C3 inspires spiritual, intellectual, and creative exploration and action, led by the questions, “what are the biggest challenges we face on our shared journey, and how do we respond to those challenges?”
We’re pleased to welcome C3 Teacher Kent Dobson back after his recent bout with COVID. He will pick up where he left off in our series of The Great Questions with the question What is Truth? Mythos or Logos? Beth Buelow will offer the meditation, and musician Matt Gabriel will join us as well. He has graciously joined us both online during the pandemic shutdown, as well several times in person. It will be great to hear from him again. Please join us at the Grand Haven Community Center for the Gathering or view online at C3’s Facebook page.
Masks are optional at our In-Person Gathering. The decision of whether or not to wear a mask will be up to each individual.
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.
Additional Resources
- 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 and Bulletin
- 🆕 C3 Updates and 🆕 Events on our website
Special Talk Back this Sunday
The Board of Trustees and several C3 members recently developed this Just Cause statement, with input from the C3 community: C3 inspires spiritual, intellectual, and creative exploration and action, led by the questions, “What are the biggest challenges we face on our shared journey, and how do we respond to those challenges?” Our new Just Cause calls on us to act on those foundational questions. To start the process of moving us towards meaningful action, we need to identify those challenges! This Sunday, October 2 after the Gathering, Kent will lead a Talk Back dedicated to exploring what issues feel most urgent and where C3 wants to channel its energy and resources over the next few years. It promises to be a lively and generative discussion… please plan to join us!
Welcome Hosts Needed
We need more hosts to be a strong presence at the entry to the Community Center and in the lobby! Our Welcoming Hosts act as a first point of contact, greeting people at the entrances to the Community Center and directing them to the Mackinaw Room for the Gathering. They steer newcomers to the Welcome Table. Each team has four or five members and serves every five weeks. Contact Ellie Williams if you would like to volunteer in this capacity.
Five-Year Celebration and C3 Auction Next Sunday!
The C3 auction committee is tremendously grateful for the generous donations of members supporting our upcoming fundraising auction. Now we need to flip the process and encourage members, families, and friends to come to the auction on Sunday, October 9, and bid and buy! We are especially encouraging people who follow C3 online to attend. It would be nice to see you in person, and frankly it’s the only way for you to participate in the celebration.
- If you have donated an item for purchase, you may bring it this Sunday, October 2 and give it to anyone on the auction team–or you can bring it next Sunday on October 9 between 8:00 and 9:00 am (we need time to set up and display the items before bidding starts).
- A few volunteers are needed to help at the event with set up, refreshments, auction, clean-up, and tear down. Set up will begin at 8:00 a.m., clean-up will be around 1:00 p.m. If you can help with any of these facets of the day’s events, please contact one of the event committee members or sign up Sunday at the Gathering table.
- On October 9, bidding for auction items will start at 9:30 a.m. at 50% value. Bidding will pause during the Gathering and Celebration presentation, and and resume thereafter along with Big Bites, cake and David Dean as emcee.
- Auction Catalog with photos, descriptions, and values (pdf) here
- Simplified Auction List (pdf) here
- Website Event Page (also includes auction items, etc.) here
Auction Committee: Teresa Colby, Andy Cawthon, Tom Edwards, Shannon McMaster
It’s Time for Dine with Nine!
The next Dine with Nine will be Saturday, October 22, at 6:00 p.m. Sign up on Sunday or October 9, at the Connections Table. Questions? Contact Joyce by email or phone.
C3 Kids Book Cart
A big thank you to those who donated to buy a new cart for Mary Crouse and the C3 Kids! You know who you are! Mary is so grateful and the C3 Kids will benefit.
2022 Grand Haven Hispanic Heritage Fiesta
A great time was had by all! Kudos to Rod Van Abbema for his work heading up the Mercado, to Patti Baldus for organizing the C3 booth, to Nancy Owens for heading up the greening of the festival, and to all the C3 cookie bakers and booth volunteers.
Adopt-A-Highway is Saturday! Join Us!
Our fall pick up is Saturday, October 1. Please meet in the Community Center parking lot at 10:00 a.m. and we will carpool or caravan from there. We can always use more help so please just show up (after you watch the safety video). The more “pickers” we have the faster we can get the job completed! Questions? Contact Tom Edwards. Website Event Page and Safety Video here. Pick up assignment map here.
Vigil for Peace and Justice
Join our Vigil for Peace and Justice every Saturday from noon–1:00 p.m. along Washington Avenue at Central Park. We have signs! Bring a chair if sitting is more comfortable for you. Website Event Page here.
Thank You!
Your support matters and is greatly appreciated! It takes a lot of time, energy, and money to produce all the great things that happen at C3. Whether it is our Sunday Gatherings or working within our West Michigan communities, we strive to make a difference, with compassion. Your financial support allows us to continue to learn, teach and live our values to heal and affect change.
Your ongoing support of C3 is greatly appreciated. Online donations can be made here. Automatic donations can be set up by contacting Carol Takas at Selby Accounting. 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.
Caring for the members of our C3 Community is a shared communal responsibility, rather than a role reserved for a pastor, priest, or leader. Our C3 Community Care Team encourages members to support each other at time of need with notes, cards, phone calls, visits, meals, and transportation. C3 members are urged to contact the Community Care Team to inform them of life events, illness, or hardships, which can be shared with the C3 Community. To report a need or request help, or to help visit members in hospital, rehab or recovering at home, contact Cheryl Van Abbema: email or Mike and Charlotte Rozich: email.
C3 Men’s Group
The C3 Men ’s Group meets each Tuesday from 7:00–8:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall on Harbor Drive in Grand Haven. Questions? Contact Phil Koster. Website Event Page here.
C3 Book Club and Friends—Note Time Change!
Join the C3 Book Club at The Bookman at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday, October 4, to discuss this month’s selection Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, which Barnes and Noble called “a book to focus the eyes, open the heart and stretch the imagination about our appropriate relationships within the natural world.” We hope to see you all there. Friends are encouraged to join. Please email Joyce with any questions.
November 1: The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermitby Michael Finkel.
Week 3@C3: Dignity Kits—Keeping Girls in School
There are three more Sundays to contribute—October 2, 9 and 16. Help reach the goal of 50 kits! Contribute by check, cash or card. 1 kit/$35; 3 kits/$100. Make out checks to C3, note Week 3@ C3 – Dignity Kits on the memo line. Questions? Stop at the Week 3@ C3 table. Website Event Page here.
Click here for a printable list of items needed and instruction sheet.
St. John’s Episcopal Church to Host Enough is Enough Event
Oktoberfest with Ein Prosit German Band and Alphorngruppe Alpentraum
Ein Prosit German Band and Alphorngruppe “Alpentraum” are featured in two nearby Oktoberfests. C3 members and musicians Allen and Sandy Beck play in these bands (with Allen on alphorn).
- Oktoberfest at Village Baker, Spring Lake, Saturday, October 1, 2022: Ein Prosit and Alphorns play from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Great music, a special German menu and beer.
- Oktoberfest in Douglas, sponsored by Community Pride, Saturday, October 8: Parade at noon, keg tapping at 12:30 p.m., Ein Prosit and Alphorns play 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. at Beery Field. German food, beer and games.
HFP Presents and Evening with Susan Burton
At 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, Humanity for Prisoners sponsors an evening lecture and Q&A session with author Susan Burton. Her book Becoming Ms. Burton brings attention to the continuing problem of racial injustice in an era of mass incarceration. There will be a book study group at the Bookman on Tuesday, October 11at 7:00 p.m., two days prior to the event. See details here.
Free Speech Event
Michael DeWilde will moderate Does Free Speech Need Limits? A Debate on How Free Speech Should Be Understood in Our Times on Friday, October 14, from noon–1:00 p.m. at the Seidman Center in Grand Rapids. See all details here.
Momentum Center: Civil Rights Road Trip Postponed
The Civil Rights Road Trip for October has been postponed due to uncertainties with COVID. The trip will be rescheduled in the spring.
Saturday, October 1
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Adopt-A-Highway Pick Up (Community Center parking lot, 421 Columbus Ave., GH)
12:00 p.m.: Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, October 2
Grand Haven Community Center (421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9:00 a.m. Pre-Talk, In Person
10:00 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Charity McMaster (Woodbine Room)
10:00 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- Teacher: Kent Dobson
- Music: Matt Gabriel
- Meditation: Beth Buelow
11:00 a.m. Special Talk Back, in Person
Tuesday, October 4
6:30 p.m. C3 Book Club and Friends (The Bookman, 715 Washington Ave., GH)
7:00 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (American Legion Hall, 700 S. Harbor Dr., GH)
Saturday, October 8
12:00 p.m.: Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, October 9: Kent Dobson Five-Year Celebration and Silent Auction Fundraiser
Grand Haven Community Center (421 Columbus Ave., GH)
Note: No Pre-Talk
9:30 a.m. Silent Auction Begins
10:00 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Sally Alderink (Woodbine Room)
10:00 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- Teacher: Kent Dobson
- Music: Jonas Dobson
- Meditation: Charlotte Rozich, I am C3
10:45 a.m. Celebration and Silent Auction (resumes)
Kent Dobson has been our lead teacher for five years. He helps people orient their life to be in deeper relationship with Mystery, the shape of their own soul, and to a meaningful sense of their unique voice in the world.
Jonas Dobson returns to play for us on the day we celebrate his father’s five-year tenure with C3. Jonas is 18 years old and has been playing the piano for about three years. He’s planning on pursuing music production in college next year.