C3 Teacher Kent Dobson is backs this Sunday and next to continue the series The Great Questions. This week he will discuss The Question of God Part 1 (Million).
Our musical guests will be Thrown-Out Bones, a San Francisco-based band of rediscovery and celebration.Their music is experimental and unique, every song a driving search for the truth of being human, and every fan essential to the collective energy of the experience. With over ten years of playing together, members Liliana Urbain (formerly of Band of Lovers, who played for us a few times), Nick Chang, and Sam Miller have honed a unique, multi-genre musical language that slides from jazz to funk to rock to psychedelic jam breakdowns. The joy they have playing together is infectious and electric.
Gathering Information
Masks are optional at our In-Person Gathering. The decision of whether or not to wear a mask will be up to each individual.
Sundays at the Grand Haven Community Center (421 Columbus Ave., Grand Haven)
9:00 a.m. Pre-Talk: In Person
Meet the morning’s teacher in a small group setting for an open discussion of the morning’s theme.
10:00 a.m. Gathering: In Person + Livestream on Facebook
Welcome, readings, meditation from a community member, teaching, and music
10:00 a.m. C3 Kids: In Person (Woodbine Room)
11:00 a.m. Talk Back: In Person
A chance to share questions, comments, and stories related to the morning gathering.
Lead Teacher Kent Dobson
There is a lot more to discover and learn from Kent Dobson on his website, and by listening to his podcast Hints and Guesses. Kent is leading a program entitled, Exploring the Sacred Masculine, on October 27-30, 2022.
C3 News
🆕 C3 Main Street Banner
We were happy to add our support to “The Main Street Banner Project.” We love our Community! Look for our banner on the corner of First Street and Washington Avenue in Grand Haven, next to Kilwins.
Main Street Banner Project
Semi-Annual Treasurer Report
C3 is sustained by your generosity, and the finance team is grateful for your support and interest in our activities. We’re at a mid-point to the year, which is a great time to bring you up-to-date on C3’s financial health and how we’re looking towards the future.
Project Updates
January-July 2022 Finance Projects accomplished:
It appears that we have at least one strong candidate for our next treasurer. Identifying a new leader has been a high priority for the team as this will be my last year as treasurer.
Thanks to the generosity of Tom Webber, we had a successful fundraising campaign this spring, raising just short of $3,000.
The main work of the Just Cause process has been completed, providing C3 leadership and the community with a guiding statement intended to focus our vision and direction.
Semi-annual statements were emailed to donors in July.
2022 Projects remaining:
Marketing: We are working with each team/committee to develop marketing plans that will increase the visibility of C3 in the community.
Thank you for your donations: As an organization we are VERY APPRECIATIVE of your financial support, and we’re working on ideas to assure a more frequent and consistent message of our gratitude.
Fundraisers: We will need to have at least one, possibly two more fundraisers before year-end. We are looking for someone(s) to lead these; please see me or any other member of the team if you are willing to lead a fundraiser between now and December.
Donations:
Donations are essentially the same when compared to the same period last year.
As a result of the wooden bowl fundraiser and a long-awaited refund from the IRS, our total “income” YTD is about $3,500 more than 2021.
Expenses:
Overall YTD expenses are running about $3,000 less than budgeted and $17,000 more than last year.
Our biggest changes in expenses are related to our once again gathering in person:
Rent up $8,300 (Community Center)
Guest speakers up $900
Subcontract labor (sound, video, set-up, children’s education) up $8,800
We did see a significant decrease in our publicity/marketing expenditure, as last year we spent about $2,500 updating our website, which we did not need to spend this year.
Bottom line: Our expenses for the first half of the year have exceeded our donations/income by almost $14,000. Are we in trouble? NO! Do we have our financial work cut out for us in the second half of the year? YES! As a team, we continue to keep an eye on our expenses and are doing what we can to keep them to a minimum.
Thank You for your continued support of C3 as we work our way back from the pandemic and refocus our attention on ensuring we always have a sustainable financial foundation. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me (treasurer [at] C3exchange [dot] org) or any member of the finance team (Andy Cawthon, Beth Buelow, Kathy Humphrey, Kent Dobson, Kim Crozier, Shannon McMaster).
Mark Smith, Treasurer
C3 Outreach
Vigil for Peace and Justice
Due to the Coast Guard Grand Parade, there will be no Vigil for Peace and Justice on Saturday, August 6. However, If you have a spot picked out to watch, you might consider holding a sign promoting peace and justice. We’ll be back as usual next week.
🆕 Humanity for Prisoners August Newsletter
HFP is one of our Outreach partners, because of all the good work they do with people incarcerated in Michigan.
C3 Groups
New Meeting Place for C3 Men’s Group
The C3 Men ’s Group meets each Tuesday from 7:00–8:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall on Harbor Drive in Grand Haven. Questions? Contact Phil Koster.
C3 Book Club and Friends
Our meeting is this coming Tuesday, August 9 at 7:00 p.m., a one-week postponement from the usual first Tuesday meeting, due to the Coast Guard Festival. Joyce is leading the discussion and will host us on her porch (50 Howard Avenue in downtown Grand Haven). Our book is The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. This is the remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, who became one of the most powerful women in New York, despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true.
September 6: Aftershocks: A Memoir by Nadia Owusu
Week 3@C3 in August
We focus on collecting Back-to-School items based on teachers’ stated needs within the Muskegon Heights Public School Academy system. Donated items will be distributed by the teachers themselves, based on needs of individual classrooms and teachers. See the teacher-advised list of possible donations. You may bring items from the teacher-advised list below to C3 on August 7, 14 and 21. School starts soon. Let’s be quick and generous!
Copy paper: 8 1/2″ x 11″ white; by case or ream; lots
Standard, spiral-bound notebooks – wide ruled (important!); dozens
Pocket folders – hundreds; colorful
Pencils – #2 Ticonderoga brand (specifically for testing); many packages
Crayola wax crayons: 24-ct boxes; individual boxes or packs of six or more
Colored pencils – for students (not adult type); many boxes
Scotch tape – replacement rolls for dispensers or regular filled plastic dispensers
Sanitizer wipes – Clorox brand suggested; dozens of containers
Kleenex or other similar brand tissues; multiple boxes
Please note specifics, as other item types may not be useful in the classroom. As you can see these are very basic school supplies. Let’s be generous and see to what degree we can relieve the teachers at MLK from having to spend their own money to achieve success in their classrooms. Consider sending a check made out to “C3–Back to School Project.” Mail to Week 3 @ C3, P.O. Box 371, Grand Haven, MI 49417, and we will shop for you.
C3 Finance
Want to make your life easier and more predictable?
• Why not put your donations to C3 on autopilot?
• No more having to remember to send a check!
• No more trying to remember — did I or didn’t I?
• It is a secure and easy set up — just call Carol Takas at Selby Accounting. Please direct any questions to Mark Smith.
Your ongoing support of C3 is greatly appreciated. Online donations can be made here. 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.
Donation Link
Donate via PayPal, it’s safe and secure!
C3 Values in Action
Momentum Center Events
There are events happening at the Momentum Center! Follow their Facebook page to stay informed. These upcoming events may be of interest. Click on each link for details.
Dinner and Movie Night: Luca, Friday, August 12. Click here for details.
Summer Series: Exploring Mental Illness, Mondays in August
Next Civil Rights Road Trip: The dates for the next Civil Rights Road Trip have been set as October 24-27, 2022. See the flyer with all the details here.
C3 Calendar
Saturday, August 6
12:00 p.m. No Vigil for Peace and Justice due to GH Coast Guard Festival
Sunday, August 7
Grand Haven Community Center (421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9:00 a.m. Pre-Talk, In Person
10:00 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
Teacher: Kent Dobson
Music: Thrown-Out Bones
Meditation: Andy Cawthon
10:00 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Sally Alderink (Woodbine Room)
11:00 a.m. Talk Back, in Person
Tuesday, August 9
7:00 p.m. C3 and Friends Book Discussion Group (Joyce Cawthon’s porch, 50 Howard Avenue, GH)
7:00 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (American Legion Hall, 700 S. Harbor Dr., GH)
Wednesday, August 10
6:30 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting (C3 Office, 1447 Washington Ave., GH)
Saturday, August 13
12:00 p.m.: Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, August 14
Grand Haven Community Center (421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9:00 a.m. Pre-Talk, In Person
10:00 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
Teacher: Kent Dobson
Music: Genna & Jesse
Meditation: Nelleke Knarr
10:00 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Patti Baldus (Woodbine Room)
11:00 a.m. Talk Back, in Person
Kent Dobson helps people orient their life to be in deeper relationship with Mystery, the shape of their own soul, and to a meaningful sense of their unique voice in the world.
Genna & Jesse: Drawing inspiration from their romantic nomadic lifestyle, Genna & Jesse might best be described as modern troubadours, generously offering listeners glimpses of their always-moving world with something fresh, true and genuinely independent. Their music features quirky chemistry, intricate vocal harmonies and ardent storytelling.