This is it—your Welcome Back Sunday celebration is this Sunday! You are such a valued part of the C3 Community, and we truly would love to see you this Sunday, April 24! Kent Dobson will give the last thoughtful teaching of the month on the value of Compassionate Action in the current series Be of Value. We will take time to greet one another, bid on a silent auction of Tom Webber’s hand-crafted wooden bowls, socialize, and snack on Small Bites.
Drew Nelson comes back to share his songwriting skills with us, and that’s also something you don’t want to miss! This fly fishing world traveler writes as a witness to the lives and journeys of those he has met along the way. He is also a dad, woodworker, lover of poems and mysteries.
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.
Special Spring Gathering This Sunday!
Don’t miss our Welcome Back Sunday Gathering! Pre-Talk at 9:00 a.m., Gathering and C3 Kids at 10:00. We will take time to greet one another, bid on a silent auction of Tom Webber’s hand crafted wooden bowls, socialize, and snack on Small Bites. Your presence is essential!
Just Cause Update
The Just Cause process has generated two different versions of a Just Cause statement to offer the C3 Community. Complete information will be distributed at the Gathering on Sunday; you can also view it here. The Board would love to know which statement you prefer!
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Treasurer’s Notes
Internal Audit: Earlier this year an internal financial audit was conducted by Dave Hodson and Sally Alderink. Their conclusion: “After completing our audit, we feel comfortable saying that C3 has adequate financial controls in place, and the monthly financial statements presented to the Board are an accurate summary of the income/expense and financial position of C3.” Thank you to Dave and Sally for taking on and completing this important project.
Quarterly Update: Our first quarter expenses are about as expected; however, donations have been lower than anticipated, in part because of lower in-person Sunday attendance. While we receive generous donations in multiple ways, a critical source comes from gifts made during the Sunday Gathering. As the weather warms and the world opens up more, our attendance will grow, and with it, the resources we have to sustain our community and its work. We’re excited to offer a fun opportunity to support C3 on April 24, Welcome Back Sunday, where festivities will include a silent auction featuring beautiful wooden bowls created by Tom Webber. The bowls will also be on display at the April 17 Gathering. Please join us in that fundraising effort and consider how you can continue or renew your financial support of C3’s future. Each and every gift is appreciated!
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@
Earth Day Fair and Parade this 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 musical 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)
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
July 5: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (switched with September’s book)
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 May: Ukraine Fundraiser
During May we will be supporting our allies in Ukraine by sending donations to World Central Kitchen, an organization “First to the Frontlines,” which provides meals to areas in crisis. The organization is located in Washington, DC. There will be a table in the lobby where you can contribute and receive a free Ukrainian flag. Donations can be made in one of three ways:
- by check to C3 with a note in memo section—“Ukraine Fundraiser”
- by credit card (via Square; see Chase at the sound table)—note “Ukraine Fundraiser”
- by PayPal at the C3 website—when prompted to “add special instructions to the seller,” note “Ukraine Fundraiser”
The Greater Good Science Center offers this Common Humanity meditation to “help overcome that sense of difference and distrust by opening channels of compassion.” It takes about ten minutes.
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.
Donate via PayPal, it’s safe and secure!
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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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- Town Hall on Race and Racism
This month’s Town Hall on Monday, April 25 focuses on Housing. See details and register for this Zoom event here.
- Dinner and Movie Night
The movie for Friday, May 13 is Up from the Bottoms, a documentary about the migrations from the old south to Muskegon. Free dinner (pot luck items welcome) at 5:00 p.m., movie at 6:00 at the Momentum Center.
With Earth Day just around the corner, you might want to check in at the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive website. What a great resource, right here in Michigan!
Click here to access the April newsletter from Humanity for Prisoners, including information about their spring fundraiser, the Unball.
Saturday, April 23
12:30 – 4:00 p.m.: Earth Day at the Lakeshore (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, April 24: Welcome Back Sunday
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: Kent Dobson
- Music: Jen Sygit
- Meditation: Mary Ackerson
10:00 a.m.: C3 Kids, in Woodbine Room with Miss Mary
11:00 a.m.: Social Time and Silent Auction, In Person
Tuesday, April 26
7:00 p.m.: C3 Men’s Group via Zoom
Saturday, April 30
10:00 a.m.: Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup (Community Center parking lot)
12:00 p.m.: Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, May 1
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: Kent Dobson
- Music: Jen Sygit
- Meditation: Margaret Willey
10:00 a.m.: C3 Kids: May Day, in Woodbine Room with Miss Mary
11:00 a.m.: Talk Back, In Person