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?”
Ruth Zwald (she/her), one of our Core Teachers, will be with us this Sunday to ask How Can We Find Our Sense of a Beloved World?
We are delighted that the duo Frances Luke Accord (Nicholas Gunty and Brian Powers) will play at the Gathering on Sunday. They are performing at a candlelight concert at The Bookman on Saturday evening as well.
Nelleke Knarr will have a meditation prepared for us.
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.
- Missed an email? Revisit or catch up on our website > Updates
- Need Event Information? Our website has a full event calendar > Calendar
- 🆕 Last Sunday’s Teaching here
- 🆕 Ginny Mikita mentioned the books Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home by Rupert Sheldrake and Animal Liberation:The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement by Peter Singer during her teaching last week.
🆕 Save the date!
Join us on April 28 for a Talk Back Takeover where Executive Director Shannon McMaster will lead us through a visioning exercise to kick off our community Strategic Planning process! Look for additional information in the coming weeks.
🆕 News from the BOT
Progress continues on the Lead Teacher search with the formation of a hiring committee, and an announcement will be forthcoming soon. The Board wishes to extend a huge thank you to everyone who is contributing to the search process!
The BOT meets monthly on the third Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the C3 office, located in the Third Coast Recording building at 1447 Washington Avenue, Grand Haven. C3 members are welcome to attend these meetings.
An Ask from the C3 Kids, in Their Own Words
The C3 kids are collecting gently used blankets for animals that need a home and are living at the shelter! We will be collecting these at a table after the Gathering for the next two weeks. Please consider donating and thank you very much for listening!
🆕 Springtime Dine with Nine
Let’s try for a spring theme for the next Dine with Nine on Saturday, May 11, at 6:00 p.m. Sign up any Sunday between now and April 21 at the Membership Table. This event connects adults regardless of age or relationship status, bringing together widows, singles, couples, partners, and divorcees at the host’s home to share food, fun, and conversation. Coordinators of the event are Joyce Cawthon, Kathy Smith, and Mary Ackerson. Contact: Joyce with questions.
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.
🆕 Justin Kleaveland will be 100 on April 11. Let’s help him celebrate this 100-year milestone! Cards can be sent to 1634 Sunset Drive, North Muskegon, MI 49445.
John Leitner‘s brother David W. Leitner, MD died on February 2, after suffering from dementia. David and his wife Linda lived for many years in Burlington, VT, where he was a surgeon-instructor at the University of Vermont Medical School. John and Cindy live at 14466 Angelus Circle, Grand Haven, MI 49417.
Vigil for Peace and Justice Resumes
The Vigil for Peace and Justice resumes its weekly Stand for Peace activity on Saturday, April 6 from noon to 1 p.m. along Washington Avenue at Central Park in Grand Haven. Let’s hope the weather cooperates. Everyone is welcome to join the hour of quiet contemplation and sign holding—we have lots of signs, or make your own. If you’re uncomfortable standing for an hour, please bring a chair and sit! If you can’t stay for an hour, stay for as long as you can.
🆕 Get ready for the Vigil for Peace and Justice
The Vigil for Peace and Justice resumes its weekly Stand for Peace activity on Saturday, April 6 from noon to 1 p.m. along Washington Avenue at Central Park in Grand Haven. Let’s hope the weather continues to be cooperative! Everyone is welcome to join the hour of quiet contemplation and sign holding—we have lots of signs, or make your own. If you’re uncomfortable standing for an hour, please bring a chair and sit! If you can’t stay for an hour, stay for as long as you can.
Focus on Care for the Earth
- Earth Day Lakeshore Celebration
Get ready to participate in this year’s Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 20, from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at Central Park Place. C3 will once again sponsor a kids’ activity, and we will have an information table to highlight C3 ’s value of Environmental Sustainability. - Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup
Our spring Adopt-A-Highway cleanup is Saturday, April 27. The clean up is from 10 a.m. to noon, and we need lots of volunteers! (If necessary, the rain date is Sunday, April 28, after the Talk Back Takeover). Sign up anytime via email (name and phone number please) or at the Outreach table. More information and safety video here!
🆕 Sunday Dinner Group
Are you looking for good company and a bite to eat? Join us at The Kirby at 5:30 Sunday evening! Sign up at the Membership table before leaving the Gathering.
Women’s Journey
We meet next Monday evening on 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!
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
We meet at 6 p.m. at The Bookman on Tuesday, April 16 to discuss The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan. Newcomers are always welcome!
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, Treasurer
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. This crowd-sourced event, organized by David Dean, and supported by many C3 members’ donations, will be open to the public (first-come, first-served, no advance ticket sales) with any additional donations going to the artists. The duo will bring their delicate folk-musical storytelling to this candlelight concert hosted by The Bookman, which is celebrating 50 years of bringing all varieties of art and culture to the Tri-Cities. Doors open at 7 p.m. Please arrive before 8 p.m.when the event begins as darkness falls and candles glow.
🆕 Grand Haven Area Community Energy Plan Survey
Are you interested in more comfortable and lower-cost housing, solar power, EV charging stations? The Board of Light and Power and the cities of Ferrysburg and Grand Haven, along with Grand Haven Township, are writing their first-ever Community Energy Plan. Tell the area’s elected leaders how you feel about their work for you in their Climate Action Plan by completing the survey linked here. Help them get it right!
Friday Matinee at Loutit Library – Women’s History Month
Stop in for a free matinee showing at 2 p.m.! Feel free to bring snacks and drinks to enjoy during the film. More information and registration (encouraged but not required) at Loutit District Library website. March 21: Belle; March 28: The Marvels
The Science of Polarization: A Workshop
The Unifying Coalition of Ottawa County is sponsoring a workshop to explore the myths of toxic polarization and the neurological and social science behind our divisions. Snacks included! This event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, at Porto Bello in Grand Haven. There is a registration fee. Information here.
🆕 Momentum Center: The Great Disconnect
This documentary explores our age of loneliness and disconnection by visiting North American cities to discover factors that have profound and lasting impacts on the health of the communities in which we live. Is it possible to overcome our modern culture of disconnectedness and rediscover how truly essential we are to one another?
On Friday, April 12, enjoy dinner at 5 p.m. at the Momentum Center (401 N. 7th Street) in Grand Haven, followed by the movie at 6 p.m. Both dinner and the movie are free and open to the public. The movie is rated PG-13.
🆕 Add These Community Events to Your Calendar
Click on the links for more information.
- April 13 & 14: All Walks of Life Pow Wow at GVSU, sponsored by the GVSU Native American Student Association.
- April 20: The Big Shop Support your favorite non-profit organizations by shopping local.
- May 2: Town Hall Meeting: You Have New Voting Rights! sponsored by Organize District 9 and ONTRAC
- May 18: Momentum Center’s Prom with a Purpose. Consider a sponsorship, get your tickets!
Sunday, March 24
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 Char Kole
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
• Core Teacher: Ruth Zwald
• Musicians: Frances Luke Accord
• Meditation: Nelleke Knarr
11 a.m. Talk Back
Monday, March 25
6 p.m. Woman’s Journey (The Bookman, 715 Washington Ave., GH)
Tuesday, March 26
7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (Room B, St. John’s Episcopal Church, GH)
Sunday, March 31
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
• Core Teacher: Beth Buelow
• Musician: Spencer LaJoye
• Meditation: Charity McMaster
11 a.m. Talk Back
Beth Buelow (she/her) has been part of the C3 Community since March 2018 and has loved every minute of it. She’s a business owner; leadership, team, and mentor coach; author, speaker, and mediator, and she has added photographer to the list of ways she wants to be known in the world.
Spencer LaJoye (they/them) is an East Coast singer/songwriter from the Midwest making queer indie folk music for everyone. The 2021 Kerrville Songwriting Competition winner spins crystalline vocals through a loop pedal while strumming an acoustic guitar in charming, banter-heavy performances that keep audiences laughing one moment and weeping the next.
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!
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C3 Membership Directory (login required)
Teaching Podcast “The Stage at C3” Feeds: Apple Podcasts YouTube Music
🆕 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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