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?”
Lead Teacher Brad Ruggles explores The Land Between, Part 2: Navigating Life’s Difficult Transitions this week, as we all occupy this liminal space of getting to know each other better. Please join us in person or online as we welcome Brad to our community!
Jared Adams from the duo Annagail makes a return appearance. We haven’t heard from him since August last year.
Wayne Johnson will prepare a meditation for us.
Sunday Gathering
Come for Pre-Talk at 9 a.m. to get a jump on the rest of the group; join us at Central Park Place in Grand Haven for the Gathering at 10 a.m., which is live-streamed on C3’s Facebook page. Snack and socialize during Small Bites, then respond to the teaching at Talk Back from 11:15 to noon. C3 Kids meet in the C3 Kids’ area of the Mackinaw Room from 10 a.m. to noon.
🆕 C3 Summer Celebration
Mark your calendar now for C3’s Summer Celebration at Mulligan’s Hollow on Thursday, July 18, when we will recognize Brad Ruggles as our Lead Teacher and Shannon McMaster as our Executive Director, among other festivities. Keep tuned here for further details.
🆕 C3 Pride T-Shirts!
Our C3 Pride t-shirts will be available to pick up at the C3 table at the Grand Haven Pride Festival on June 8! You can do a Superman-phone-booth-change of clothes, or just pull it on over a light layer, and then enjoy the Pride festival while spreading our message of love and inclusion.
Use of Preferred Pronouns
The C3 Board of Trustees has adopted a policy that all official communications and all individuals when representing the organization will make every good-faith effort to use a person’s preferred pronouns when disclosed. If you have questions about this development, please see Executive Director Shannon McMaster.
Volunteer for Pride Festival on June 8!
Volunteers are still needed the Pride Festival in several areas, such as helping in the vendor market, the children’s area, and the MSLG (Make Stuff Look Good) crew. Head to the GH Pride website and sign up here. Look for the red “buttons” that indicate how many slots for each volunteer position and two-hour time slot are open.
Vigil for Peace and Justice
Reactions from passers-by have been positive! Join the Vigil for Peace and Justice on Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. along Washington Avenue at Central Park in Grand Haven.
🆕 Week 3@C3
Thank you to all who contributed to the backpack project for Muskegon Heights Public Library. If you would still like to contribute, we are accepting gifts of cash for markers and pencil cases.
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.
Cindy Anderson had knee replacement surgery recently and she is recovering at home. Cards may be sent to 15016 Stickney Ridge Road, Grand Haven, MI 49417.
🆕 Tom Tosa passes along greetings and thanks from Kathy for the messages of concern and support as she remains with their son Michael in Australia.
Donations of Stocks and Bonds
C3 will gratefully accept donations of stocks and bonds. We are researching the most cost effective brokerage account for C3 to utilize. If you’re considering such a donation, please contact Andy Cawthon, C3 Treasurer, to begin the process. We thank you for your continued support!
Honor and Memorial Giving
A donation was made in honor of Margaret Willey in appreciation of her kindness to Reed Smith, Mark and Kathy Smith‘s grandson.
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.
🆕 No Sunday Dinner Group
Due to the expected Memorial Day crowds, not being able to make a reservation, and lack of parking, there will be no Sunday Dinner Group this week.
🆕 Women’s Journey
Our next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 17, at The Bookman. Come prepared with a joke, a summer recipe, and a favorite travel memory to share.
🆕 C3 Book Club and Friends
Tuesday, June 18, 6:30 p.m. at The Bookman will be our meeting to discuss Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris.
C3 Men’s Group
The C3 Men’s Group provides a valuable time for men to meet and talk with each other. Feel free to join them on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Room B, in Grand Haven. Questions? Call Phil Koster.
Recycle at Staples
Click here to learn about the opportunity to recycle lots of used and/or no-longer-needed stuff at your local Staples store—the list includes lots more than just used ink cartridges!
Community Events for Your Consideration
Click on the links for more information.
- May 31: The Diatribe Community Groundbreaking for The Emory Arts & Culture Hub
- June 8: Grand Haven Pride Fest
- 🆕 June 25: League of Women Voters In-Person Primary Education Event, Central Park Place, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 25
12 p.m. Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, May 26
9 a.m. Pre-Talk & Awakenings
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: Jared Adams of Annagail
• Meditation: Wayne Johnson
11 a.m. Talk Back
Tuesday, May 28
7 p.m. C3 Men’s Group (Room B, St. John’s Episcopal Church, GH
Saturday, June 1
12 p.m. Vigil for Peace and Justice (Central Park, GH)
Sunday, June 2
9 a.m. Pre-Talk & Awakenings
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: Grace Theisen
• Meditation: Nelleke Knarr
11 a.m. Talk Back
Brad Ruggles, our new lead teacher, 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.
Grace Theisen is a queer Americana artist originally from Kalamazoo. After graduating from Hope College in 2014 with a double major in Gender Studies and Psychology, Grace moved to Nashville from 2015 to 2018 to run her nonprofit, Songs Against Slavery. She returned to Kalamazoo in 2019 and has been influential in the Michigan music scene. She is one-third of the band The Rebel Eves.
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C3 Membership Directory (login required)
C3 Website>Values (printable list here)
Teaching Podcast “The Stage at C3” Feeds: Apple Podcasts YouTube Music
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
Office Hours: Mondays and Tuesdays from 12 noon – 2:30 p.m., or 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.
C3 Board of Trustees
Chair: Teresa Colbry
Vice-Chair: Tod Wyn
Secretary: Beth Buelow
Treasurer: Andy Cawthon
Newsletter Submissions and Editor: Chrysteen Moelter-Gray
Newsletter Designer: Annie Wassmann
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