Update for December 4, 2022

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?”

Wow! It’s December already! This month will be the final one for our series of The Great Questions. This week Kent Dobson looks into the query Am I my brother’s (and sister’s) keeper? Ruth and Max Bloomquist graciously stepped in on short notice to play some music for us, for which we’re both happy and grateful! Leslie Newman will have a 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. 

Note: There will be no Gathering on December 25 or January 1, due to the holidays.

Sunday Gathering Information here. Additional Resources here. 
Last Weekend at C3: Kent Dobson’s Teaching here, Meditation here.

🆕 Year-End Fundraiser

As we count down towards a new year, we want to end this year on a positive financial note. Our year-end fundraiser is up and running. Our goal is to balance the 2022 budget and we estimate we will need $20,000 to achieve that. With 25% of the goal achieved, we are off to a good start but still have a way to go. If you received the informational letter and return envelope, please take a minute to read and respond. If for some reason you didn’t receive the informational letter, please consider participating – just note “fundraiser” in the memo field of your check or in the note field when giving on-line. Your financial donations allow us to continue our work in the community and put us on firm financial footing going into 2023. We are grateful for your support of the mission, values, and sustainability of C3. Thank you for your generosity!

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.

Wonderful Job Opportunity!

Are you—or is someone you know—looking for a part-time job that allows you to use and strengthen your clerical, organizational, and social media skills? C3 is looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated person for the position of Office Manager. The job is 15 hours per week and offers significant flexibility. Read the entire job description here. If you’re interested, please contact frontdesk [at] c3westmichigan [dot] org. If you’re not interested, please pass this opportunity on to someone you know who might be a great fit. 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.

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.

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 than To 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.

Your support matters and is greatly appreciated! 

It takes a lot of time, energy, and money to produce all the great things that happen at C3. Whether it is our Sunday Gatherings or working within our West Michigan communities, we strive to make a difference, with compassion. Your financial support allows us to continue to learn, teach and live our values to heal and affect change.

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.

🆕  Help Needed at The People Center

The People Center is in need of a few volunteers to help with sorting clothing donations and organizing the clothing hutch. It would mean a commitment of a few hours per week, on day/s of your choice, after meeting with those in charge for an orientation. If interested, please talk to Patti Baldus at the Gathering, or email her.

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.

🆕  News from CCD

Kerri VanderHoff, executive director of the Coalition for Community Development in Muskegon Heights (one of our Outreach partners), sent out a Year in Review newsletter. Take a peek here!

C3 Book Club and Friends Holiday Party

The C3 Book Club Holiday Party is this Tuesday, 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

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.

🆕  Just Us in Concert

Just Us, a women’s cappella group which includes C3 members Karen Frederiksen and Cindy Van Ittersum, will perform in a Christmas ensemble at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 9, at The Book Nook in Montague

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.

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

Tuesday, November 6

6:30 p.m. C3 Book Club Holiday Party (The Bookman, 715 Washington Ave., GH)

7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (American Legion, GH)

Sunday, December 11

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 Patti Baldus

10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook

• C3 Teacher: Kent Dobson
• Music: Max Lockwood
• Meditation: Wayne Johnson                                      

11 a.m. Talk Back

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. He has been lead teacher at C3 since 2017.

Max Lockwood, songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and poet, has a sound rooted in songcraft and lyricism. His music is a unification of rock & roll with folk and pop. With full arrangements and rich, poetic lyrics, Max creates deep, sonic landscapes that reveal truths of love, adversity, and growth. 

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🆕  Last week’s Newsletter and Bulletin

Lead Teacher Kent Dobson

There is a lot more to discover and learn from Kent Dobson on his website, and by listening to his podcast Hints and Guesses. Sign up here for updates about his programs, events, podcasts, teachings, and more.

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.