Update for December 18, 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?”

This is the last week for our series of The Great Questions. Guest Teacher John Rottman closes out the series and the year with the question, Are Some People Not Salvageable? Our Guest Musician is John Sanger, a frequent and gracious visitor. Beth Buelow will have our last meditation for the year.

We look forward to seeing you for our last Gathering of 2022 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. 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. See you in the New Year on January 8! Watch your email inbox for communications from C3 during the interim.

Saints, Mystics, and Misfits: That’s the new series of teachings which begins in January. Isn’t it great that we can always look forward to learning something new, while never running out of questions, like What are the biggest challenges we face on our shared journey, and how do we respond to those challenges?

Sunday Gathering Information here. Additional Resources here. 
Last Weekend at C3: Kent Dobson’s Teaching here, Note: Link is to Facebook Live video, not weeklyYouTube teaching video, please advance to 21:48 to view teaching. Meditation here.

Let’s Go to the Movies This Sunday!

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.

Year-End Fundraiser

As we continue our countdown towards a new year, I want to update you on our year-end fundraiser. The good news is that we are currently at 80% of our goal. Thanks to all who have donated! The good news (part 2) is that many of you have mentioned to me that your donation is on its way. Thank you!  And the great news is, those of you who have been meaning to make an extra donation have the opportunity to put us over the top! Your generous 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! 

—Mark Smith, Treasurer

Ushers and Welcome Hosts

All Welcome Hosts and Ushers should receive the new schedule for 2023 from Ellie in your email inbox. Please take a few moments now to note all of your assigned dates for 2023 on your calendar, so that conflicts with travel or other events can be taken care of ahead of time. Thank you for your time and efforts as hosts and ushers! You’re the face of C3 on Sunday mornings!

“Long-haulers” with C3 or its Predecessors

There have been 55 responses to our request to identify people who have been with C3 and/or its predecessors for many years. If you are a C3 long-hauler, would you please contact Ellie Williams with the year you first became an active member or friend of this community. A recognition of these people who carry the history of this enduring and evolving spiritual community is in the initial planning stages.  

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!

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.

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 an 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.

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.

Week 3@C3 for December

Thank you for the great response to the Seasonal Greeting Card Blizzard! This Sunday is the last chance to bring cards for residents of Riverside Nursing & Rehab, Medilodge at the Shore, and Christian Haven Home! 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. Turn in the cards to the Week 3@C3 table on Sunday.

C3 Bell Ringers at the Red Kettle Campaign

On December 14 and 15, C3 members rang the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign at Leppinks in Ferrysburg. Funds raised are used to provide housing, a food pantry, Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance, utility assistance, and Pathway of Hope programs. Thanks to Betty Porter (pictured below) for organizing this effort, and to all the volunteers who stepped up to stand at the kettle!

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. So far, there has been one volunteer from C3 to step forward. Could you add your time to this task?

Humanity for Prisoners December Newsletter          

Click here to access the December edition of the HFP Communicator. This edition includes an article about our Guest Teacher this week, Dr. John Rottman.

C3 Book Club and Friends

We’re looking forward to discussing Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr on January 3. See you at The Bookman at 6:30 p.m.  

February 7: The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

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 website here.

Momentum Center Happenings

— Implicit Bias Training

Understanding Perspectives, a program in implicit bias training, will be held in person from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, January 23, at the Momentum Center in Grand Haven. The training is limited to the first 35 people to register.

—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.

Attention, Writers of All Ages!

The Bookman is now accepting submissions for the 2023 Snowbound Writers’ Contest through January 31, 2023! All writers who live in Ottawa or Muskegon County are eligible to submit a short story or poem connected to the theme of TIME, in particular as it relates to the following quotation: “I wish it need not have happened in my time.” -Frodo Baggins, “The Fellowship of the Ring” by J.R.R. Tolkien. Surely some of the gifted writers among our C3 family will find this an entertaining challenge!

Ottawa County Parks Foundation News

Click here to read the December edition of Bringing Community to Nature, from the Ottawa County Parks Foundation.

Sunday, December 18

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

• Guest Teacher: John Rottman
• Music: John Sanger
• Meditation: Beth Buelow                                      

11 a.m. Talk Back

Tuesday, December 20

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

Sunday, December 25 — No Gathering — Merry Christmas!

Sunday, January 1 — No Gathering — Happy New Year!

Sunday, January 8

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: Jen Sygit
• Meditation: Cindy Anderson                                      

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.

Jen Sygit is a solo performer and member of the all-female string band Stella!, whose new album Stella Tells the Truth was released this fall. Jen performs regionally and also hosts the weekly radio show “Eclecticana” (WLNZ 89.7fm Lansing, MI).

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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.