Update for December 15, 2024

Dec 13, 2024 | C3 Updates

Welcome to

Membership Table

Lead Teacher Brad Ruggles introduces a new series with his teaching Hello Darkness, My Old Friend.

As we move closer to the Winter Solstice and the longest night of the year, we begin a new series called The Wisdom of Winter: Finding Stillness, Strength, and Renewal in Life’s Dark Seasons. This week, we explore how we can shift our attention and embrace stillness to find peace and renewal. We’ll draw inspiration from cultures like Norway where people live in rhythm with nature and adapt to the months-long darkness by slowing down, resting more, and honoring the seasonal change. By embracing the shadows in our own lives, we discover that we hold an inner light that helps us grow and support others. Together, we’ll discover practices to help us better navigate our dark seasons with hope, reminding us that even in the depths of winter, renewal is possible.

Wow! It’s a second visit this year from musicians Genna & Jesse! Usually they just visit us in the summer, but this Sunday we’ll have the pleasure of hearing from them again. Nelleke Knarr will prepare and share a meditation with us.

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.

🆕 Brad’s email about the Wisdom of Winter Series

🆕  Last Week’s Teaching and Meditation

 

C3 News

🆕  Announcements at the Gathering 📣

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.

Submitting Information for the C3 Update  ✍️

Newsletter submissions are normally sent to Chrys Moelter-Gray, but for next week’s newsletter on December 20, please send all announcements to Annie Wassmann instead.

Welcome Hosts Needed!

You’ve noticed the folks who say hello and hold the door for you when you arrive, right? They belong to a team of Hosts who serve once every five weeks. Some teams are well-staffed, but we could use some reinforcements for teams that are short-staffed, or have members who spend the winter elsewhere. If you think this is a way you could lend a hand at C3, contact coordinator Ellie Williams.

Honor and Memorial Giving 

A donation was made in memory of Connie Farell by Deb Sikanas and Russell Radford.

Charter for Compassion

December Week 3@C3: 3rd Annual Greeting Card Blizzard

This marks the third year for our Greeting Card Blizzard for residents of Riverside Nursing & Rehab, Medilodge at the Shore, North Ottawa Care Center and Christian Haven Home. If you who took home a bundle of cards, please make sure to address and sign them, and bring them back to the Week 3@C3 table this Sunday! (Suggested text “To a Friend” on envelopes and ”From a Friend” on cards. Include C3-Spiritual Community and any personal note you may wish to add.) No other address or stamps are necessary. Greetings will be delivered to each site for the appropriate staff person to deliver to residents. The goal is 300 cards. See Char Zoet if you want to suggest an additional care facility as a recipient.

    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

    The Connie Farell Memorial last Sunday was well-attended and appreciated by all who were there. The stories that people shared were priceless. Thanks to those who organized (Teresa Colbry) the event and provided chili or cornbread muffins (Joyce Cawthon). Be sure to read this excellent article about Connie that appeared in the Grand Haven Tribune last week.

    Outreach

    🆕  Humanity for Prisoners Communicator

    Click here to read the December HFP newsletter.

    Groups

      • Sunday Dinner Group If you wish to join the group for supper at Ted’s in Spring Lake at 5:30 p.m., please sign up at the Membership table before you leave the Gathering on Sunday. Char Zoet can be contacted for late reservations.
      • Women’s Journey: December’s meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at The Bookman this coming Monday, December 16. Please bring a wrapped ornament (homemade, hand-me-down, gently used or new) along with a story of a favorite Christmas or holiday and a small nibble to share.
      • C3 Book Club and Friends At 6 p.m. this coming Tuesday, 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.
      • 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.

    Values in Action

    The Choral Scholars (Tabitha Blanski, fourth from right)

    Music Events with C3 Connections

    🆕  Online Film Premiere: Music for Mushrooms  🎶🍄

    As some of you know, I have a deep interest in the therapeutic and transformative potential of psychedelics (Michael Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind is a great introduction to the topic). A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to attend the Ann Arbor premiere of Music for Mushrooms, a stunning film by the artist East Forest, whose work has been a significant part of my own practice. I loved the film and wanted to let you know how to livestream it here. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, and the film will be available for replay through December 22nd. If this subject intrigues you, I highly recommend checking it out. We’ll also be exploring topics like this in future series at C3.  – Brad Ruggles

    🆕  Collecting for Books and Bling Sale 💍📚

    Friends of the Muskegon Heights Library will host Books and Bling on Saturday, January 18. We need costume jewelry that you can part with, and good quality used books. Please bring these items to the Week 3 @ C3 table for the next four Sundays. Many thanks, Leslie Newman and Char Kole.

    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, December 15

          9 a.m. Pre-Talk

          10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Charity McMaster

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

            • Lead Teacher: Brad Ruggles
            • Music: Genna & Jesse
            • Meditation: Nelleke Knarr

          11 a.m. Talk Back

           

          Monday, December 16

          6:30 p.m. Women’s Journey (The Bookman)

           

          Tuesday, December 17

          6 p.m. C3 and Friends Book Club (1447 Washington Avenue, GH)

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

           

          Wednesday, December 18

          6:30 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting (1447 Washington Avenue, GH)

           

          Sunday, December 22

          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

            • Lead Teacher: Brad Ruggles
            • Music: Ruth & Max Bloomquist
            • Meditation: Abby Black

          11 a.m. Talk Back

          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.

          Ruth and Max Bloomquist: Original. Traditional. Passionate. Fun. Rootsy Acoustic Americana Folk. And one of our longest, most favorite musical connections. Ruth’s award winning abilities as a songwriter and singer are accented by Max’s harmony and touch on the upright bass. Ruth’s trademark rich alto is unmistakable, and her songs evoke images and emotions common to us all.

          Thank You!

          We deeply value your continued support of C3. 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.

          Online donations can be made HERE.

          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?”

          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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