuesday, March 15, to select the stellar books to be read and discussed for 2022. At that meeting, each member will present three books they would like to read and discuss, and then the group will vote for one they think might be best. That choice will be added to the entire year’s reading list. Click here and read the attached document about the book selection procedure. Thanks, and happy reading!
If you are interested in joining this dynamic, critical-thinking, fun group of people, or know of someone who is, please supply the email address to the group’s secretary to be added to the future emails and Zoom meetings.
Did You Know?
Did you know that you can use money from your IRA to contribute directly to a charitable organization, like C3, without it being considered a taxable distribution? It may also serve as your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for 2021. To make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD), be sure to consult with your tax advisor or financial representative before making this decision, because it is important to follow the guidelines and understand the process.
Your ongoing support of C3 is greatly appreciated. Online donations can be made here. Checks should be sent to C3 Spiritual Community, P. O. Box 371, Grand Haven, MI 49417.
Share Your Values in Action Here
Did you ever wonder how the events featured in this section of the C3 Update get here? They are contributed by C3 members sharing their values-based activities in the greater community with the editor of the newsletter. If you know of an upcoming event or activity that might be of interest to your fellow C3 members and friends, please send the pertinent information to Chrys Moelter-Gray at cgmgray [at] mac [dot] com. In order to be included in that week’s newsletter, the information needs to be received by Wednesday. Please share your values-based activities!
Community Events at the Momentum Center
Exploring Mental Illness Winter Series
There are two sessions remaining in this virtual series on mental illness. You can register for one or both of these presentations here. Each presentation begins at 6:00 p.m. Kayla Moore, a licensed master social worker with Mercy Health, will address “Panic & Anxiety Disorders” on January 18. “Schizophrenia” will be the discussion topic on January 25, which will be led by Michele VanderSchel, LLP, a psychologist with Ottawa County Community Mental Health. Feedback from the first session was very positive—great information and an opportunity to ask questions in a safe space..
Town Hall on Religion and Racism
On January 24, the Town Hall series on Religion and Racism continues with Christianity and Native & Indigenous People. Register here to participate in this Zoom session. Prepare by reading An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, available at The Bookman.
Left to right: Camie Castaneda, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi; Christine Shomin, Little Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa; Madalene BigBear, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi
Sunday, January 16
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
Teacher: Barbara Lee VanHorssen
Music: Loren Johnson
Meditation: Phil Magnan
10:00 a.m.: C3 Kids, in Woodbine Room with Miss Mary
11:00 a.m.: Talk Back, In Person
Tuesday, January 18
7:00 p.m.: C3 Men’s Group via Zoom
Wednesday, January 19
6:30 p.m.: Board of Trustees Meeting, C3 Office (1447 Washington, GH)
Sunday, January 23
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
Teacher: Kyle Kooyers
Music: Nicholas James Thomasa
Meditation: Rod Van Abbema
10:00 a.m.: C3 Kids, in Woodbine Room with Miss Mary
11:00 a.m.: Talk Back, In Person