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?”
Our series Spirituality for the 21st Century nears its conclusion this week, as Kent Dobson notes that Meanwhile, the World Goes On. The musicians Annagail will be with us for the first time. Charlotte Rozich will give the meditation.
All Sunday-morning C3 events take place in the Mackinaw Ballroom at Central Park Place. Please plan to enter through the front doors. Pre-Talk starts at 9 a.m. The Gathering begins at 10 a.m.; Small Bites and Talk Back follow the Gathering. C3 Kids meet at 10 a.m. in the C3 Kids’ area in the Mackinaw Room. If you aren’t able to join us in person, you can watch the Gathering online on C3’s Facebook page.
🆕 Special Talk Back This Week
Please plan to attend Talk Back this Sunday after the Gathering. There have been a lot of changes in C3’s Sunday Gatherings in recent weeks, so let’s talk. At this community-engagement Talk Back, you will have an opportunity to provide your perspective.
🆕 Next Sunday’s Gathering!
Do you remember Ellie gathering information about C3 members who have been around for a while? That information will be highlighted and long-time C3 members and C3’s longevity will be celebrated during next week’s Gathering. Bob Kleinheksel will be our Teacher, Funky Brewster are the musicians (surprise special guests!), and Kent Dobson gives the meditation as we wrap up the Spirituality for the 21st Century series with The Past is Prologue. You won’t want to miss this Gathering!
Sunday Dinner Group at the Kirby
The Sunday Dinner Group will meet this Sunday at the Kirby at 5:30 p.m. Please be sure to sign up before you leave the Gathering, so we can call in an accurate reservation.
Flexibility and Grace Still Needed!
The situation at Central Park Place continues to cause some unease, so let’s approach this challenge with creativity, flexibility, and grace! The entry doors at the back of the building (downstairs) will NOT BE ACCESSIBLE to us, so until further notice, plan to enter through the front doors. We will have a Welcome Host/Valet at the front door to help. All of our Sunday morning activities will now take place in the Mackinaw Ballroom. The shifting of the C3 Kids to a section of the Mackinaw Ballroom means the seating for our Gathering has been reconfigured. Please come with an open mind about how this will all work! Note: Due to noise outside the Mackinaw Room, if you must leave during the Gathering, exit through the door to the kitchen, and please refrain from exiting during the Meditation and Moment of Silence. Please share any urgent concerns with our liaisons Teresa Colbry or Kim Crozier (not directly with Life Church members).
Space for C3 Kids
Part of the Mackinaw Room (our main gathering space) will be sectioned off to create a room for our kids. This area will be walled off floor to ceiling, with two doors and access to the outdoor picnic table area, which could be lots of fun once the weather gets warmer! Once the Gathering has begun, children should enter and exit this room through the storage room into the lobby. Please be aware that sometimes the children’s voices will be audible despite the sound barrier. They are our C3 children, and this is their space, too, so let’s allow them to be kids!
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.
Longtime C3 member Kathy Klouw passed away on April 1. Her obituary can be seen here. Cards can be sent to Bill at 15541 Gierman Drive, Spring Lake, MI 49456.
C3 member Grace Persinger, age 96, mother of Jen Snideman, passed away on March 16 after a long, active life. Cards may be sent to Jen and Bob Snideman at 1226 Grant Avenue, Grand Haven, MI 49417.
Adopt-A-Highway Tomorrow!
Our spring pick up will hopefully be on Saturday, April 22. If we have to cancel on Saturday due to foul weather, we will pick up on Sunday, April 23 (after Talk Back). If you signed up you will be notified by email either way. For complete information and to view the safety video (required) please click here!
Change of Venue for Vigil for Peace and Justice
Due to the closure of Washington Avenue between 4th and 6th Streets, the location of our Vigil for Peace and Justice location will change temporarily to the east side of Fourth Street at Washington Avenue from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Contact Chrys Moelter-Gray for more information.
C3 at the Earth Day Lakeshore Celebration April 29
🆕 Volunteers Needed! Cindy Van Ittersum needs three volunteers to help with the children’s sunflower planting activity, one person from 1–2:30 p.m., and two people from 2:30–4 p.m. Please call Cindy to volunteer.
Join in the festivities!
- Green March through downtown Grand Haven starts at 12:30 p.m.
- Celebration at Central Park Place (formerly Community Center) from 1-4 p.m.
- Earth Booths and demonstrations from Earth-friendly businesses and non-profits
- Fun activities for kids; music and speakers on relevant topics
- C3 booth with sunflower seed planting activity for kids
- C3 booth emphasizing our values and earth-care activities
- Outside: food trucks, electric vehicles to see, horse-drawn carriage rides
🆕 Grand Haven Pride Festival
Because diversity is important to our community, Grand Haven will be celebrating its first Pride Festival from 12–8 p.m. on Saturday, June 10. It will be in a fenced area by the waterfront stadium and Chinook Pier with security. The event will feature various shows, food trucks, and vendors. C3 has been asked to handle children’s activities and will have an area by the splash pad for story times, craft projects, and various games. If you can volunteer for an hour or two, please contact Jane Curtis.
Donations of Stocks, Bonds or Mutual Funds
Did you know that we are now able to accept donations of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds? When you donate stock to charity, you’ll generally take a tax deduction for the full fair market value. Because you are donating stock, your contribution and tax deduction may instantly increase over 20% or more, depending on your tax situation and any gains in the value of the stock. If this sounds like an option for you, please talk to your financial services representative, and if you have any questions re: process, please contact Shannon McMaster, Treasurer.
Your ongoing support of C3 is greatly appreciated. Online donations can be made here. Automatic donations can be set up by contacting Carol Takas 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.
C3 Book Club and Friends
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 16, 6 p.m. at the Bookman. Our book for that evening is Virgil Wander by Leif Enger. Looking ahead, we will be reading Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell for June 20th.
C3 Men’s Group
The C3 Men’s Group meets each Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall on Harbor Drive in Grand Haven. Questions? Contact Phil Koster.
Music by the Fireplace–Steel Doin’ It at Spring Lake Library
Enjoy the sounds of the Caribbean, featuring traditional island songs, to the Beatles, Disney songs, and everything in between. There is something for everyone. All ages are welcome on this musical journey, on Sunday, April 23, 2–3 p.m. C3ers Karen Cotton and Cindy Krause play with this fun group of musicians!
🆕 Art for the Parks 2023
The Lakeshore Visual Arts Collective is hosting Art for the Parks 2023, a pop-up sale to benefit the Ottawa County Parks Foundation, on Saturday, April 29, from 5 – 8 p.m. at the Hemlock Crossing Nature Education Center. Music will be by C3 friend Drew Nelson.
Momentum Center
- Read the Momentum Center newsletter for April here.
- 🆕 It’s that time of year again—the Momentum Center’s Prom with a Purpose on Saturday, May 20. The cost is only $25 for an evening of fun and friends, an event that is a stigma-free evening of dining, dancing, and possibly bidding on auction items, with the goal of raising funds to support the programming of the Momentum Center, but also providing an opportunity for Momentum Center members to gather and enjoy an evening of special fun with the whole community. Tickets, sponsorships, and more information here.
🆕 Loving Spoonfuls
St. John’s Episcopal Church continues to offer free meals to community members every Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. These meals are available to anyone in the community, so please spread the word. Click here for more information.
🆕 LEDA Summit on Race and Inclusion
The LEDA Summit on Race and Inclusion will be held in person on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at Hope College, Holland, MI from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. There is also a virtual option. This is always a valuable experience.
Saturday, April 22
10:00 a.m. Adopt-A-Highway (Central Park Place parking lot)
12:00 p.m. Vigil for Peace and Justice (Fourth St. at Washington, GH)
Sunday, April 23
All events held in the Mackinaw Ballroom in Central Park Place
(421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9 a.m. Pre-Talk
10 a.m. C3 Kids with Joyce Cawthon and volunteer Charity McMaster
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- Teacher: Kent Dobson
- Music: Annagail
- Meditation: Charlotte Rozich
11 a.m. Special Talk Back
(Note: if Adopt-A-Highway has to be rescheduled we will meet following Talk Back)
Tuesday, April 25
7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (American Legion, GH)
Saturday, April 29
12:00 p.m. Vigil for Peace and Justice (Fourth St. at Washington, GH)
12:30–4 p.m. Green March and Earth Day Fair (Central Park Place)
Sunday, April 30
All events held in the Mackinaw Ballroom in Central Park Place
(421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9 a.m. Pre-Talk
10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Margaret Willey
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- Teacher: Bob Kleinheksel
- Music: Funky Brewster
- Meditation: Kent Dobson
11 a.m. Talk Back
Bob Kleinheksel is a private practice therapist and clinical social worker in Grand Haven. He is a former minister and staff member of CCC/C3 from 1988-2012 and continues to experience great satisfaction and positive challenges with the ongoing life of this community.
Funky Brewster looks to spread music and fun wherever they go. The band is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Goldie Weideman, who grew up singing and playing with the Weideman Family Band, was soprano section leader with the Grand Haven High School Choral Ensemble, and scholarship winner in the Carthage College Choir. Roque Cuellar is the band’s percussionist, and also a multi-instrumentalist. Steve Weideman is most famous for being Goldie’s dad and a founding member of the Weideman Family Band.
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C3 Spiritual Community Office
1447 Washington Ave., Grand Haven, MI 49417
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 371, Grand Haven, MI 49417
Becky Park, Office Manager
Office Hours: Wednesday 12:30–2:30 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., or by appointment
Automatic donations are handled by Carol Takas at Selby Accounting.
Please direct any questions to Shannon McMaster.
C3 Board of Trustees
Chair: Sally Alderink
Vice-Chair: Teresa Colbry
Secretary: Valerie Engeltjes
Treasurer: Shannon McMaster
Beth Buelow
Andy Cawthon
Kim Crozier
Tom Edwards
Kathy Humphrey
Wayne Johnson
Rod Van Abbema
Newsletter Submissions and Editor: Chrysteen Moelter-Gray.
Newsletter Designer: Annie Wassmann
Copyright © 2023 C3 Spiritual Community. All rights reserved.