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?”
Joining us this Sunday from Toledo, Ohio, is Joe Pittenger, humanist chaplain, non-profit program director, life and career coach. His question in our series We Have Questions is How Can We Best Live a Fulfilling Life? We welcome Josh Rose as our musician. He hasn’t been with us since the end of 2022, so it’s high time to hear some of his Head-in-the Clouds Folk music! Charlotte Rozich will give the meditation.
Sunday Gathering
Come for Pre-Talk at 9 a.m. to get a jump on the rest of the group; join us at Central Park Place in Grand Haven for the Gathering at 10 a.m., which is live-streamed on C3’s Facebook page. Snack and socialize during Small Bites, then respond to the teaching at Talk Back from 11:15 to noon. C3 Kids meet in the C3 Kids’ area of the Mackinaw Room from 10 a.m. to noon.
🆕 Thanks for Stepping In!
Our guest teacher Jack Ridl couldn’t make it last Sunday, but Beth Buelow stepped in with another of her excellent teachings. Beth had been scheduled to do the meditation, so Leslie Newman contributed her “I am C3” story instead. Valerie Engeltjes had a little snowshoe injury and couldn’t be there as Gathering Host, so Nelleke Knarr filled that role. Thank you, C3 women, for being so willing to serve on short notice!
Gathering Cancellations
If a decision is made to cancel any future Gathering, it will be shared on C3’s Facebook page, on Instagram, via the C3 email list, and on television stations Fox 17 and WZZM 13. Let’s hope there’s no need to use this information anytime soon.
At the Board of Trustees meeting on January 10, departing board members Sally Alderink, Valerie Engeltjes, and Tom Edwards were thanked for their service. We welcomed four new board members: Tabitha Blanski, Karen Cotton, Cheri Eshenaur, and Tod Wyn. New officers were elected: Teresa Colbry, Chair; Tod Wyn, Vice-Chair; Andy Cawthon, Treasurer (one-year term), and Beth Buelow, Secretary (one-year term). They join continuing board members Kim Crozier, Kathy Humphrey, Wayne Johnson, and Rod Van Abbema. Congratulations to all! January 8 was Shannon McMaster’s official first day as C3’s new Executive Director; he can be reached at smcmaster [at] c3westmichigan [dot] org.
Put These Dates on Your Calendar
It may be winter now, but spring will arrive, and with your participation, C3 will show up in strength for these events, which support our value of Care for the Earth.
Saturday, April 20: Earth Day Fair
Saturday, April 27: Adopt-A-Highway Spring Cleanup
🆕 Week3@C3 for February
Our project for February will be to stock the Micro Pantry at the Momentum Center —“Take what you need, leave what you can.” Acceptable items are easy-to-prepare, shelf-stable food (printable list here):
- microwave mac & cheese, Ramen noodles
- canned soups and pasta
- instant mashed potatoes
- instant oatmeal
- canned vegetables and fruit
- gummy fruit snacks
- fruit and pudding cups
- granola bars
- instant hot chocolate.
- Items will be collected on February 4, 11, and 18.
Did you know? The suggestion to place a Micro Pantry at the Momentum Center came from C3 friend Natalie Carmolli. The cabinet that holds the items was built by C3 member Bill Haug.
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.
Family in Need: Pastor Tim from Life Church and his family lost their home and everything in it, including pets, to a fire recently.
- We are collecting funds to provide a gift card from Meijer, which can be used for food, clothes, household items to help them with a new start, or even gas for the car if needed. Donations can be made through C3 in the usual ways, earmarked “Family in Need” in the memo field. Online donations can be made here. Click on the Donate button, then click on the arrow to the right to choose “Family in Need.”
- Creative, crafty people might be inspired to make something for them, to make a new place feel like a home.
- If you have household items to donate, please send photos of them to Charity McMaster by February 4, to share with the family, so they can decide if they’d like those items.
Nelleke Knarr’s mother entered hospice care at home in Indiana recently, and Nelleke is now back at home herself, but will be traveling intermittently to Indiana to be with her mom.Contact Nelleke or send a card to 747 Fuller Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506.
🆕 Yvonne Olmsted’s brother Hans Cramer (also known as Hamsagati Das), died recently in India, as he wished. The family will gather this summer for a memorial. Cards may be sent to 210 S. 7th Street, Grand Haven, MI 49417.
Joan Sutton will turn 90 on January 29. She is doing well, but doesn’t get around as much as she used to. She talks about C3 often. You can send birthday wishes to 13892 148th Avenue, Grand Haven, MI 49417. Daughter Gayle invites you to an informal open house for Joan on February 3, 1:30– 4 p.m. in the Woodbine Room at Central Park Place.
Sunday Dinner Group
Sign-up for Sunday Dinner Group at the Membership Table at the Gathering. This week we’ll head to The Kirby at 5:30 p.m.
C3 Men’s Group
The C3 Men’s Group meets each Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Room B, in Grand Haven. Contact Phil Koster for more information.
C3 Book Club and Friends
Join us on at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20 at The Bookman to discuss The Forty Rules of Love: A Novel of Rumi by Efif Shafek.
March 19: Bee Season: A Novel by Myla Goldberg
April 16: The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan
Women’s Journey
Our next meeting will be Monday, February 26, at 6:30 p.m. at The Bookman. Bring a favorite children’s book or story. Leslie Newman will be leading us. Please continue to consider ideas for the new year!
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 Andy Cawthon at treasurer [at] c3exchange [dot] org.
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.
Calvin’s January Series
The award-winning January Series, presented by Calvin University, began on January 15 and continues through February 2. Each lecture begins at 12:30 p.m. The series will be broadcast at Second Christian Reformed Church (2021 Sheldon Road, GH). Click here for a full list of speakers, topics, and remote locations.
Momentum Center: Free Dinner and Movie Night
January’s Dinner and Movie Night was canceled due to weather. Mark your calendar now for February’s movie, Rustin, which will be Friday, February 9. Dinner is at 5 p.m., the movie starts at 6 p.m. Pot luck items are not necessary, but welcome.
🆕 OCDP Community Service Project / CROP Walk 2024
The Ottawa County Dems will participate in the Holland/Zeeland CROP Walk on Sunday, May 19, to raise funds to provide clean water and food to individuals in crisis. JoBird is organizing the team. Find out more here. Both walkers and donations are welcome! Maybe we could form a C3 group to join the effort! Contact Chrys Moelter-Gray for more information or to join the team.
The Diatribe Newsletter
Catch up with what is happening with The Diatribe here.
Sunday, January 28
All events held in the Mackinaw Ballroom in Central Park Place (421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9 a.m. Pre-Talk & Awakenings
10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Eleanor Hills
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
• Guest Teacher: Joe Pittenger
• Musician: Josh Rose
• Meditation: Charlotte Rozich
11 a.m. Talk Back
Tuesday, January 30
7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (Room B, St. John’s Episcopal Church, GH)
Sunday, February 4
All events held in the Mackinaw Ballroom in Central Park Place (421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9 a.m. Pre-Talk & Awakenings
10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Sandy Kate Stephens
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
• Guest Teacher: Mary Balkon
• Musician: Mike Ward: Psychosongs
• Meditation: Rod Van Abbema
11 a.m. Talk Back
Mary Balkon, LMSW, MDiv, is a therapist; a student of psychology, culture and religion; a practicing pagan; and generally a curious citizen of the world. She received her Social Work degree from Western Michigan University in 2008 and her Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School in 2020. Mary taught at C3 once before, on May 21, 2017.
Detroit singer-songwriter Mike Ward: Psychosongs is known for his lyrically-centric, vocally-charged folk songs. While growing up in Port Huron, he listened to the Irish music of his heritage and sang in several choirs before digesting the influential sounds of Simon & Garfunkel, Dylan, Springsteen and John Prine. These days, he finds inspiration in the works of Jason Isbell, Sarah Jarosz and John Paul White. His intimate songwriting echoes through empty city streets, back country roads and family portraits. It also resides in the hidden spaces between joy and tragedy, love and loss.
New Year, New Reviews!
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!
Google requires reviewers to have a Google account. If you don’t have one you can set one up with your current email address, follow instructions here.
C3 Membership Directory (login required)
C3 Podcast Feeds: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts
🆕 Last Week’s Update and Bulletin
frontdesk [at] c3westmichigan [dot] org
C3 Spiritual Community Office
1447 Washington Ave., Grand Haven, MI 49417
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 371, Grand Haven, MI 49417
616-842-1985 (number can receive text messages)
Becky Park, Office Manager
Office Hours: Mondays and Tuesdays from 12 noon – 2:30 p.m., or by appointment.
Shannon McMaster, Executive Director
smcmaster [at] c3westmichigan [dot] org
Automatic donations are handled by Carol Takas, 616-613-3222, at Selby Accounting.
Please direct any questions to Andy Cawthon.
C3 Board of Trustees
Chair: Teresa Colbry
Vice-Chair: Tod Wyn
Secretary: Beth Buelow
Treasurer: Andy Cawthon
Newsletter Submissions and Editor: Chrysteen Moelter-Gray
Newsletter Designer: Annie Wassmann
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