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 (Still) Have Questions, and Dr. Sarah Kornfield will be at our Gathering to ask When (Why and How) Do US Politicians Use Christian Appeals? Dr. Kornfield is a professor at Hope College, and her research uses rhetorical criticism and feminist theory to analyze entertainment television, Christian religiosity, and politics.
Grace Theisen (one-third of The Rebel Eves) makes a return appearance as musician. We heard from her alone last October and with The Rebel Eves in November, and we are happy that she is with us once more.
Mary Ackerson will share a 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.
🆕 Substitute Welcoming Hosts Needed
C3 members are a traveling bunch, including our Welcoming Hosts. Next week, four of our hosts will be out of town! Please see or contact Ellie Williams if you are available as a sub.
Your Feedback, Please
The Sunday Gathering Team recently began developing a larger pool of guest teachers. Thanks to your many suggestions, we’re inviting some of them to teach in the next couple of months, so you’ll be seeing a lot of new faces. We’d love your feedback on these guest teachers—as well as the musician(s) and the overall Gathering experience. Please either talk to a member of the Sunday Gathering Team, or use this online form to share your feedback. There will also be forms located at the back of the Gathering room, and boxes in which you can put your feedback. You can be anonymous or sign your name. Thanks for your help!
Sunday Gathering Team: Leslie Newman (Chair), Beth Buelow, Valerie Engeltjes, Marianne Fischer, Chrys Moelter-Gray, Jean Regester, Chuck Tawney, Rod Van Abbema, Cindy Van Ittersum, and Ellie Williams
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.
Week3@C3 for February
Our project for February is 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 11 and 18.
Note: Cans that don’t need a can opener are especially helpful.
C3 Co-Sponsors Peace March Tomorrow
Stand for Peace Michigan, Holland UCC, and C3 are co-sponsoring a Peace March along River Avenue at Centennial Park in Holland on Saturday, February 10, from 11 a.m. to noon. Bring a homemade sign (or use one from our collection) calling for peace and join us as we walk along River Avenue in front of the park. Will you add your voice and your presence? In addition to supporting the cessation of conflict, we can make connections with fellow peace activists in Holland. Contact Chrys Moelter-Gray with any questions.
Upcoming Outreach Events
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
🆕 May 11: Parks Clean-up Blitz (in Spring Lake)
Also note:
🆕 June 8: Grand Haven Pride Festival (C3 is a co-sponsor)
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.
🆕 Thanks for Your Generosity
Thank you to everyone who donated–money, time, talent. We’ll be giving the family of Life Church’s Pastor Tim the collection this weekend. In the end we will have a donation of over $2500 plus your offers of furniture, and handmade items. Thanks for coming together for this family and for showing your love for the world, wherever it’s needed.
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.
🆕 Sunday Dinner Group
Let’s head to Ted’s this week! Sign up on the sheet at the Membership table if you plan join the group on Sunday evening at 5:30.
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 at 6 p.m. 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!
Use your IRA and/or Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to support C3
Would you like to save money on your taxes and support C3 at the same time? You can use money in your IRA to contribute directly to a charitable organization like C3, without it being considered a taxable distribution. The same applies if you are required to take an RMD. Be certain to consult with your tax advisor or financial representative as it is important to understand the process and follow the appropriate guidelines.
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.
Momentum Center
- Free Dinner and Movie Night
February’s movie, Rustin, about civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, will be shown today, Friday, February 9. Dinner is at 5 p.m.; the movie starts at 6 p.m. Pot luck items are not necessary, but are welcome. - 🆕 Civil Rights Road Trip
There are still some seats open on the Civil Rights Road Trip in April. This is the trip that several C3-ers participated in two years ago and found to be a life-changing experience. Registration is due by March 1.
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.
🆕 Two More Ottawa County Citizens’ Groups
- ONTRAC is a community-driven organization that aims to ensure responsible and ethical governance in Ottawa County, particularly in the North Ottawa Tri-Cities area. It focuses residents in District 10.
- Organize District 9 has recently formed for residents of District 9 of Ottawa County. For more information, send an email to be added to the mailing list, or contact Julia Davey or Mark Smith, who are both on the steering committee.
Saturday, February 10
11 a.m. Peace March (River Avenue at 10th Street, Holland)
Sunday, February 11
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 Patti Bladus
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
• Guest Teacher: Dr. Sarah Kornfield
• Musician: Grace Theisen
• Meditation: Mary Ackerson
11 a.m. Talk Back
Tuesday, February 13
7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (Room B, St. John’s Episcopal Church, GH)
Wednesday, February 14
6:30 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting (C3 Office, 1447 Washington Ave., GH)
Sunday, February 18
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 Charity McMaster
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
• Guest Teacher: Barry Johnson
• Musician: Morgan Haner
• Meditation: Cindy Anderson
11 a.m. Talk Back
Barry Johnson was raised in a small town in Northern Wisconsin. He attended Union Theological Seminary, lived and worked in East Harlem on civil rights issues and was office manager of Clergy and Laity Concerned about Vietnam. He is Founding Partner, Chairman & Creator of The Polarity® Map and Principles. He is an avid outdoorsman and intrepid traveler.
Morgan Haner is an American singer-songwriter, a transplant from southern Illinois who became an adopted Michigander by way of Chicago. He draws his inspiration from the wide range of the North American musical canon, with elements of the Carter Family, Jimmy Reed, Dylan, The Band, Joni Mitchell, and Big Walter Horton, all in more-or-less equal measure. His songs don’t match the genre of “americana” so much as the genre matches him, sometimes like a poorly-tailored suit: it doesn’t quite fit, but looks good nonetheless.
Drop Us Some Stars
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🆕 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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