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?”
Our new series Spirituality for the 21st Century kicks off this week with a teaching from Beth Buelow, Drinking Holy Peace. C3 members know and appreciate Beth, and we look forward to hearing her contribution to our exploration of spirituality. Kate Pillsbury joins us again as musician; she was last with us in October. Rod Van Abbema offers the meditation.
Please join us this week at Central Park Place. Pre-Talk is at 9 a.m. in the Woodbine Room, the Gathering in the Mackinaw Room begins at 10 a.m., and Talk Back follows the Gathering 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.
Annual Celebration and Member Meeting Held on February 19
Highlights of the meeting included:
• Motion passed to approve a change to the bylaws that would allow for using a slate instead of holding an election if the number of Board of Trustee openings equals the number of candidates.
• Kent Dobson shared that in January the Board decided C3’s number one priority in 2023 was to grow. He reminded us that the people of the C3 Community itself are the primary ones who welcome newcomers.
• He addressed some of the challenges surrounding where we’re going to meet. He asked that anyone with possible gathering sites contact a Board member.
• Because Teresa Colbry was unable to attend, Board Chair Sally Alderink gave the Community Life Committee report.
• Rod Van Abbema gave the Outreach Committee Report.
• The candidate slate was approved. BOT members elected for 2023-2025 are Beth Buelow, Rod Van Abbema, and Shannon MacMaster.
• Mark Smith gave the Treasurer’s Report and presented the proposed budget of $191,000. The budget was approved.
• Sally introduced Becky Park as our new office manager and expressed gratitude for the contribution she’s already made.
• We acknowledged Mark’s retirement as a Board member and Treasurer.
• The Philip J. Koster Award for Meritorious Service for this year’s outstanding volunteer went to Annie Wassmann. Her graphic design expertise is integral to virtually every visual aspect of C3. To read the complete minutes of the meeting, click here.
Sunday Dinner Group
The Sunday Dinner group will continue to gather at a local restaurant for supper on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. to enjoy each other’s company! Please sign up on the Sunday Dinner Group sign-up sheet at the back of the Mackinaw Room after the Gathering. The destination for the day will be noted there. Or contact (text or call) Chrys Moelter-Gray, so she can make reservations for the group.
Dine with Nine
The next Dine with Nine will be on Saturday, March 11, at 6 p.m. Mark your calendar! This Sunday, February 26, is the last opportunity to sign up to attend. This event happens several times a year. You are invited to gather in people’s homes to share food, fun, and conversation. This popular program aims to connect adults regardless of age or relationship status, bringing together widows, singles, couples, partners and divorcees at the home of the evening’s host. Each person is asked to bring an element of the meal – an appetizer, salad, dessert, wine, or bread, while the host will provide the main entree. Coordinators of the event are Joyce Cawthon, Kathy Smith, and Mary Ackerson.
Contact Joyce Cawthon with questions.
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.
Chuck Tawney’s mother, Phyllis M. Tawney, passed away on Monday, February 13. She was 90 years old. She (and her “comedic prickliness”) will be sorely missed by Chuck and his sister. Her obituary can read here. Cards to Chuck can be sent to 3526 Murl Avenue, Muskegon, MI 49442.
Margaret Willey’s mother, Barbara Willey, died on Sunday, February 5, peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones, after a long decline. She is already deeply missed. Her obituary can be read here. Cards to Margaret can be sent to 545 Leggat Street, Grand Haven, MI 49417.
Automate your donations
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 (616-613-3222) at Selby Accounting. Please direct any questions to Board Treasurer, Shannon McMaster.
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
Our efforts to raise relief funds for Food for Ukraine resulted in $550 to be sent to Ukraine via the Mennonite Central Committee.
Our Week 3@C3 project for March is very local. We will be collecting laundry soap, dish soap, canned fruit, and canned pasta (think SpaghettioOs, etc.) for The People Center! Items can be brought to the Week 3@C3 table in the Mackinaw Room the weeks of March 5, 12, and 19.
Save These Spring Dates!
“With one more month of winter ahead of us, let’s think about spring-ier things! At the end of April are two C3 Outreach events that you won’t want to miss, so block out some space on your calendar now for our spring Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup on Saturday, April 22, and the Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 29. More details will follow as those dates approach.
Humanity for Prisoners February Newsletter
Click here to access the February edition of the HFP Communicator.
C3 Book Club and Friends
Our discussion of Apeirogon by Colum McCann is scheduled for Tuesday, March 7, 6:30 p.m., at The Bookman. Join us!
April 3: One Long River of Song by Brian Doyle
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.
Black History Events at Frauenthal
Two noteworthy upcoming events are scheduled at the Frauenthal Center in Muskegon: The Black Violin Experience (Sunday, February 26) and Detroit ’67 (March 9-11). Further information and tickets are available at the links. Why not ask a few of your C3 friends to join you at one or both of these events?
There is still time to register for the second Civil Rights Road Trip, scheduled for April 24-27, 2023. If you have questions about it, Ellie Williams, Tom Redick, Betty Porter, Chrys Moelter-Gray, Kathy Humphrey, Jane and Bill Curtis, and Cindy Anderson all made the first trip and can talk with you about the life-changing experience it was for them. Registration deadline is March 15.
Sunday, February 26
Central Park Place (Mackinaw Ballroom, 421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9 a.m. Pre-Talk, in Person (Woodbine Room)
10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Margaret Willey (Woodbine Room)
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- Teacher: Beth Buelow
- Music: Kate Pillsbury
- Meditation: Rod Van Abbema
11 a.m. Talk Back
Tuesday, February 28
7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (American Legion, GH)
Sunday, March 5
Central Park Place (Mackinaw Ballroom, 421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9 a.m. Pre-Talk, in Person (Woodbine Room)
10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Sandy Kate Stephens (Woodbine Room)
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- C3 Teacher: Kent Dobson
- Music: The Rebel Eves
- Meditation: David Dean
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.
The Rebel Eves, comprised of three Michigan-bred award-winning songwriters—Katie Pederson, Grace Theisen, and Jillian Linklater—have spent the most of the last decade writing, touring and harmonizing across the country. Their acoustic music showcases vulnerability, connectivity, and authenticity.
Thank you for supporting C3!
We would really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to share your experience at C3 by reviewing us on Google. Thank you! And our gratitude to Valerie, Rod, Mary Jane, Joyce, Andy, Charity, Daniel, Charmaine, Chrys, Patti, Ryan, Karen, Sally, and Annie for your reviews!
C3 Membership Directory (login required)
C3 Website>Values (printable list here)
🆕 Last Week’s Newsletter and Bulletin
C3 Spiritual Community Office
Becky Park, Office Manager
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 © 2023 C3 Spiritual Community. All rights reserved.