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?”
C3 Teacher Kent Dobson’s exploration of the masculine and feminine continues this week with The Question of the Masculine and Feminine: Part Two. Please join us at Central Park Place for the morning’s events: Pre-Talk at 9 a.m., the Gathering at 10, and Talk Back at 11. Our Guest Musician will be Gabrial James, who joins us for the first time. Rod Van Abbema will provide the meditation.
What a great turnout for Talkback last week! The conversation about masculine and feminine continued after the Gathering! Stick around for Talk Back and be part of exploring the week’s teaching—ask questions, share experiences, and deepen your connection to the the C3 Community.
🆕 Treasurer’s Report for October
As we move toward the end of the year, I wanted to update you as to our current status regarding our goal to end the year with a balanced budget.
Thanks to the efforts of Teresa Colbry and her team, and all who participated, we had a very successful and fun fundraiser in October, the result of which was a significant positive movement towards balancing our budget—THANK YOU !!
As of the end of October, our current deficit has decreased to $13,000. Projecting our routine income and expenses for the next two months, we calculate that we will need to raise $20,000 in our year-end fundraiser. Details of the fundraiser are coming soon. We recognize that this is a challenge and your gift in any amount will support us in meeting that goal and ensuring that the C3 Community has a strong start to 2023.
Mark Smith, Treasurer
From the BOT: Being a Good Neighbor
We’ve been sharing space with our neighbors, Life Church, since September. Overall, it’s going well. We had a meeting recently where we—and they—had the opportunity to voice some petty annoyances. This ability to discuss issues is an important part of having a healthy relationship.
We’re asking the C3 Community to be as kind as possible. One of our values is inclusivity, and Life Church hasn’t always felt welcome. (Maybe some of us can say the same thing…)
We want to be as welcoming, gracious, and inclusive of our neighbors as possible. A few steps you can take:
- Learn some names. We ’ve reached the stage where you ’ll start to recognize the same people, so be sure to greet them.
- Practice hallway etiquette. We’re sharing the hallway space, which can offer some challenges. Because they meet in a room with tiered theater seating, they—unlike we—have no place to stand around, so are more likely to do so in the hallway.
- You may purchase their coffee. Remember that we offer free coffee in the Mackinaw Room.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can talk to Kim Crozier or Teresa Colbry. They ’re serving as C3’s liaisons. They’ll be in close contact with the Life Church liaisons so we can easily work through any issues, which will enhance Sunday mornings for both communities.
Think Hike
About 30 of us joined David Dean after the Gathering last Sunday for a Think Hike at Hemlock Crossing Park. The weather cooperated, and it provided the chance to explore nature and get to know fellow C3ers a little better, sometimes even speaking with folks with whom you had never had a previous conversation! Thanks, David, for organizing this activity!
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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, 616-402-3108, or Mike and Charlotte Rozich: email, 517-918-5464.
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Week 3@C3 for November: Greater Ottawa County United for Warmth Campaign
Help keep families in Ottawa and Allegan counties warm during the cold weather, by providing the items suggested below. Please note that United Way requests new or unused items. Bring the items to the Gathering on November 13, or 20.
- For men, women, and children: coats and heavy sweatshirts; flannel shirts, sweaters, and vests for layering; hats, mittens, gloves, scarves.
- For indoors: blankets, fleece throws, warm quilts or comforters.
Update on Dignity Kits
Congratulations on the excellent response to the call for Dignity Kits! The folks at Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) were pleased with our contribution of 57 kits,which had a cash value of $1,995. Our kits will be going to school girls in South Sudan. MCC 2023 calendars are available at the Week 3@C3 table.
Would you like to support C3 through your purchases on Amazon?
It’s easy using Amazon Smile! Of course, we encourage you to shop locally, when possible, but if you do find yourself using Amazon, you can support C3 using Amazon Smile. Instead of going to your usual Amazon site, go to smile.amazon.com. Sign in with the same account you use for Amazon.com. Select your charity (C3 – West Michigan’s Inclusive Spiritual Connection) and voila! Amazon will contribute .5% for each qualifying purchase you make! So far, C3 has received $612.70 from Amazon through this program. Need help with this process? Please contact Mark Smith.
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. As Veterans’ Day is observed, might this be a small but significant way to remember someone who served? A Veterans’ Day donation in memory of Jack Pimm was made by Chrys Moelter-Gray.
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.
Vigil for Peace and Justice
Dress for the weather and join our Vigil for Peace and Justice the next two Saturdaysfrom noon–1 p.m. along Washington Avenue at Central Park, before we take a break for the winter. Bring a chair if sitting is more comfortable for you. Event webpage here.
🆕 Bell Ringers Needed
It will soon be time to ring the bell for the 2022 Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign, which supports all the programs of the local Salvation Army. These include housing for six families, a food pantry, Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance, utility assistance, and Pathway of Hope programs. C3ers who participated in the past felt positive about the experience. People were grateful to have us there, providing the opportunity for them to contribute to a familiar holiday act of giving.
We will be at Leppink’s (Ferrysburg) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on December 14 and 15, for one-and-a-half hour shifts. Sign up on Sundays after Gathering, or email Betty Jean Porter with your available times. It works to have only one or two at the kettle for each shift.
C3 Men’s Group
The C3 Men’s Group meets each Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall on Harbor Drive in Grand Haven. Questions? Contact Phil Koster at 616-402-1751. Event webpage here.
C3 Book Club and Friends
C3 Book Club is having a Holiday Party on December 6, 6:30 p.m. at the Bookman! Please bring a hearty appetizer, a gift of an unwrapped used book that you love, and maybe a beverage? Any questions email Joyce Cawthon. Event website here.
January 3: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Dinner and Movie Night—Tonight!
To enhance the observation of Native American Heritage Month in November, the movie The Canary Effect will be shown at the Momentum Center’s Dinner and Movie Night on Friday, November 11. Dinner at 5 p.m. (pot luck items welcome), movie at 6 p.m.
Oppose Book Ban in SLPS
Charity and Shannon McMaster have filed a complaint with the ACLU of Michigan about the removal of the book Gender Queer from the Spring Lake High School library. They encourage other community members concerned about this book ban to do the same. See details here about how to take action. A complaint can also be filed with the National Coalition Against Censorship here.
Saturday, November 12
Noon Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, November 13
Central Park Place (Mackinaw Ballroom, 421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9 a.m. Pre-Talk, in Person
10 a.m. C3 Kids, in Woodbine Room with Miss Mary and volunteer Joyce Cawthon
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- C3 Teacher: Kent Dobson
- Music: Gabrial James
- Meditation: Rod Van Abbema
11 a.m. Talk Back
Tuesday, November 15
7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (American Legion, GH)
Saturday, November 19
Noon Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, November 20
Central Park Place (Mackinaw Ballroom, 421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9 a.m. Pre-Talk, in Person
10 a.m. C3 Kids, in Woodbine Room with Miss Mary and volunteer Charity McMaster
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- Guest Teacher and Music: Josh Rose
- Meditation: David Dean
11 a.m. Talk Back
Josh Rose, teacher and singer-songwriter, will fill two roles next week, Guest Teacher and Musician. He has been with us several times before. He describes his music as “Head-in-the-Clouds” folk music, with songs that “come from your soul and etch themselves into your being.”
C3 Website
C3 Membership Directory (login required)
C3 Website>Values (printable list here)
🆕 Last week’s Newsletter and Bulletin
C3 Spiritual Community Office
1447 Washington Ave., Grand Haven, MI 49417
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 371, Grand Haven, MI 49417
Automatic donations are handled by Carol Takas at Selby Accounting.
Please direct any questions to Mark Smith.
C3 Board of Trustees
Chair: Sally Alderink
Vice-Chair: Tom Edwards
Secretary: Valerie Engeltjes
Treasurer: Mark Smith
Newsletter Submissions and Editor: Chrysteen Moelter-Gray
Newsletter Designer: Annie Wassmann
Copyright © 2022 C3 Spiritual Community. All rights reserved.