Update for November 24, 2024

Nov 23, 2024 | C3 Updates

This Sunday at C3

Our ongoing series What the World Needs Now will be addressed by Professor of Political Science at Ferris State University David Takitaki, as he visits C3 for the first time. His contribution to the series is Capacity.

Capacity can be defined in three ways: as what we can carry, what we can do, and what we choose to be. Understanding our capacities, working to expand them, and helping to develop them in others is what the world needs now.

We welcome returning guest musician Matt Gabriel after an interlude of about a year. Charlotte Rozich will share a meditation.

We meet at Central Park Place (Mackinaw Ballroom, 421 Columbus Avenue, Grand Haven, MI 49417). Pre-Talk begins at 9 a.m. The main Gathering kicks 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

🆕  News from the Board of Trustees

At their November 20 meeting, the Board authorized Andy Cawthon, Treasurer, to put the recently received bequest into four short-term CDs at the best rate available and sequester the money until it’s needed, most likely for upcoming relocation/real estate needs. In addition, the community will receive verbal quarterly updates from the Treasurer on C3’s overall financial position. The search for a new location continues, with expanding our presence at 1447 Washington (current site of C3’s offices) being one option under consideration. The community will be updated as new information becomes available. We appreciate your input; please contact Shannon McMaster if you have ideas or leads for potential long-term gathering locations in the Tri-Cities area.

🆕  Early Deadline for News Next Week ✍️

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday next week, news items for both C3 Matters (bulletin) and C3 Update (e-newsletter) must be submitted by Tuesday afternoon, November 26.

Ushers Needed

Our volunteer-led community needs a few more ushers! Requirements: capacity to smile, say hello and hand a bulletin to folks as they come to Gathering. Reward: seeing lots of smiles and hearing lots of friendly hellos once every five weeks! Talk to Rod Van Abbema or email him.

Charter for Compassion

Thank You Notes ✍️

    • Thank you from the elementary teachers at Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System for generously supplying them with instructional materials that they specifically stated they needed. We gave them boxes and bags of pencils, erasers, magic markers, paper, notebooks, crayons, folders, tissues, aerosol cleaners and sanitizing wipes.
    • Thanks to all who generously contributed to the Food for Gaza cause. Total collected was $1900.

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, or Mike and Charlotte Rozich: email.

      • Connie Farell Memorial
        Central Park Place Mackinaw Ballroom

        Sunday, December 8, 2024

        1 to 4 p.m. (tentative time)

        A long time neighbor Jerry Scott and some close friends of Connie want to honor her memory as a valued member of the larger Grand Haven community. They are partnering with a number of others that have been inspired by Connie’s life, and included C3 in this group. They have decided to have a Chili Bar the Sunday after the Jingle Bell Parade, as these were two of Connie’s favorite things to do each winter! Please sign up if you plan to attend, as a head count will be needed to facilitate set-up. There will be a sheet at the Membership Table.

      Outreach

      Last Vigil for Peace and Justice for 2024 ✌️

      Our final Vigil for Peace and Justice in 2024 will be tomorrow from noon to 1 p.m. along Washington Avenue at Central Park. Last week ten stalwart peaceniks stood to remind people that love and peace are healthy for the planet and its inhabitants. We are grateful for all those who have participated in this community expression of C3’s concern for social justice. The Vigil will resume in April 2025. 🗓️

      Next-to-last vigil for 2024: 10 people! Char Zoet, Patti Baldus, Tom Sobel, Betty Porter, Leslie Newman, Ellie Williams, Yvonne Olmsted, Nancy Owens, Cheryl & Rod Van Abbema, Sarah Jacobs. Photo by Chrys Moelter-Gray.

      🆕  Bell Ringers Needed 

      It is time to ring the bell for the 2024 Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign, which supports all the programs of the local Salvation Army: housing for six families, a food pantry, Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance, utility assistance, and Pathway of Hope programs. C3ers who participated in the past felt positive about the experience. People were grateful to have us there, providing the opportunity for them to contribute to a familiar holiday act of giving.

      We will be at Leppink’s (Ferrysburg) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, December 11 and 12, for one-hour shifts. It works best to have only one or two at the kettle for each shift. Sign up after Gathering the next two Sundays with Betty Porter, at the Outreach table, or email Betty.

      Groups

        • Sunday Dinner Group Sign up at the Membership table to join the group at 5:30 p.m. at Ted’s in Spring Lake.
        • Women’s Journey We meet this coming Monday, November 25, 6:30 p.m. at The Bookman Please bring scissors and colorful magazines or catalogs to upcycle as we learn to make paper beads.
        • C3 Men’s Group This men’s conversation group meets each Tuesday 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 At 6 p.m. on December 17, Book Club will meet at the C3 office complex at 1447 Washington (next to Norm’s ice Cream) for our holiday party. We’re asking everyone to bring a wrapped used book, a nibble to share, and your own drink. If appropriate, please label your nibble as dairy- or fish-free. The book for January 21 is The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.

        Meetings at The Bookman now offer the added benefit of a lap warmer named Lulu, seen here doing her job for Kathy Tosa at the last meeting.

        Finance

        We deeply value your continued support of C3. 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

        Tri-Cities Women Who Care

        C3 Women, are you aware of this amazing organization? Founded by Cindy Anderson in 2010, this group has donated more than 1.7 million dollars to local non-profits. It involves four hour-long meetings and four checks for $100 each per year—that’s it! If you want to make a difference, but don’t have time or the energy to devote to local non-profits, Tri-Cities Women Who Care might be great fit for you! Check it out at the link above.

        🆕  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.

        Community Events for Your Consideration 

        Click on the links for more information.

        Calendar

        Saturday, November 23 (last time until April)

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

         

        Sunday, November 24

        9 a.m. Pre-Talk

        10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Sally Alderink

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

          • Guest Teacher: David Takitaki
          • Music: Matt Gabriel
          • Meditation: Charlotte Rozich

        11 a.m. Talk Back

         

        Monday, November 25

        6:30 p.m. Woman’s Journey (The Bookman, GH)

         

        Tuesday, November 26

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

         

        Thursday, November 28  Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

         

        Sunday, December 1

        9 a.m. Pre-Talk

        10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Renee Borton

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

          • Lead Teacher: Brad Ruggles
          • Music: Sammy Hershock
          • Meditation: Beth Buelow

        11 a.m. Talk Back

        June 11 Banner

        Brad Ruggles (he/him) joined C3 as Lead Teacher in May of this year. 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, and photography.

        Sammy Hershock (she/her) almost became a cloistered Catholic nun at the age of 18. Now she travels around Michigan singing songs about not knowing the answers. She weaves her humor and playfulness into the depth of the human existence, so audience members sometimes laugh and cry simultaneously. She is an award-winning Michigan-based songwriter, classically-trained pianist, mother of three incredible children, who majored in sacred music with an emphasis on the pipe organ. You won’t currently find her behind an organ at a church, but you may find little pieces of that influence throughout her original folk music.

        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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