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?”
It looks like a great Sunday coming up! Josh Rose will fill both roles as teacher and musician! His topic will be Three Chords and the Truth. “His songs float into the room like a Lake Michigan evening onshore breeze. They refresh you, they energize you, and they linger long into the darkness of your favorite nights. Welcome to the Head-in-the-Clouds Folk music of Josh Rose!” —from his bio. A meditation from David Dean will add to that vibe.
Please join us at Central Park Place (formerly Grand Haven Community Center) for Pre-Talk at 9 a.m. in the Woodbine Room, the Gathering in the Mackinaw Room at 10 a.m., and Talk Back at 11 a.m. C3 Kids meet at 10 in the Woodbine Room. Of course, if you can’t join us in person, you can watch online on C3’s Facebook page.
🆕 Help C3 Find Our Next Office Manager!
As part of the C3 Community, you know what a vital role the Office Manager plays in making sure our organization runs smoothly. We’re asking each of you to think about this job opportunity—either for yourself or for someone you know. The position is 15-hours-per-week position, has a lot of flexibility, and offers a wide variety of tasks. To read a detailed job description, please click on this link. Interested parties should contact
frontdesk [at] c3westmichigan [dot] org for more information. Please feel free to forward this to friends and family who might be interested! Thanks!
🆕 Items for Next Week’s C3 Update or C3 Matters
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday next week, please submit any items that should be included to Chrys Moelter-Gray by Tuesday evening, November 22. The C3 Update will arrive in your inbox on Friday morning as usual.
🆕 Let’s Go to the Movies!
On Sunday, December 18, there will be a free showing of the classic holiday film, White Christmas, at the Frauenthal Theater in Muskegon, as part of their Free Family Film Dayseries. How about going as a group for a C3 social event? The movie starts at 3 p.m. (Doors open at 2:15 p.m.) No advanced ticket is required, you can just show up! Car pooling is encouraged! Contact David Dean with questions. Event webpage here.
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
Instagram Bonanza!
Thanks to everyone who has been feeding Tom Edwards photos to post on our Instagram account. We have been receiving so many good shots! Keep them coming!
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.
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.
🆕 Sandy Huber Award Ceremony Postponed
Due to weather and travel concerns, the award ceremony for Sandy Huber this afternoon at White Pines School has been postponed. It will be rescheduled in the spring, when the weather is more conducive to an outdoor event.
🆕 Kathy Klouw has entered hospice care at Grand Pines Assisted Living. Cards of care and encouragement may be sent to Bill Klouw at 15541 Gierman, Spring Lake, MI 49456.
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.
Use your IRA and/or Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to support C3
Would you like to save money on your taxes and support C3 at the same time? You can use money in your IRA to contribute directly to a charitable organization like C3, without it being considered a taxable distribution. The same applies if you are required to take a RMD. Be certain to consult with your tax advisor or financial representative as it is important to understand the process and follow the appropriate guidelines.
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?
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
Due to the cold and snowy conditions this weekend, we will cancel our Vigil for Peace and Justice tomorrow, November 19, and hope for better conditions next Saturday for our last Vigil until spring! Event webpage here.
🆕 Red Cross Blood Drive Volunteers Needed November 23
In July and September, C3 volunteers worked at the Red Cross Blood Drive held at Central Park Place. It is a satisfying way to give back to our Tri-Cities Community and help people get the blood products that may save their lives. This is an ongoing volunteer opportunity for C3 members. The next clinic will be on Wednesday, November 23—sorry for the short notice! We need four volunteers to help out that day, registering the donors as they enter the clinic, and working in the “Canteen” where donors stop for 10 minutes before leaving. If you’re able to help out, contact Nancy Owens, and indicate which shift you prefer (9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., or 1 to 4:30 p.m.)
Thank you to Ellie Williams, Connie Holley, Cheryl and Rod Van Abbema, Chrys Moelter-Gray, and Nancy Owens, who have worked one or both of the previous clinics!
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
2022 Thanksgiving Meal
It’s back! Love, Inc. and Lake Effect Kitchen have stepped up to continue offering a Thanksgiving meal to the community, to be hosted by Hope Church on Mercury Drive in Grand Haven. Meals will be available to dine in, or call 616-846-2701 before 4 p.m. today (Friday, November 18) to reserve meals for pickup or delivery. See details here.
Registration Now Open for Civil Rights Road Trip
The second Civil Rights Road Trip has been scheduled for April 24-27, 2023. This is the same trip which four C3 members reported on at our Gathering on May 29 of this year. See information about the trip at the link above. Get a $50 discount if you register before the end of this year. The ten C3 members or friends who traveled the first time all agree that it is a life-changing experience.
Saturday, November 19 Cancelled Due to Weather
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
Tuesday, November 22
7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (American Legion, GH)
Saturday, November 26
Noon Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, November 27
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 Sandy Kate Stephens
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- C3 Teacher: Kent Dobson
- Music: Kyle Rasche
- Meditation: Andy Cawthon
11 a.m. Talk Back
Kent Dobson has been the lead teacher at C3 since 2017. He’s also in the guide-in-training program at Animas Valley Institute in Colorado, an organization specializing in wilderness intensives. Kent leads Israel study tours, wilderness retreats, and has his own podcast called Hints and Guesses. He’s the author of Bitten by a Camel, a memoir about his time living in Israel and his departure from the Evangelical church he was pastoring.
Kyle Rasche (rhymes with Kashi) has carved his place as one of West Michigan’s most dependable songsmiths of the poetic, soul-bearing sort. 2021 saw his foray back into the solo-songwriter world, with a pile of new songs, and an updated list of accolades—including being named a finalist in Kerrville Folk Festival’s prestigious New Folk Songwriting Competition.
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.