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?”
Matthew Laidlaw was originally scheduled to be with us on January 14, but due to the snowstorm that Gathering was cancelled. We’re so glad he was able to reschedule to be with us this week! We Have Questions, and he poses this one: Is It Cake?
Ed Dupas joins us for his second time as musician, so we look forward to some “well worn wide awake music.”
This week’s meditation comes from one of our long-time favorite C3 people, Bob Kleinheksel.
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.
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!
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!
Message from Tim at Life Church
This message was sent to C3 through our website:
“Hi there, I wasn’t sure who to direct this to. This is Tim, the pastor over at Life Church, I just wanted to express our family’s gratitude of your generosity towards us in regards to the gift C3 provided. We really appreciate the gifts, and the offers, and the support that you have provided. We love you all 🙂
🆕 Noah Project is March’s Week 3@C3 Recipient
Noah Project (231-865-1264) is a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter at 5205 Airline Highway, Muskegon, MI 49444. They are excited that we chose them as recipients, so let’s show them what we can do! They request the following items:
- Purina One +Plus Healthy Kitten Formula dry food
- Purina Pro Plan for dogs
- nylon dog bones
- cat scratch pads
- cat toys, dog toys
- cat litter
- dishwasher soap
- laundry detergent
- dryer sheets
- bleach and cleaning products
- paper towels
Printable list here.
Items can be brought to the Week 3@C3 table on March 3, 10, or 17.
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.
🆕 Cindy Anderson’s sister Pam Fitzgerald died on February 26 in Phoenix, after spending time in hospice care, and having suffered a recent stroke. There will be a service in April. Cards may be sent to Cindy at 15016 Stickney Ridge Road, Grand Haven, MI 49417.
Don Anderson is recovering from back surgery. Get well wishes can be sent to him at 15016 Stickney Ridge Road, Grand Haven, MI 49417.
Good news! Jean Regester should be back home today! Welcome back to the area, Jean! (17541 Park Place Circle, Spring Lake, MI 49456)
🆕 Jane Richardson had emergency gall bladder surgery last week and is recovering at home, with help from a good neighbor. Cards can be sent to her at 300 1st Avenue, Fruitport, MI 49415.
🆕 Visit and Request from an Old Friend
A few years ago, a visitor named Felipe attended C3 with member Keith Laidler, who has since died. Felipe has lived in the US for about 30 years, mostly in the Holland area. As a group, C3 opened their hearts and wallets and helped Felipe get the son of his wife released from immigration detention near the Mexican border.
On Sunday, Nancy Owens will update us on this family’s situation. Felipe will also be there to visit and answer questions. Direct donations to Felipe will be accepted at that time and for the next few weeks, as Felipe works with an attorney to resolve one final issue. Perhaps C3 can once again help this brave family feel more secure as they go about their lives in the USA and feel that all are welcome in Ottawa County!
🆕 Sunday Dinner Group
We will return to the Kirby Sunday evening at 5:30. Sign up on the sheet at the Membership table before you leave the Gathering.
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
Discussion of Bee Season: A Novel by Myla Goldberg takes place on Tuesday, March 19, 6 p.m. at The Bookman.
April 16: The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan
🆕 Women’s Journey
18 friends met last Monday, including several newbies! We will meet again on Monday, March 25, 6:30 p.m. at The Bookman to discuss poetry. Bring a favorite or original one-page poem and please keep thinking about the content for upcoming meetings, so we can plan ahead!
Thank You! Your support matters and is greatly appreciated!
It takes a lot of time, energy, and money to produce all the great things that happen at C3. Whether it is our Sunday Gatherings or working within our West Michigan communities, we strive to make a difference, with compassion. Your financial support allows us to continue to learn, teach and live our values to heal and effect change.
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.
🆕 Frances Luke Accord—Candlelight Concert
On Saturday, March 23, The Bookman hosts a one-time experience featuring national touring musical artists, Frances Luke Accord (who played at C3 in 2019, and will play there again on March 24). This crowd-sourced event, organized by David Dean, will be open to the public (first-come, first-served, no advance ticket sales) with any additional donations going to the artists. Frances Luke Accord, who NPR has defined as “the definition of lean-in music,” will bring their delicate contemporary folk musical storytelling to this candlelight concert event hosted in one of Grand Haven’s historical artistic venues, The Bookman, which is celebrating 50 years of bringing all varieties of art and culture to the Tri-Cities.
A candlelight concert is a unique musical performance played in the light of dozens of candles, designed to make the experience feel intimate, that you will want to be a part of. Doors open at 7 p.m. Please arrive before 8 p.m. so the event can begin when darkness falls and candles glow. This will be a listening-room type experience.
Information about Ottawa County Leadership
If you are concerned about the current quality of leadership in Ottawa County, here are some groups you can learn from and get involved with:
- Organize Ottawa—this is where the action is right now if you want to get involved. Groups are organizing in each district to elect responsible leadership to the County Commission in the next election. You can find it on Facebook or send an email to to get involved.
- Organize District 9, a non-partisan group, 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.
- 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.
Sunday, March 3
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 Sally Alderink
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
• Guest Teacher: Matthew Laidlaw
• Musician: Ed Dupas
• Meditation: Bob Kleinheksel
11 a.m. Talk Back
Tuesday, March 5
7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (Room B, St. John’s Episcopal Church, GH)
Sunday, March 10 Daylight Saving Time starts—clocks forward one hour!
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 Baldus
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
• Guest Teacher: Marlin Vis
• Musician: Sam Robbins
• Meditation: Wayne Johnson
11 a.m. Talk Back
Marlin Vis is a retired Reformed Church in America minister, who has been a teacher, coach, salesman, pastor, campus minister (GVSU), Mission Person (Israel/Palestine), a beggar, but not a thief. He is Executive Director of Still Processing, and kitchen manager/cook for a program providing a hot meal for folks on the street or with food insufficiencies. He has been married to Sally for a long time. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Sam Robbins (he/him) is often described as an “old soul singer songwriter.” A Nashville-based musician whose music evokes classic singer songwriters like James Taylor and Jackson Browne, Sam adds a modern, upbeat edge to the storyteller troubadour persona. He has gained recognition from extensive touring as one of the six 2021 winners of the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk competition, and as the first to sing a Jim Croce song on The Voice. Sam released his second album “Bigger Than in Between” to critical acclaim on August 5th, 2022.
Drop Us Some Stars
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)
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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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