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?”
Michael DeWilde, one of our frequent and favorite Guest Teachers, will be with us this Sunday. He is the Director, Koeze Business Ethics Initiative, and Professor at the Seidman College of Business, Grand Valley State University. He will be talking about Free Will and, um, Not Free Will. Also some of our very favorites, Ruth and Max Bloomquist will gift us with songs, after having returned recently from another trip to France! Margaret Willey’s meditation rounds out the Gathering. Please join us in person or online.
What a fantastic day this past Sunday was! To all those who donated items—THANK YOU! We certainly had an amazing selection of items and opportunities. Thank you to Teresa Colbry and her team for all the work they did on this year’s auction, and to Patti Baldus and her team for the tasty Big Bites. And let’s not forget all who participated in the bidding and those behind the scenes like Chuck Tawney, Chase Gue and Mary Crouse. It obviously takes a village and as a result Sunday was a day enjoyed by all. Because of everyone’s efforts we raised just over $8,400! Your commitment helps us as we work towards a balanced budget this year.
If you didn’t have a winning bid, or you weren’t able to attend the auction, please consider making a special donation today or 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!
🆕 How About a Think Hike!
After the Gathering on Sunday, November 6, David Dean will host a Think Hike at Hemlock Crossing Park (8115 West Olive Road, West Olive, MI 49460). The plan is to meet there at 12:30 p.m., where we will gather in the parking lot and head out on a hike. We will discuss the Gathering theme as we take in the natural beauty of the park and enjoy each others’ company. We can carpool from the Community Center, if you’d like. Plan for about an hour-long hike. If the weather is poor, we will reschedule for another Sunday.Questions? Contact David at 616-843-1979. Event website page here.
🆕 Annual Board of Trustees Election
In accordance with our community’s bylaws, the Board of Trustees is preparing for our annual board election to be held in February 2023. This message is intended to alert members to the process of becoming a candidate for the Board election.
Three seats will be open for the 2023-2025 Board. Two incumbent board members, Beth Below and Rod Van Abbema, will be running for re-election. A third seat is open with one candidate confirmed. Please note that the Board is hoping to elect the C3 Treasurer position from one of the open chairs.
If you are interested and need further information, please contact any of the current Board members. We will continue to update you as the process continues.
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.
Dine with Nine!
Those of you who signed up for the next Dine with Nine on Saturday, October 22, at 6:00 p.m. should hear from your hosts shortly, asking you to choose what you will contribute to the meal. Questions? Contact Joyce by email.
🆕 Find it on our website!
Find out what’s happening at C3 on our website calendar page. To view all the event pages click on “Calendar” and then select “List” view.
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.
The first gift received through the Honor and Memorial Giving program was an anonymous gift in honor of “All my mentors.”
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
One last hurrah to everyone who volunteered for our Adopt-A-Highway pick up! Thank you Tom Redick, Kathy and Tom Tosa, Charlotte and Mike Rozich, Claude, Shannon and Charity McMaster, Cheryl and Rod Van Abbema, Skip Ackerson, Julie Bratton, John Leitner, Tom Edwards and Annie Wassmann (NP), Chrys Moelter-Gray, Patti Baldus, John Job, Jane Curtis and Bill Haug (NP), Marlene Sonderfan, andAndy Cawthon.
Vigil for Peace and Justice
Dress for the weather and 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. Webpage 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—Last Sunday to Contribute
This is the last Sunday to contribute this program. Char Zoet and Marlene Sonderfan are busy processing the donations and packing up the kits, before delivering them to Mennonite Central Committee in Goshen, IN. 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. Webpage here.
Click here for a printable list of items needed and instruction sheet.
Free Speech Event
This week’s Guest Teacher Michael DeWilde will moderate Does Free Speech Need Limits? A Debate on How Free Speech Should Be Understood in Our Times today, 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—tonight!
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.
🆕 American Christian Nationalism: What It Is & What You Should Know
Dr. Roger Bauman, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Hope College will present this program, sponsored by Progressive Lakeshore, at Seven Steps Up in Spring Lake on Wednesday, October 26, at 6:00 p.m. See details here.
🆕 Friends of the Muskegon Heights Library
The Friends of the Muskegon Heights Library are working to regroup and continue their efforts to support the Muskegon Heights Branch Public Library (2808 Sanford Street). Leslie Newman and Char Zoet are active supporters of this volunteer group. Please speak with either of them to learn how you can help!
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 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)
Masks are optional at our In-Person Gathering. The decision of whether or not to wear a mask will be up to each individual.
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
11:00 a.m.: Talk Back, In Person
Tuesday, October 18
7:00 p.m.: C3 Men’s Group (American Legion Hall, 700 S. Harbor Dr., GH)
Saturday, October 22
12:00 p.m.: Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, October 23
Grand Haven Community Center (Mackinaw Ballroom, 421 Columbus Ave., GH)
Masks are optional at our In-Person Gathering. The decision of whether or not to wear a mask will be up to each individual.
9:00 a.m.: Pre-Talk
10:00 a.m.: C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Margaret Willey (Woodbine Room)
10:00 a.m.: Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- Teacher: Kent Dobson
- Music: Kate Pillsbury
- Meditation: Bob Kleinheksel
11:00 a.m.: Talk Back, In Person
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.
Kate Pillsbury is a professional musician, amateur potter, latent memoirist. She has a degree in creative writing but has spent her working life focused on her band The Crane Wives. Currently, she is developing a body of solo music and trying to rekindle her writing habit.<o:p:p”></o:p:p”>
C3 Membership Directory (login required)
C3 Website>Values (printable list here)
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