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?”
After enjoying our Thanksgiving feast and all the leftovers, C3 Teacher Kent Dobson asks a Great Question: What if we began (and ended) with thanks? Second-time guest musician Kyle Rasche will be back with us, after his first visit in August. (His friend, Josh Rose, recommended C3 to him). Andy Cawthon will have the meditation.
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.
🆕 Are You a “Long-hauler” with C3 or its Predecessors?
We know there are many current C3 members and friends who have been been part of this community long before we started gathering at the Grand Haven Community Center in September of 2011. Many current C3ers were members of Christ Community Church and perhaps a few were at First Reformed Church of Spring Lake, both predecessors of C3.
At our Annual Meeting in February, we would like to acknowledge those members and friends who have remained through the years. They carry the history of this enduring and evolving spiritual community.
If you are one of these treasured “long-haulers” will you please contact Ellie Williams with the year you first became an active member or friend of this community.
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, has a lot of flexibility, and offers a wide variety of tasks. A detailed job description is available on the table near the name tags. Interested parties should contact the front desk for more information. Please feel free to share this with friends and family who might be interested! Thanks!
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.
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 Buelow 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 or need further information, please contact any of the current Board members by Thursday, December 1.
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.
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 December
We’re planning a Seasonal Greeting Card Blizzard for residents of Riverside Nursing & Rehab, Medilodge at the Shore, and Christian Haven Home. You may use any card style of your choice. For most of us that will probably be Christmas cards. No names or addresses are necessary, other thanTo a Friend, and the suggested signature is From a Friend at C3. Add any personal note you wish to include. No postage stamps are necessary; the cards will be delivered in bulk to each site to be distributed to residents by the appropriate staff member. We need a total of 165 cards. As things usually go for Week 3@C3, this means 3-6 cards per donor. Turn in the cards to the Week 3@C3 table on December 4, 11, or 18.
Want to make your life easier and more predictable?
• Why not put your donations to C3 on autopilot?
• No more having to remember to send a check!
• No more trying to remember — did I or didn’t I?
• It is a secure and easy set up — just call Carol Takas at Selby Accounting. Please direct any questions to Mark Smith.
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
This Saturday’s Vigil for Peace and Justice will be our last of 2022, as we begin our winter hiatus. If you can, please lend support to this effort, dress for the weather (and then add a little more protection), and join the stalwart group from noon to 1 p.m. along Washington Avenue at Central Park in Grand Haven. Regular participants find it a valuable, meditative practice. Thanks to this faithful group of C3ers (and friend Tom Sobel) who regularly show up and bring awareness to issues of peace and justice to our neighbors and visitors in the area.
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
Momentum Center Happenings
— 🆕 Christmas Sale at Just Goods
It’s a BOGO sale on all merchandise at Just Goods (located inside the Momentum Center, 714 Columbus Avenue, Grand Haven) from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7. Light refreshments will also be provided! Proceeds from Just Goods support programs at the Momentum Center.
— 🆕 Free Dinner and Movie Night
Join the community at the Momentum Center on Friday, December 9, for free dinner starting at 5 p.m., followed at 6 p.m. by the holiday film “Klaus,” a 2019 animated movie, rated PG for humor and action. The film demonstrates the positive impacts of simple acts of kindness.
—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.
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 Charity McMaster
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- C3 Teacher: Kent Dobson
- Music: Kyle Rasche
- Meditation: Andy Cawthon
11 a.m. Talk Back
Tuesday, November 29
7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (American Legion, GH)
Sunday, December 4
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 Margaret Willey
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- C3 Teacher: Kent Dobson
- Music: Ruth & Max Bloomquist
- Meditation: Leslie Newman
11 a.m. Talk Back
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Kent Dobson 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.
Ruth and Max Bloomquist are longtime C3 favorites. 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.
C3 Website
C3 Membership Directory (login required)
C3 Website>Values (printable list here)
🆕 Last week’s Newsletter and Bulletin
Each week we post information about upcoming Gatherings and other special events. Help us extend our reach and recognition by sharing our posts!
Instagram Photos Needed
We would love to feature photos of C3 members in action or other C3 events on our Instagram feed. Email your high res photos (or ideas) to trustee Tom Edwards.
