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?”
Five years ago in September we welcomed Kent Dobson as our new lead teacher. This week we celebrate his five years with us, at our Gathering featuring Kent’s teaching Five Questions, Five Years, music by Jonas Dobson, and Charlotte Rozich with I am C3.
Because of the celebration and silent auction that follow the Gathering, this is a great week to join us in person at the Grand Haven Community Center! If you are unable to join the festivities in person, you can view the Gathering on C3’s Facebook page; unfortunately, the celebration and auction can only be enjoyed in person.
Please note: there will be no Pre-Talk or Talk Back this Sunday.
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
This is It, the Big Event!
It’s time to celebrate and honor five years with Kent as our lead teacher, our survival through COVID, and our commitment to continuing on our unique C3 journey! Let’s all turn out on Sunday for a celebration that honors Kent (including Big Bites and cake!), with David Dean as emcee, and an auction fundraiser to help us stay financially stable.
The C3 auction committee is grateful for the generous donations of members supporting this fundraising event. Now we all need to encourage members, families and friends to come to Sunday’s Gathering to bid and buy! We are pleased that we have items in all price ranges!
- Auction Catalog with photos, descriptions, and values (pdf) here
- Simplified Auction List (pdf) here
- Website Event Page (also includes auction items, etc.) here
Bidding will begin at 9:30 a.m. with minimum bids of 50% value (for most items). Bidding will pause during the Gathering and Celebration presentation, and resume thereafter.
If you cannot attend the Celebration and Silent Auction Fundraiser, please consider donating online. It takes a lot of time, energy, and money to produce all the great things that happen at C3. Your support matters and is greatly appreciated! Thank you!
For those of you dropping off pre-approved auction items, please deliver them to the Community Center between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. on October 9. Contact Teresa Colbry with questions (Email, call or text 616-402-4493).
Can you lend a hand?
A few volunteers are needed to help at Sunday’s 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: Teresa Colbry, Andy Cawthon, Tom Edwards, Wayne Johnson, or Shannon McMaster.
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.
It’s Time for Dine with Nine!
This Sunday is the last chance to sign up for the next Dine with Nine on Saturday, October 22, at 6:00 p.m. Questions? Contact Joyce by email or at 616-502-3133.
Honor and Memorial Giving Program
The Finance Committee has created a new program for Honor and Memorial giving to support C3. Look for the cards at the Gathering. The gifts, with permission, will be listed in the newsletter (names only, no dollar amounts). As always, your donations are invaluable to us, thank you!
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.
Adopt-A-Highway
Thanks to everyone who volunteered for our Adopt-A-Highway pick up. Your help was very much appreciated. We picked up 80 bags of trash! Below is a sampling of a few interesting “finds” that volunteers photographed.
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. We sold lots of cookies and spread C3 smiles and information at our booth. Many non-profits participated in the Mercado, sharing information about their services. Even free COVID-19 vaccinations and tests were available! There were plenty of booths offering fun and attractive Hispanic products, including hats, jewelry and t-shirts.
Andy Cawthon, Jean McCabe, Patti Baldus, and Cheryl Van Abbema. All photos by Bill Klouw.
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.
Humanity for Prisoners October Newsletter
Click here to access the October edition of the HFP Communicator.
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 at 616-402-1751. Website Event Page here.
C3 Book Club and Friends
Our book for November 1 is The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel. We will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Bookman. Looking forward to the discussion, and remember, friends are encouraged to attend. Any questions email Joyce Cawthon.
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.
Oktoberfest with Ein Prosit German Band and Alphorngruppe Alpentraum
Lots of fun at the Village Baker’s Oktoberfest last Saturday!
Upper left: Sandy and David Lewis. Upper right: Karri Absenger, Chrys Moelter-Gray, Patti Baldus, Kathy Tosa. Lower left: Sandy and Allen Beck. Lower right: Patti Baldus, Karri Absenger, Chrys Moelter-Gray. Photos by Karri Absenger, Chrys Moelter-Gray, and Diane (friend of Karri).
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.
Free Dinner and Movie Night
On Friday, October 14, Son of the South will be the movie featured at the Momentum Center’s Free Dinner and Movie Night. See details here.
Lakeshore Visual Arts Events in October
Enjoy art and community at an event by the Lakeshore Visual Arts Collective on Saturday, October 15. Details here.
Electrify Everything
Citizens’ Climate Lobby presents special guest speaker Dr. Erik Nordman to talk about greening the grid and electrifying everything, on Tuesday, October 18, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Spring Lake District Library.
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 (Mackinaw Ballroom, 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); David Dean, emcee
Tuesday, October 11
7:00 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (American Legion Hall, 700 S. Harbor Dr., GH)
Wednesday, October 12
6:30 p.m.: Board of Trustees Meeting (C3 Office, 1447 Washington Ave., GH)
Saturday, October 15
12:00 p.m.: Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, October 16
Grand Haven Community Center (Mackinaw Ballroom, 421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9:00 a.m. Pre-Talk
10:00 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Joyce Cawthon (Woodbine Room)
10:00 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- Teacher: Michael DeWilde
- Music: Ruth and Max Bloomquist
- Meditation: Margaret Willey
- Talk Back
Michael DeWilde is one of our “regular” Guest Teachers. He is the Koeze Business Ethics Initiative Director and Professor of Management at the Seidman College of Business, Grand Valley State University. He teaches in the MBA and Executive MBA programs, with a focus on courses in ethics and leadership.
Ruth and Max Bloomquist have recently returned from another trip to France! Ruth’s award winning abilities as a songwriter and singer are accented by Max’s harmony and touch on the upright bass. With influences of folk, bluegrass, and country, they have created a heart-touching, audience-pleasing acoustic Americana that is all their own.