Update for Sunday, March 30

Mar 28, 2025 | C3 Updates

This week at C3

Lead Teacher Brad Ruggles returns to round out our series Your Wild and Precious Life: Celebrating the Wisdom of the Feminine. His title is In the Beginning, She.

For centuries, scholars—often shaped by contemporary biases—assumed that male-dominated societies were the natural order of civilization. They dismissed the worship of the Goddess as primitive, reducing ancient depictions of the divine feminine to mere “fertility cults” and portraying early goddess-honoring cultures as chaotic or irrational. But new voices in archaeology and anthropology are telling a different story. Fresh discoveries reveal that for thousands of years, early human societies preferred partnership over domination, revering the divine feminine not just as a giver of life but as a symbol of wisdom, creativity, and balance.

This week, we explore the insights of scholars like Riane Eisler (The Chalice and the Blade) and Merlin Stone (When God Was a Woman) to uncover the forgotten history of partnership-based societies—where feminine values weren’t just honored but foundational to thriving cultures. We’ll challenge the rigid binaries of masculine vs. feminine, examine how dominator systems have shaped our world, and consider how we might move toward a more balanced and just future.

Musician Rebecca Rodriguez of Rabbit Fur makes her first visit, and Bob Kleinheksel’s meditation will add to the morning experience.

📍 Location: Central Park Place, Mackinaw Ballroom, 421 Columbus Ave, Grand Haven)

⏰  Pre-Talk: 9 a.m. | Main Gathering: 10 a.m. | C3 Kids: 10 a.m.–Noon

💬  Talk Back: After the Gathering until Noon

📺  Livestream on our Facebook page 

🆕  Brad Ruggle’s email: BODIES, BODIES, BODIES with Tabitha Blanski

🆕  Last Week’s Teaching and Meditation

C3 News

🆕  News from the Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees continues to explore real estate opportunities. They met on Wednesday, March 26.

Tabitha Blanski’s Film Selected for a Film Festival! 🎬

Tabitha Blanski’s short film Reincarnate (10 minutes) has been selected for the Capital City Film Festival on Saturday, April 5, 3:30 p.m. It’s Tabitha’s first film festival and she would love to see you there (at Impression 5 Expansion, 220 Museum Drive, Lansing, MI 48933). Her short film will play before the documentary True Believer. Tickets are $5 and available at the theater.

    Post-Gathering Announcements 📣 

    If there is something you would like to have announced at the end of the Gathering, please talk with the Gathering Host before the Gathering begins and let them know. They may make the announcement themself or ask you to come forward to do so.

    Have You Read the Strategic Plan?

    You can read the C3 strategic plan here.

    Outreach

    🆕  Vigil for Peace and Justice: Saturday, April 5

    Our weekly vigils next Saturday, April 5, from noon to 1 p.m. along Washington Avenue at Central Park in Grand Haven. We would love to see people lining the avenue with signs supporting C3’s values and standing up for the rights, freedoms, and dignity of all people. We have many signs you can use, or make your own! No marching or shouting involved, just a quiet demonstration of caring for humanity and the planet. Contact Chrys with questions (email).

    🆕  Day Coaches Needed at Edgewood Elementary 

    Coalition for Community Development is looking for Day Coaches for students at Edgewood Elementary School (K – 2) in Muskegon Heights. This would involve half-hour sessions with students three to four times a month. No special teacher or counselor skills are needed, just a Michigan background check and an orientation session. See more here. The gardening season will be starting soon and you can help out there, also!

    Adopt-A-Highway

    Join us for our spring Adopt-A-Highway cleanup on Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to noon—a great way to celebrate Earth Day week by keeping West Michigan roadways clean! If needed, the rain date is Sunday, April 13, after Talk Back. Sign up anytime via email  (include your name and phone number) or at the Outreach table. [More information and safety video here.]

    Charter for Compassion

    🆕  Week 3@C3 in April — Specific Special Request

    Every Woman’s Place (EWP), a residential facility for women and children in Muskegon, helps victims of domestic and sexual violence. By special request EWP is asking for the following items – needs which are overlooked by donors. 

      • Large bras: Band size 38, 40, 42. Cup size C, D, and DD.
      • Twin size bed bug protectors. Labels must include the following or similar words: 6-sided, zippered, bed bug protector. Typical prices for these can run from $25 or $30 to $50+. 

    Place donations of the actual items at the Week 3@C3 table. Gifts by cash, check or credit card, specifying “For Every Woman’s Place,” are also welcome. See Chase for credit card donations. We will shop for you with the monetary donations received. Giving Sundays are April 6, 13, and 20.

    Care and Concern

    Caring for our C3 community is a shared responsibility. Community Care encourages members to support one another with notes, calls, visits, meals, and transportation.To share life events, illnesses, or hardships—or to request help—contact Cheryl Van Abbema by email or phone.

      • Jean King was admitted to Medi-Lodge in Holland last week.
      • Carolyn Taylor had a preventative double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction on Thursday, March 13. She is resting and recuperating at home.

    Groups

      • 🆕  Sunday Night Supper gathers this Sunday at The Kirby in Grand Haven at 5:30 p.m. Please sign up at the Welcome Table if you intend to come. Jean Regester will be making the reservation.
      • C3 Men’s Group meets on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Choir Room at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Call Phil Koster with questions.
      • C3 Book Club and Friends meets again on Tuesday, April 15, 6 p.m. at The Bookman to discuss At Home by Bill Bryson.
      • Mindful Living Group is Wednesday, April 16, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Program Room A at Loutit District Library. Come share this contemplative practice every third Wednesday of the month. Questions? See or email Kerry FitzGerald
      • 🆕  Women’s Journey meets again on Monday, April 21, 6:30 p.m. at The Bookman.

    Values in Action

    🆕  Housing Needed for Family of Five

    We received this message from Sierra Schutz, who works with Ottawa Food. She has attended C3 and is a friend of Brad.

    Do you know anyone that would house a Spanish-speaking family of three kids and 2 adults? They will become homeless on April 8, and can’t find work because of their immigration status. They are currently in Zeeland without any transportation, food, or diapers. I’m working on the food stuff but I’m wondering if you have any housing contacts? They were trying to go stay at the mission, but the mission will kick them out after 15 days if they do not have a job. But they are unable to work because their immigration status is pending. 

    Contact Sierra if you can help out.

    Community Events for Your Consideration 

    Click on the links for more information.

    Connections ✋

    Make new friends, meet interesting people, tell them about C3! Check out all kinds of activities in the area at the Grand Haven Area Events Calendar, Calendar of Events for All Ages | Loutit District Library, and Spring Lake District Library Calendar.

    Calendar

    Sunday, March 30

    9 a.m. Pre-Talk

    10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Ryan Cotton

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

      • Lead Teacher: Brad Ruggles
      • Music: Rebecca Rodriguez of Rabbit Fur
      • Meditation: Bob Kleinheksel

    11 a.m. Talk Back

     

    Tuesday, April 1

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

     

    Saturday, April 5

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

     

    Sunday, April 6

    9 a.m. Pre-Talk

    10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Char Kole

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

      • Lead Teacher: Brad Ruggles
      • Music: Grace Theisen
      • Meditation: Rod Van Abbema

    11 a.m. Talk Back

    Brad Ruggles (he/him) joined C3 as Lead Teacher in May 2024. He is a former pastor that deconstructed and later left the faith he was raised in after 18 years in ministry. He and his wife Lisa enjoy adventuring and traveling with their two adult daughters. Brad’s interests are diverse and include backpacking, meditation, breathwork, yoga, sport kiting, photography, and cold plunging.

    Grace Theisen (she/her) is a queer Americana artist originally from Kalamazoo. After graduating from Hope College in 2014 with a double major in Gender Studies and Psychology, Grace moved to Nashville from 2015 to 2018 to run her nonprofit, Songs Against Slavery. She returned to Kalamazoo in 2019 and has been influential in the Michigan music scene. She is one-third of the band The Rebel Eves.

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