Update for November 26, 2023

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 welcome Brie Stoner back as Guest Teacher this post-holiday Sunday. In the spirit of our ongoing series We Have Questions, she asks What if This Isn’t a Problem? — Choosing Back Your Constraints. We welcome The Rebel Eves who will provide the music, and Andy Cawthon offers this week’s meditation.

Our weekly Gathering takes place in the Mackinaw Ballroom at Central Park Place every Sunday at 10 a.m. Pre-Talk and Awakenings (meditation) precede the Gathering at 9 a.m. After the Gathering, enjoy a Small Bite and join Talk Back. Our C3 Kids meet at 10 a.m. in the C3 Kids’ area of the Mackinaw Room. The Gathering is live-streamed on C3’s Facebook page. 

• Missed an email? Revisit or catch up on our website > Updates
• Need Event Information? Our website has a full event calendar > Upcoming Events
• 🆕  Last Sunday’s Teaching here and Meditation here.
• 🆕  Dr. John Hubers’ resource list of recommended reading here.

🆕  Our New Executive Director!

The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that they have offered the new position of C3 Executive Director to Shannon McMaster. We’ll keep everyone informed as the specific details are worked out. We are grateful to the Executive Director Search Team (Beth Buelow, Ira Engeltjes, Kathy Humphrey, Wayne Johnson, Mark Smith) for their commitment and time to this process. Please thank them for their work and be sure to congratulate Shannon!

🆕  Many Thanks to the Back-Up Team!

Our C3 behind-the-scenes-team is quite impressive! When our tech team Chuck Tawney was sidelined with COVID-19 and Chase Gue was out of town on November 12, Chuck emailed extensive, illustrated instructions, and the impromptu team of Steve Weideman, Rod Van Abbema, Shannon McMaster, and David Dean pulled off the entire set-up, and the Gathering happened as usual, livestream and all! Many thanks to David, Shannon, Rod, Steve, and Chuck!

🆕  Dine with Nine

Those who signed up for Dine with Nine on Saturday, December 9 will hear from their their host soon, asking them to choose one of the elements of the meal—an appetizer, salad, dessert, wine, bread, or vegetable, while the host will provide the main entrée. Due to Thanksgiving, please wait until next Wednesday (November 29) to email Joyce if you have not yet heard from your host.

This is your opportunity to help the Lead Teacher Search Team!

C3 is looking for someone who will join the community and be responsible for assisting in our growth and challenging our community with thoughtful weekly messages that draw from a broad range of sources and experiences. The Lead Teacher will partner with the Executive Director and the C3 Board of Trustees to grow and sustain the existing community and to broaden our outreach and growth within the greater community. Is there someone you know who fits that description or might be acquainted with a potential candidate? If so, please forward this link, which has all the job and application information: c3westmichigan.org/employment. The deadline for applications is December 1. Thank you for your help!

Week 3@C3 for November

Thanks to all who contributed to our November effort, funding for Doctors without Borders. The amount donated will be reported when accounting procedures are completed.

🆕  Vigil for Peace and Justice

The Vigil for Peace and Justice happens for the last time this Saturday, November 25, before going on winter break until April. Thanks to all who participated in this important action in the community in support of peace for all. See you in the spring along Washington Avenue!

Bell Ringers Needed

It will soon be time to ring the bell for the 2023 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 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13 and Thursday December 14, for one-and-a-half hour shifts (except last shift which begins at 6 p.m. and lasts one hour).It works best to have only one or two at the kettle for each shift. Sign up on Sundays after Gathering, or contact Betty Jean Porter or 616-296-2227.

Sign Up for Sunday Dinner Group

Sunday Dinner Group will meet at The Kirby at 5:30 p.m. Sign up at the Membership table at the Gathering.

C3 Men’s Group

The C3 Men’s group meets Tuesday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Ted Larned’s home in Spring Lake,

🆕  Women’s Journey

The next Women’s Journey meeting will be at The Bookman at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 18. Please bring a wrapped white elephant gift (that is, something from your home that is no longer needed, NOT purchased), some cookies to share, and something to take some cookies home with you!

🆕  C3 Book Club and Friends

Our year-end gathering will take place at the C3 office at 1447 Washington Avenue on Tuesday, December 19, 6:30 p.m., for a small holiday celebration and to choose our books for next year. Please bring a small snack to share and your own drink. Also note: each person is assigned to bring three book titles that they will present to the group as possible selections for next year. At the end of the presentations, we will choose one of the three for which that person will lead the discussion. Dates will be assigned but will remain flexible.

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.

🆕  Pat Johnson sends thanks for all the cards and well-wishes, as she has recovered from knee replacement surgery. She is out and about, but still has PT appointments and lots of at-home exercises. 

Honor and Memorial Giving Program

Last year the Finance Committee created a program for Honor and Memorial giving to support C3. Cards for this purpose are available at the Membership Table. The gifts, with permission, will be listed in the newsletter (names only, no dollar amounts). As always, your donations are invaluable to us, thank you!

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.

🆕  Books and Bling

There’s an opportunity for holiday shopping at Books and Bling on Saturday, December 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is also a chance to visit the beautiful, refurbished library at 2808 Sanford Street in Muskegon Heights.

🆕  The Shoreline Community Orchestra will present a free concert featuring Rob Hlebinsky on the Organ at First Presbyterian Church of Grand Haven on Sunday, December 9, 2023, at 4 p.m. C3 member Allen Beck plays French horn with the Orchestra, and Sandy Beck plays timpani. We’d love to see you there!

Confronting Christian Nationalism

The Ottawa Coalition of Unifying Christians invites people to an event hosted by Vote Common Good West Michigan at 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 30, at the Holland Armory for an informative discussion by renowned author, pastor, and social activist Doug Pagitt about Confronting Christian Nationalism. Doug was a C3 guest teacher during our online COVID gatherings. This is a ticketed event, and you are encouraged to get your ticket soon. More information is provided on the ticketing website.

Momentum Center Holiday Needs

The Momentum Center is gearing up for the holidays and looking for assistance with items. Since the Grand Haven kitchen is not functional yet, they would love these items prepared ahead of time.

• Items needed for Thanksgiving Lunch event on November 27: Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Bean Casserole, Cranberry Sauce, Canned Corn, Rolls, Stuffing, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, Other desserts, Disposable Cups, Disposable Plates, Disposable Silverware, Napkins; They are also looking for volunteers to help serve at the luncheon.

• Items needed for Santa in Centertown event on December 9: Members are putting together a bake sale during this event, and looking for donations of baked goods to sell. If you would like to make something or help with the event, let us know!

Contact Jenna Vipond if you are interested or would like more information at 616-414-9111 or Jenna [at] MomentumCenterGH [dot] org.

Ottawa County Leadership

If you are concerned about the quality of leadership in Ottawa County regarding diversity, democracy, health care, and honest leadership, here are some groups you can learn from or join.

• Ottawa Objects Facebook Group
  
• Vote Common Good West Michigan 
  
• Ottawa Integrity, a PAC (political action committee) + latest newsletter
• Unifying Coalition of Ottawa County in partnership with Ottawa County Unifying Congregations. Eight churches have formed the coalition to work against Ottawa Impact.
  
• Informed & Inclusive Ottawa County 
  
• Ottawa North TRi-Cities Action Committee (ONTRAC)
  
• Ottawa Impact Watchdog