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?”
C3 Teacher Kent Dobson will talk about Listening as Prayer in the series Spirituality for the 21st Century this week. Joining us to provide the music is Drew Nelson. Wayne Johnson will give the meditation.
Please join us at Central Park Place in the Mackinaw Ballroom for Pre-Talk at 9 a.m. The Gathering begins at 10 a.m.; Small Bites and Talk Back follow the Gathering. C3 Kids meet at 10 in the C3 Kids’ area in the Mackinaw Ballroom. If you aren’t able to join us in person, you can watch the Gathering online on Facebook page.
🆕 Space for C3 Kids
For this Sunday, March 26th, part of the Mackinaw Ballroom (our main gathering space) will be sectioned off to create a room for our kids. This area will be walled off floor to ceiling, with two doors and access to the outdoor picnic table area, which could be lots of fun once the weather gets warmer!
🆕 Creativity and Flexibility Needed!
The situation at Central Park Place is in flux, so let’s approach this challenge with creativity and flexibility! All of our Sunday morning activities will now take place in the Mackinaw Ballroom (our Gathering space). The shifting of the C3 Kids to a section of the Mackinaw Ballroom is one example. Of course this necessitates a reconfiguration of the seating for our Gathering, and the tables which are usually at the back of the Gathering space will be shifted to other locations in the room. Pre-Talk and Talk Back will also take place in this room, so come with an open mind about how this will all work! An additional challenge will be that the entry doors at the back of the building (downstairs) will be locked (out of concern for the safety of the children’s program), but there will be a host—Life Church or C3, or both—stationed there to let you in. We are aware that this measure could be a cause of consternation for people with mobility limitations who need to use the elevator, but we will do our best to make sure no difficulties arise.
🆕 Reserve your space now! Limited Seats Available!
If you weren’t able to get tickets at last year’s auction for the Twyce the Band concert, here’s your chance! On Saturday, April 22, Ira and Valerie Engeltjes are hosting a fundraising house concert for C3! This is one high-energy fun time, complete with beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Donation: $40/person. Event details, here (webpage) and here (flyer). Reserve your space by emailing Valerie.
Exploring Our Options
At the March 8 meeting, the Board established a task force to look at possible alternative locations for C3 to meet. While there is no pressure to vacate Central Park Place in the immediate future, this is an opportunity for C3 to explore available sites and consider what our needs are and what would best meet those needs. Task force members are Beth Buelow, Andy Cawthon, David Dean, Wayne Johnson, and Rod Van Abbema. If you have suggestions, please contact Andy. Thank you, in advance, for your help with this project!
Sunday Dinner Group
We will meet again at The Kirby at 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening. Please add your name and phone number to the list on the table at the back of the Gathering room before you leave on Sunday if you ’re planning on coming. Due to our group size, we need to phone in the reservation by 12:30 p.m.
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.
🆕 Kathy Klouw will celebrate her birthday on April 7. How about sending her a card? Grand Pines Assisted Living Center, 1410 Ferry Street, Grand Haven, MI 49417.
Longtime friend of C3 Lowell VanDeRiet passed away on March 2. His wife Mary noted that “he loved being with you all both before and after the service to engage in conversation on important topics.” She appreciates how supportive the C3 Community has been. Cards may be sent to Mary at 1495 Stoney Lake Drive, Holland, MI 49424.
Donations of Stocks, Bonds or Mutual Funds
Did you know that we are now able to accept donations of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds? When you donate stock to charity, you’ll generally take a tax deduction for the full fair market value. Because you are donating stock, your contribution and tax deduction may instantly increase over 20% or more, depending on your tax situation and any gains in the value of the stock. If this sounds like an option for you, please talk to your financial services representative, and if you have any questions re: process, please contact Shannon McMaster, Treasurer.
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
We’re cooperating with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) once again to furnish items for Hygiene Kits. Collection dates are April 2, 9, and 16. Please limit generosity to the items listed. No toothpaste needed! Collect these items in a brown paper bag and bring to the Week 3@C3 table:
- 1 adult-size toothbrush (in manufacturer’s packaging)
- 1 large bar bath soap (leave in wrapper)
- 1 nail clipper (good quality)
- 1 hand towel (medium weight, dark or bright colors; approx. 16 x 26 in.)
41,700 hygiene kits shipped last year to Burkina Faso, Canada, Cuba, Haiti, Iraq, Jordan, Ukraine, the U.S., and Zambia. Let’s join together to help even more people in need of these personal items.
Please add these Outreach events to your calendar!
- Vigil for Peace and Justice: Saturdays, noon–1 p.m., starting April 1
- Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup: Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. Sign up after the Gathering on April 2, 9, or 16 or email Tom Edwards.
- Earth Day Fair: Saturday April 29, details coming soon.
- Grand Haven Pride Festival: Saturday, June 10. We are looking for ideas and volunteers to work with the coordinating committee for this event. If you’re interested, contact Rod Van Abbema.
🆕 Vigil for Peace and Justice Resumes
Next Saturday, April 1, the Vigil for Peace and Justice resumes from noon–1 p.m. along Washington Avenue at Central Park. C3 and Stand for Peace Michigan are identified as co-sponsors of the event, so it’s a good way for C3 to be a presence in the community. We don’t march or shout, but rather stand or sit quietly, meditating on peace and sending our peaceful intentions into the world. Will you join us? Contact Chrys Moelter-Gray for more information.
C3 Book Club and Friends
Please note this important change! Starting in April, C3 Book Club will meet on the third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. The book for our meeting on April 18 is One Long River of Song by Brian Doyle. 🆕 May 16: Virgil Wander by Leif Enger
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.
🆕 West Michigan Horn Choir: Sublime Art in a Sacred Space
The West Michigan Horn Choir is a constantly-changing group of French Horn players, both professional and amateur musicians, who will share their talents in a free concert at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 26, Second Reformed Church (225 E. Central Avenue, Zeeland). Details here.
LEDA Workshop
Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance is pleased to announce its new series, Working Toward Inclusion and Belonging. This two-part series, held at Central Park Place, will address biases and ways to counter them, so participants can begin or continue their journey to a more equitable, diverse, inclusive community where everyone belongs and has opportunity to participate fully. Each 90-minute session will provide participants with information to better understand how systems of advantage have taken root and grown, and tools to move inclusion and belonging forward at work, home, and in life. The remaining dates are April 6 and 20. Part 1 and Part 2 can be attended in any order. Register here.
Sunday, March 26
🆕 All events held in the Mackinaw Ballroom in Central Park Place
(421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9 a.m. Pre-Talk
10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Sally Alderink
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- C3 Teacher: Kent Dobson
- Music: Drew Nelson
- Meditation: Wayne Johnson
11 a.m. Talk Back
Tuesday, March 28
7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (American Legion, GH)
Sunday, April 2
All events held in the Mackinaw Ballroom in Central Park Place
(421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9 a.m. Pre-Talk
10 a.m. C3 Kids with Joyce Cawthon and volunteer Margaret Willey
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- Teacher: Cindy Anderson
- Music: Jen Sygit
- Meditation: Charity McMaster
11 a.m. Talk Back
Cindy Anderson is a C3 member and retired speech/language pathologist for GHAPS. She and husband Don have three children and five grandchildren, but they love to collect new family members when they travel, which they do often and extensively throughout the world. Cindy volunteers with Tri-Cities Women Who Care, Humanity for Prisoners, and the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation.
Jen Sygit is a Lansing-based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with four solo albums. She is also a veteran back-up singer/session vocalist, having appeared on over 50 albums. Jen is a member of the all-female string band Stella! and the roots rock band Lincoln County Process.
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!
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
Becky Park, Office Manager
Office Hours: Wednesday 12:30–2:30 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., or by appointment
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: Teresa Colbry
Secretary: Valerie Engeltjes
Treasurer: Shannon McMaster
Newsletter Submissions and Editor: Chrysteen Moelter-Gray
Newsletter Designer: Annie Wassmann
Copyright © 2023 C3 Spiritual Community. All rights reserved.