Update for August 11, 2024

Aug 9, 2024 | C3 Updates

This Sunday at C3

C3 Lead Teacher Brad Ruggles’ teaching topic for this week sounds a bit confrontational: You Can’t Handle the Truth: Why the “Fake-It” Culture Is Failing Us. Fake it ‘til you make it—that is, deceptively claiming to be something or someone that you’re not—has become an accepted practice in our culture. It’s one of Silicon Valley’s most prized maxims. But is that a healthy way to live? This week in our Unfolding series, we’ll explore the pitfalls of living a life built on pretense and the profound impact it has on our mental health, relationships, and society at large. 

For the third summer in a row, modern troubadours Genna and Jesse pay a visit to our Gathering, after completing a summer tour in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, followed by US shows in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Michigan. We look forward to Charity McMasters’ meditation.

We meet at Central Park Place (Mackinaw Ballroom, 421 Columbus Avenue, Grand Haven, MI 49417). Pre-Talk begins at 9:00 a.m. with the main gathering kicking off at 10 a.m. C3 Kids meet from 10 a.m. to noon. Stick around after the gathering to discuss the morning’s talk in Talk Back, which runs until noon. Gathering livestream here. 

C3 News

Sunday Gathering Room Layout 🪑

Over the next few weeks we’ll be trying out some different room layouts in an attempt to make the room more comfortable and functional for us while we’re at Central Park Place. In addition to setting up the stage on the north side of the room, we’ll also be moving Pre-Talk to the room where Talk Back occurs. If you have any feedback about the changes, email Brad and let him know.

Help Needed for Set-up and Tear Down

With the change to setup services offered by the city, we have begun doing our own setup on Sunday morning. Let Rod Van Abbema know if you can help out for any of the next several Sundays. We plan to organize rotating setup teams as we move ahead.

Can you take One Small Step? 👣

In collaboration with WGVU and StoryCorps, we invite you to meet someone new—someone with different political beliefs from you, who you might never talk to otherwise—for a meaningful 50-minute conversation. These conversations will be preserved for future generations at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.   

One Small Step is an effort to remind the country of the humanity in all of us, even those with whom we disagree. The initiative brings strangers with different political beliefs together for a conversation—not to debate politics—but to get to know each other as people. WGVU is one of just seven stations selected nationally to host One Small Step in 2024. 

C3 is promoting One Small Step along with WGVU in an effort to bring communities together, one conversation at a time.

One Small Step is based on contact theory, which states that a meaningful interaction between people with opposing views can help turn “thems” into “us-es.” Its scientific and systematic approach is supported by a group of advisors that include scientists, researchers, and psychologists. Since its launch in 2021, nearly 5,000 people across 40 states have participated in a One Small Step conversation.

Learn More  //  Apply to be Matched

Charter for Compassion

School Supplies for Muskegon Heights Elementary Schools

Our Week 3@C3 project for August entails collecting the teacher-requested items listed below for Edgewood Elementary (Pre-K – Grade 2) and Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary (Grades 3-5).

• Copy paper: White 20 lb. (many reams)

• Business envelopes: #10, no windows

• One ream each red and green copy paper (Christmas colors)

• Pencils: #2 Ticonderoga or other quality brand

• Lined paper: 8-1/2 x 11, wide-ruled

• Glue sticks

• Crayons: 24-count boxes

• Folders with pockets (many)

• Play dough: 3- or 4-oz. containers (many)

• Primary composition books: Staples #2072492 (9-3/4x 7-1/2) – two 12-packs

• Band-aids: boxes of assorted sizes

• Sanitizers wipes and sprays

• Note: No felt-tip markers are needed

These items will be collected on August 11 and 18.

 

🆕 Thank You!

We received a thank you from the Friends of Muskegon Heights Public Library for the donation of equipped backpacks for summer reading program students. Through the combined effort of Week 3@ C3 and Muskegon area organizations, the Friends were able to distribute 120 backpacks, 40 supplied by Week 3@C3. 

Outreach

Vigil for Peace and Justice Tomorrow ✌️

The Vigil for Peace and Justice continues to be a quiet presence for peace in our community, each Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. along Washington Avenue at Central Park. You are always welcome to join us.

🆕  Read the Gaining Momentum newsletter for August here.

Care and Concern

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, 616-402-3108, or Mike and Charlotte Rozich: email, 517-918-5464.

    • Connie Farell has just moved to a new living situation, at Harbor Homes Assisted Living & Memory Care in Norton Shores near Muskegon Trinity Hospital. Her new mailing address will be available soon.
    • Betty Porter and her medical team continue to work on determining the cause of ongoing high blood pressure issues, as she recuperates from surgery at home. Cards may be sent to 17499 Meadowwood Drive, Spring Lake, MI 49456. 
    • Former Christ Community Church member Howard J. Van Till died recently. He was a well-known professor (Calvin College), scientist, and writer. His obituary can be read here.

    Groups

    • Sunday Dinner Group at the Park For the summer, the Sunday Dinner Group will meet at William Ferry Park in Ferrysburg at 5:30 p.m. Bring your own picnic items, or stop and pick up some take-out food on the way! No need to sign up—just come!
    • C3 Book Club and Friends generally meet on the third Tuesday of the month, so we will gather on Tuesday, August 20, 6:30 p.m. on Joyce’s porch, to discuss The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. September 24: Bicycling with Butterflies by Sara Dykman
    • C3 Men’s Group provides a valuable time for men to meet and talk with each other. Feel free to join them on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Room B, in Grand Haven. Questions? Call Phil Koster.
    • Women’s Journey is on pause for July and August. 🆕 Our next meeting will be on Monday, September 23, 6:30 p.m. at The Bookman.

    Finance

    Your ongoing support of C3 is greatly appreciated. Online donations can be made here. Automatic donations can be set up by contacting Carol Takas, 616-613-3222, 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.

    Values in Action

    Community Events for Your Consideration 

    Click on the links for more information.

    * C3 member Julie Bratton is co-author and a performer in this children’s mini-musical, an original adaptation of Tolstoy’s short story. There’s music, audience participation, and it’s just 45 minutes long! Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at the link in the calendar listing above.

    John Leitner’s Arthritis Foundation Bike Ride

    John Leitner is doing a bicycle ride around Lake Michigan to help raise money for the Arthritis Foundation. See details and support information here.

    🆕  Stay Informed about Ottawa County Commission News

    If you care about what is happening at the Ottawa County Commission but don’t have time to read all the news, Organize Ottawa sends a great summary of what happens at meetings and more. Just click here to sign up. You can also click on Ottawa Notes to see past newsletters.

    Calendar

    Saturday, August 10

    12 p.m.  Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)

    Sunday, August 11

    9 a.m. Pre-Talk

    10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Eleanor Hills

    10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook

    • Lead Teacher: Brad Ruggles
    • Music: Genna & Jesse
    • Meditation: Charity McMaster

    11 a.m. Talk Back

    Tuesday, August 13

    7 p.m.  C3 Men’s Group (Room B, St. John’s Episcopal Church, GH)

    Saturday, August 17

    12 p.m.  Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)

    Sunday, August 18

    9 a.m. Pre-Talk

    10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Patti Baldus

    10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook

    • Lead Teacher: Mimi Bush
    • Music: Josh Rose
    • Meditation: Wayne Johnson

    11 a.m. Talk Back

    June 11 Banner

    Rev. Miriam (Mimi) Bush is semi-retired, but continues to offer Spiritual Direction and leads various opportunities to pay attention to one’s life journey. She has been in ministry for 39 years serving as pastor, spiritual care coordinator at LifeCircles, and retreat leader. She has three grown children, three grandchildren, lives in the woods, and kayaks as often as possible.

    Josh Rose, teacher and song craftsman, has spent the past ten years touring the Midwest, teaching, writing, and creating a rich body of work. He is the type of writer who labors over every word and wants his song to be injected into the listener’s permanent being. His works are plucked from the air, like lightning bugs destined for an old Mason jar, polished like the ancient stones in the Flat River.

    Additional Resources

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    Contact

     

    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
    Weekday office hours by appointment.

    Shannon McMaster, Executive Director
    smcmaster [at] c3westmichigan [dot] org

    Brad Ruggles, Lead Teacher
    brad [at] c3westmichigan [dot] org

    Automatic donations are handled by Carol Takas, 616-613-3222, at Selby Accounting. Please direct any questions to Andy Cawthon. 

    Board of Trustees

     

    Newsletter Submissions and Editor: Chrysteen Moelter-Gray News items to be included in the C3 Update should be submitted by Wednesday morning. 

    Newsletter Designer: Annie Wassmann

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