As Guest Teacher this week we welcome Kelly Parker, Ph.D, Professor of Philosophy, and Environmental and Sustainability Studies at Grand Valley State University. He led the development of the new BA and BS programs in environmental and sustainability studies. The program emphasizes collaborative, community-based learning and practical problem solving. With him will be four GVSU students who will contribute to the topic Futures We Can Envision Together: A Dialogue. Read the students’ bios here.
Our musician is Sandra Effert, who returns with her voice, songs and piano melodies (which we love). Effert ’s captivating voice reckons with despair and transcends heartache into healing with tangible sincerity.Sandra has become one of our “regulars,” and we’re happy to welcome her again.
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)
- 11:00 a.m. Talk Back: In Person
A chance to share questions, comments and stories related to the morning gathering.
Call-out to C3 Members: Be Part of the Outreach Team
Outreach, a standing committee at C3, sponsors or participates in these exciting, well-developed programs and more:
- Earth Day Celebration
- Adopt-a-Highway
- Library volunteering in Muskegon Heights with CCD (Coalition for Community Development)
- Grand Haven Hispanic Heritage Fiesta
- Humanity for Prisoners
We are reaching out to ask some folks to join the team because several devoted members have felt the need to go on to other things. Please contact Rod Van Abbema or Chrys Moelter-Gray for information. (They are the entire team at the moment)!
Special Spring Gathering
It’s getting closer! Will we see you on Sunday, April 24, for C3’s Welcome Back Sunday? Mark your calendars now for Sunday, April 24. That morning will be a special time of community celebration and reconnection—and Small Bites make their comeback! It’s time to see some familiar faces and some new ones. Bring a friend! (Of course, if you can’t make it in person, you can still watch the Gathering on Facebook).
This week we are spotlighting the support volunteers who help the Finance Team every Sunday. Betty Jean Porter, Lana Brock, Yvonne Olmsted, and Debbie Gianetti provide valuable assistance and we sincerely appreciate their help!
Dine With Nine is Back!
The first post-pandemic Dine with Nine will be on Saturday, May 14, at 6:00 p.m. Mark it on your calendar now!
Several times a year, you are invited to gather in people’s homes to share food, fun, and conversation. This popular program aims to connect adults regardless of age or relationship status, bringing together widows, singles, couples, partners, and divorcees at the home of the evening’s host. Each person is asked to bring an element of the meal – an appetizer, salad, dessert, wine, or bread, while the host provides the main entrée. Sign up at the Connections Table in the lobby any Sunday in April or on May 1.Coordinators of the event are Joyce Cawthon, Kathy Smith, and Mary Ackerson. Contact Joyce with questions: joycevcawthon@
Don’t Miss the Earth Day Fair and Parade on Saturday, April 23!
C3 is a sponsor and participant—
- Join the Green March at 12:30 pm
- Check out all the booths in Central Park from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
- Prevailing Winds Performance and other events
- C3-sponsored Kids activity booth with Sunflower Planting
- C3 Outreach booth where visitors can sign up for our Duncan Park Cleanup (Saturday, May 21)
We Need More Assistance—
- This Sunday and next, Cindy VanIttersum will be soliciting volunteers to help with the Kids activity and collecting empty toilet paper rolls needed for the project.
- We need one more 10’ by 10’ canopy, contact Rod Van Abbema.
Adopt-A-Highway
Our Spring Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup will be held on Saturday, April 30. If you’ve driven along our section of US-31 recently, you know that we could use a lot of help! We meet at the Community Center parking lot at 10:00 a.m. and carpool from there, and we are typically done by 12:30 p.m. You can sign-up in the lobby at C3 on Sundays or contact Mary Ackerson at mfjackerson [at] gmail [dot] com.
Vigil for Peace and Justice on Saturday
Our Vigil for Peace and Justice has resumed and meets each Saturday, from noon–1:00 p.m. along Washington Avenue at Central Park in Grand Haven. All are welcome.
New Opportunity for Community Outreach
On Friday, May 20, from 10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. the C3 Outreach Team is partnering with the American Red Cross to provide volunteers for the blood drive at the Community Center. Blood supplies continue to be low and critically needed. The Outreach Committee is asking for four volunteers to participate: two to cover the 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. shift and two for the 1:00–4:00 p.m. shift. One volunteer will check in donors and the other will assist donors in the canteen after they have donated. If you would like to be one of the volunteers helping at the blood drive, please contact Nancy Owens at nl_owens [at] comcast [dot] net or call 616-502-4779. To sign up to be a blood donor on May 20, use this link.
C3 and Friends Book Discussion Group
What a great discussion last week, so many ideas and interpretations!
Our next book is Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. A profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait. Because of the elections on May 3, our meeting will be moved to Tuesday May 10, 6:30 p.m. at The Bookman. New members are welcome. If you need to meet by Zoom, please email joycevcawthon [at] gmail [dot] com.
May 10: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
June 7: The Humans by Matt Haig, author of Midnight Library
C3 Men’s Group – Meeting by Zoom
With most members out of town during the winter months, the C3 Men’s Group meets via Zoom on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. To join via the Zoom link, contact Phil Koster at 616-402-1751. New participants are always welcome.
Week 3@C3 for April
On April10, and 17, we will collect the following items for the School Gardens Program at Edgewood and Martin Luther King Jr schools in Muskegon Heights.
- 12 hand trowels for students
- 2 brooms & dustpans
- 1 hoe
- Good quality plastic tablecloths for 6’ tables
- Clips to secure tablecloths
- Baskets/plastic tubs for harvesting produce
- 3 large (50-60 gallon size) totes for storage
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Plastic bowls – large & small for mixing & serving
Volunteers and professionals from MH Coalition for Community Development head and teach gardening at these two schools. Planting, tending, and harvesting the gardens go on through the spring and summer. Preparing foods and snacks for consumption from the garden harvest, using recipes, is part of the program. Read about the Muskegon Heights Coalition for Community Development (CCD) Healthy Heights Program here.
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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. C3 is a 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organization. Our tax ID is 38-1960212. |
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Humanity for Prisoners April Newsletter
Click here to access the April newsletter from Humanity for Prisoners, including information about their spring fundraiser, the Unball.
Momentum Center
- Community Book Club led by Wes McGee: An initiative of the (Anti) Racism Task Force, this group meets the second Saturday of the month at Loutit Library at 11:00 a.m. The next meeting is Saturday, April 10. For details and the book list, click here.
Saturday, April 9
12:00 p.m.: Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, April 10
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: Kelly Parker
- Music: Sandra Effert
- Meditation: Beth Buelow
10:00 a.m.: C3 Kids, in Woodbine Room with Miss Mary
11:00 a.m.: Talk Back, In Person
Tuesday, April 12
7:00 p.m.: C3 Men’s Group via Zoom
Wednesday, April 13
6:30 p.m.: Board of Trustees Meeting, C3 Office (1447 Washington Ave., GH)
Saturday, April 16
12:00 p.m.: Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)