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?”
This marks the last week for our series Spirituality for the 21st Century. For this Gathering, we have the special privilege of welcoming former Christ Community Church/C3 Exchange minister and current much-loved member and meditator Bob Kleinheksel as Teacher for a special Gathering with the theme The Past is Prologue. Kent Dobson will give the meditation, and Funky Brewster, featuring Steve and Goldie Weideman and Roque Cuellar, will bring the beats! You don’t want to miss this Gathering!
You will remember that earlier this year, Ellie Williams asked long-time C3 members to identify themselves, and this week’s Gathering will recognize those members who responded and acknowledged how long they have been affiliated with C3 (or its predecessors). So we end the series on Spirituality for the 21st Century with a reflection on where we’ve come from! The list of self-identified long-term C3 members is available here.
All Sunday-morning C3 events take place in the Mackinaw Ballroom at Central Park Place. Pre-Talk and Awakenings start 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.
🆕 Fundraising Concert at Engeltjes’ House
We are very excited to say that this fundraising event was an overwhelming success. The concert raised over $1600 for C3 and because the concert was underwritten, individual ticket costs were completely tax deductible! Celebrity bartender Ira and executive chef Valerie were superb hosts and Twyce the Band had everyone singing and dancing. Many, many thanks to Ira and Valerie for underwriting and hosting yet another lively fundraising concert!
🆕 Last Sunday’s Talk Back, a Survey to Come, and Access!
Last Sunday during Talk Back the community had a productive discussion centered on our current challenges with Central Park Place. The liaison team has incorporated the feedback into its planning for the next meeting with the city. Thank you very much! The liaison team is developing a survey to help clarify a couple of additional points. This should arrive in your email inbox in the next few days. Every member’s input is valuable, and this community conversation will continue.
The situation at Central Park Place continues in flux, as we heard from Kim last week at our special community Talk Back. The liaison team has been assured by the City that the north entry on the lower level will be open for our use. Feel free to park on the north side of Central Park Place if you need handicap parking and access. Look for Ryan Cotton to help you navigate the space if you have any concerns. We will also have a Welcome Host/Valet at the front door to help.
Please share any urgent concerns with our liaisons Teresa Colbry or Kim Crozier(not directly with Life Church members).
C3 Kids and Noise
All of our Sunday morning activities, including Awakenings, take place in the Mackinaw Ballroom. Our C3 Kids occupy the space in the Mackinaw Room that has been partitioned off, and sometimes we will hear their voices. Let’s welcome that indication of their presence with us and let it be part of our meditation. Please continue to bring 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.
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.
Week 3@C3
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our April collection of Hygiene Kits for refugees. 47 kits along with an extra 27 bars of Dial soap and 242 toothbrushes will soon be delivered to MCC headquarters in Goshen, Indiana as part of their distributing for world relief.
In May, we will be honoring the women and their children housed at the Residential Crisis Center at Every Woman’s Place in Muskegon. Please bring kitchen and bathroom cleaning supplies—liquids, powders, bars, sprays. Paper items are NOT needed. Please consider ecologically-friendly items. And since Mother’s Day falls in May, please come with at least one package or box of individually wrapped sweets or otherwise tasty treats or snacks—something that would be considered special and thoughtful for these moms and kids. Collection will start on May 7.
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.
Jeanne Shell wrote: A huge and sincere thank you for all the cards, calls, thoughts and prayers that you extended my way during this very difficult event in my life. I’m still in the process of recovery but will be back in Michigan around the first of May to finish up that process with family around.
C3 at the Earth Day Lakeshore Celebration This Saturday!
Join in the festivities on April 29!
- 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
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 will change temporarily to Fourth Street at Washington Avenue from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday. This week we plan to join the Green March at 12:30. Contact Chrys Moelter-Gray for more information.
Adopt-A-Highway Thank You!
Thanks to our amazing crew of volunteers that attended last Saturday’s Adopt-A-Highway pick up. 31 volunteers picked up 110 bags of garbage (along with other shrapnel, tires, car bumpers, etc.) on both sides our two mile highway route. Thank you to Tom Edwards and Annie Wassmann for organizing the event and thanks to Joyce Cawthon for the great photo! Tentative future pick up dates are the week of July 22 (quick summer touch up) and Saturday, September 30 (big fall clean up).
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 at 248-376-7532.
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
- 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 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 and Awakenings
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
Tuesday, May 2
7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (American Legion, GH)
Saturday, May 6
12:00 p.m. Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, May 7
All events held in the Mackinaw Ballroom in Central Park Place
(421 Columbus Ave., GH)
9 a.m. Pre-Talk and Awakenings
10 a.m. C3 Kids with Miss Mary and volunteer Eleanor Hills
10 a.m. Gathering, In Person + Livestream on Facebook
- Teacher: TBA
- Music: Folias Duo
- Meditation: Margaret Willey
11 a.m. Talk Back
Speaker for next week TBA.
Folias Duo, Carmen Maret and Andrew Bergeron, have played several times for us, and we love them! They have invited their followers to join us for a morning of meditation, conversation and music as we celebrate the release of our new album Heartdance at the C3 Spiritual Community in Grand Haven on May 7.
Thank you for supporting C3!
We would really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to share your experience at C3 by reviewing us on Google. Thank you!
Google requires reviewers to have a Google account. If you don’t have one you can set one up with your current email address, follow instructions here.
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.