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?”
We Have Questions, and one of them is What’s Soul Got to Do with It?
Beth Buelow tackles this one on Sunday, with musical backup from Hannah Laine, and a meditation given by Cindy Anderson.
All C3 Sunday-morning events take place in the Mackinaw Ballroom at Central Park Place. Pre-Talk and Awakenings start at 9 a.m. The Gathering begins at 10 a.m.; Small Bites and Talk Back follow the Gathering. C3 Kids meet at 10 a.m. in the C3 Kids’ area in the Mackinaw Room. If you aren’t able to join us in person, you can watch the Gathering online on C3’s Facebook page.
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Need Event Information? Our website has a full event calendar > Upcoming Events
Last Sunday’s Teaching and Meditation have not been posted to the website yet. But…the books Kent referred to last week were: The Fisher King & the Handless Maiden by Robert A. Johnson and Iron John by Robert Bly
Vigil for Peace and Justice is Front-Page News
Have you seen the front-page article in the GH Tribune on June 9 about the Vigil, featuring Sarah Jacobs, Suzi Koster, and Char Zoet? There will be a copy on on the Membership table at the Gathering. The article resulted from a visit to our weekly Vigil for Peace and Justice by Tribune reporter Lauren Formosa. It’s great to receive this positive coverage from the local press, at the same time our billboards are appearing in the community! Of course, the Vigil for Peace and Justice continues every Saturday, April through November, not just during the month of June, as indicated in the article. Newcomers are always welcome!
Our First C3 Billboard is Up!
The generous contributions from C3 members are showing first fruits. Our first billboard was unveiled on June 12, where it will sit at the corner of M-104 and 144th Avenue for four weeks. Two more billboards will be erected on July 10, one north and one south of Grand Haven. Annie Wassmann’s design focuses on C3’s unique organizational nature: we ask questions to which we don’t have all the answers. We’re hopeful that this exposure will help those of like minds to know that there is a place for them at C3.
Claude’s Graduation Open House — Tomorrow!
from Charity and Shannon McMaster: Our son Claude graduated from Spring Lake High School this year, and we are having an open house for him on Saturday, June 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. We’d love to see any C3 people! Your presence is gift enough. Our address is 227 Prospect Street, in Spring Lake. We’re on the corner of Prospect and River, one block west of Holmes Elementary. Note: Claude has done the weekly set-up for our Gathering for a few years!
Mark Your Calendars for July 9!
Right after the Gathering on July 9, there will be a short community meeting to approve a change to our bylaws, get updated on the search for an executive director, and hear the latest on our status at Central Park Place. You’ll want to be there to participate in the governing of C3 and to hear plans for our exciting future.
If you are a C3 Member and won’t be able to attend the meeting, please click here to email your proxy vote to chairperson Sally Alderink.
Dine with Nine-ty!
Join us this summer for a delightful twist on our beloved Dine with Nine event! We are excited to announce the expansion of this gathering into an “everyone-is-welcome” community dinner at the picturesque Mulligan’s Hollow Lodge in Grand Haven. Save the date for Saturday, July 15; dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. To let us know what food you’ll bring, kindly utilize the sign-up sheet at the Gathering. Bring your own beverage (alcohol is allowed) and place setting, utensils, and cups (we are being friendly to Mother Earth). For drop-off convenience, you may drive up to the lodge, but all event parking is in the YMCA parking lot. Rain or shine, the event will go on, with ample space indoors and outdoors that is ADA accessible.
Can we go above and beyond?
Every Woman’s Place has an urgent request for women’s underwear—small, medium, or large; any style; six pack Fruit of the Loom, Hanes for Her, or other similar brands are suitable. Bring goods or cash to the Week 3@C3 table on June 18 or June 25.
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.
Long-time C3 members will remember Meg Lawton (former wife of prior C3 teacher Ian Lawton). Our dear Meg has suffered catastrophic health issues. Her friend in Australia has set up a fundraiser called She loves without bounds to help with Meg’s rehabilitation and other medical expenses. This is an unusual announcement for us to make in the C3 Update, but the circumstances are dire. There is additional information at the fundraiser link, and the veracity of both the information and the fundraisier has been verified.
Month Long Pride Focus at our Vigil for Peace and Justice
C3 has welcomed and supported the LGBTQ+ community since the 1990’s. We want to share that support and welcoming message with the greater community though our Vigil for Peace and Justice during June. Join us each Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. along Washington Avenue at Central Park in Grand Haven. Why not let your creative juices flow and make a sign promoting justice and equality for all LGBTQ+ folks (folx) and invite friends and family to join in?
Julia Davey and Suzi Koster
Sunday Dinner Group at Booyahs
We will meet this week at Booyahs (6022 Harvey Street, Muskegon) at 5:30 p.m. Please sign up at the Membership Table before you leave the Gathering on Sunday!
C3 Book Club and Friends
We meet this coming Tuesday, June 20, 6 p.m. at The Bookman to discuss Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. We’re reading The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures by Anne Fadiman for Tuesday, July 18.
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.
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.
C3 Members Join Silence the Violence March
On Saturday, June 17, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessler led close to 200 Michiganders who marched silently through downtown Grand Haven to protest gun violence. C3 was well represented.
Left to right: Margaret Willey, Judy Blinn, Nancy Owens, Jane Curtis, Bill Haug, Bernie Snoeyer, Julia Davey, Cheryl and Rod Van Abbema, Kathy Smith, Attorney General Dana Nessel, Suzi Koster, Sarah Jacobs, Patti Baldus. Present but not visible: Corrie Snoeyer, Yvonne Olmsted, Ellie Williams.
Saturday, June 24
12 p.m. Vigil for Peace and Justice (Washington Avenue at Central Park, GH)
Sunday, June 25
All events held in the Mackinaw Ballroom in Central Park Place
(421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9 a.m. Pre-Talk and Awakenings
10 a.m. C3 Kids with Joyce Cawthon and volunteer Margaret Willey
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- Guest Teacher: Beth Buelow
- Music: Hannah Laine
- Meditation: Cindy Anderson
11 a.m. Talk Back
5:30 p.m. Dinner Group (Ted’s, 14977 Cleveland St., Spring Lake)
Tuesday, June 27
7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (American Legion, GH)
Saturday, July1
12 p.m. Vigil for Peace and Justice (Washington Avenue at Central Park, GH)
Sunday, July 2
All events held in the Mackinaw Ballroom in Central Park Place
9 a.m. Pre-Talk and Awakenings
10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Sally Alderink
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
• Teacher: Kent Dobson
• Music: Ruth and Max Bloomquist
• Meditation: Andy Cawthon
11 a.m. Talk Back
5:30 p.m. Dinner Group (Ted’s, 14977 Cleveland St., Spring Lake)
C3 teacher 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 bring Ruth’s award winning abilities as a songwriter and singer and Max’s harmony and touch on the upright bass, to share their heart-touching, acoustic Americana that is all their own. Ruth’s trademark rich alto is unmistakable, and her songs evoke images and emotions common to us all.
Thank you for supporting C3!
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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 Shannon McMaster.
C3 Board of Trustees
Chair: Sally Alderink
Vice-Chair: Teresa Colbry
Secretary: Valerie Engeltjes
Treasurer: Shannon McMaster
Beth Buelow
Andy Cawthon
Kim Crozier
Tom Edwards
Kathy Humphrey
Wayne Johnson
Rod Van Abbema
Newsletter Submissions and Editor: Chrysteen Moelter-Gray.
Newsletter Designer: Annie Wassmann
Copyright © 2023 C3 Spiritual Community. All rights reserved.