Update for February 18, 2024

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?”

Barry Johnson asks What if there is no “Evil Source” for the cruelty we impose on each other? when he joins us this Sunday. Barry is the Founding Partner, Chairman & Creator of The Polarity® Map and Principles. He brings head And heart together in his teaching and consulting. He is also an avid outdoorsman and intrepid traveler.

Morgan Haner appears at C3 for the first time. He thinks of himself as a working-class songsmith who puts you directly into someone else’s shoes. 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. He lives in Kalamazoo.

The meditation comes from Cindy Anderson this week.

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• 🆕  Last Sunday’s Teaching here.

🆕  Good Words about C3 on Facebook

In response to a question posted on Facebook about finding a non-religious group in West Michigan, which Cheryl Van Abbema and several C3 members answered, Rev. Jared Cramer of St. John’s Episcopal commented: “As a Christian priest at St. John’s Episcopal, I would second that C3 Spiritual Community is a fantastic organization that provides excellent community, good conversations, and a chance to make a difference in the world. If you’re looking for a non-religious community in our area, they are the best at it, at least from what I know given the many friends I have who go there.” Thanks, Rev. Cramer!

🆕  News from the Board of Trustees

At their recent meeting, the Board authorized Shannon McMaster to begin a strategic planning process. Invitations to participate in a variety of ways will be extended to the entire community. We look forward to being in active conversation with you about C3’s future!

Substitute Welcoming Hosts Needed

Our Welcoming Hosts work in teams of four or five to greet people at the entrance to Central Park Place and direct any visitors to the Mackinaw Room for the Gathering. C3ers like to travel and sometimes get sick, so often a substitute is needed for one or more of the Welcoming Hosts. Please see or contact Ellie Williams if you are available as a substitute.

Your Feedback, Please

We’d love your feedback on our guest teachers—as well as the musician(s) and the overall Gathering experience. 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! 

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

Thanks to everyone who donated money, time, or talent to the gift we presented to Life Church’s pastor’s family last Sunday. In the end we donated 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 thanks our C3 Community for all the kind words, warm thoughts, and cards she received after the death of her brother, and for the interest expressed in his life. She is glad to be a part of C3 and finds so much comfort in being a member of such an amazing group of people.

🆕  Margaret Willey and Richard Joanisse are moving to Wisconsin on February 29. Their son Jeff Joanisse and his wife Brigid are hosting a good bye party for a farewell toast on Sunday, February 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Armory (17 S. 2nd Street, GH). All are welcome!

 C3-ers Participated in Peace March

Stand for Peace Michigan, Holland UCC, and C3 co-sponsored a Peace March in Holland last Saturday, to call attention to the many places in the world where conflict disrupts and ends lives, especially at this time in Gaza and Israel. C3 was represented by five people: Patti Baldus, John Job, Chrys Moelter-Gray, Betty Porter, and Ellie Williams.

🆕  Volunteer for the Grand Haven Pride Festival

The steering committee is busy organizing the second annual Grand Haven Pride Festival, scheduled for June 8. The website is up and running, and includes a “Get Involved” tab at the top, where you can sign up to volunteer for any number of activities!

🆕  HFP February Newsletter

Click here to read.

Week3@C3 for February

This is the last week to donate to our February project: 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

Note: Cans that don’t need a can opener are especially helpful.

After items are collected on February 18, they will be transported to the Momentum Center. 

🆕  No Sunday Dinner Group Planned This Week

Many of the “regulars” are out of town or unavailable, so there is no planned Sunday Dinner Group this week. If you want to go, and find folks who want to go with you, feel free to organize an evening out!

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. this coming 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!