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Last updateFri, 02 Jan 2015 5pm

Laguna Chapalac – December 6, 2014

Charros Baseball

The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) and Restaurant Santo Coyote are sponsoring another Sunday bus trip to a Charros de Jalisco baseball game in Guadalajara. The bus will leave from the sculpture in La Floresta at 10 a.m. on Sunday, December 7. Tickets at 250 pesos for members, and 275 pesos for non-members must be purchased in advance at the LCS office. Tickets include transportation and VIP seating.

Cook Mexican

Sopas Mexicanas will be featured at the authentic Mexican cooking class on Monday, December 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Chef and expert cooking class instructor Linda Harley will present the 300-peso class. Those attending will be delighted to consume the dishes cooked during the class. Sign-up must be made in advance at the LCS office.

Inner Peace

Teacher and therapist Blanca Salazar is presenting a personal growth workshop, “Inner Peace is the Gift of the Universe,” at noon on Saturday, December 6 in the Casa de Cultura in Jocotepec. There will be a 100-peso cooperation for all the participants.

Democrats Abroad

The Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico is sponsoring a holiday fundraising party on Monday, December 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. at La Bodega Restaurant in Ajijic.

The holiday buffet dinner will feature lasagna, sliced ham, spaghetti, fettuccine, salad and botanas. The 150-peso tickets are available at Yoly’s Salon in Bugambillias Plaza and at Diane Pearl Colecciones in Ajijic and should be purchased in advance. A few tickets may be available at the door.

The party will include an exchange of white elephant gifts with monetary value not to exceed 100 pesos each.

Francis C. Reidelberger, executive chair of the local group, encouraged participation throughout the community, saying, “In the spirit of the season, we want to emphasize that this party is for everyone, not just Democrats and expats from the United States.”

For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 763-5271.

LCS TED Seminar

Anne Curzan will be featured by TED podcast at the Wednesday, December 9, noon seminar for Lake Chapala Society members. Fred Harland will chair the session during which English professor and language historian Curzan discusses how people use words, how language changes and what makes a word real. She collects slang words and argues that “hangry,” “defriend” and “adorkable” fill crucial meaning gaps in the English language, even when they aren’t included in dictionaries. “The English language is rich, vibrant and filled with the creativity of the people who speak it,” says Curzan.

Progressives

Members of the Lakesides Progressives who visited Cuba recently will report their impressions to the rest of the group during the Wednesday, December 9, 4 p.m. meeting at the Peacock Garden Restaurant in Ajijic. The remainder of the meeting program will include a report on the book, “Conflict, Security, and the Reshaping of Society: The Civilization of War,” which is part of the Routledge Studies in Liberty and Security.

Most of those attending the gathering of like-minded people looking for progressive solutions to problems not being addressed by the major political parties continue the discussions over an early dinner at the restaurant following the meeting.

Visit the group’s Facebook page, Lakeside Progressives. Email Chad Olsen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions or to attend the meeting.  

Bilingual Toastmasters

The Monday, December 1 meeting of the Lake Chapala Bilingual Toastmasters greeted the holiday season with laughter and “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The December theme is commitment. President Guy Jobidon gave a “How To” message on Table Topics. Tim Schubert asked members to speak for or against Pearls of Wisdom.

Full-time and winter residents will attend the group’s Spanish session on Monday, December 8, 7 p.m. in the Sala of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS). The side gate on Ramon Corona will be open for the use of members. For information in English contact Guy Jobidon at (376) 766-5181. Marissa Urrutia has information in Spanish at (33) 1600-5937.

Hope House Dinner

A dinner designed to raise fund to assist the 17 boys living at Hope House will be held at Roberto’s Restaurant on Saturday, December 13. The five-course Mexican dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and preceded by cocktails at 5 p.m.

Tickets for the event are 175 pesos. The Hope House kids will be on hand to greet guests. There will be music for dancing, a 50/50 draw and a silent auction. Call Roberto’s at (376) 766-1616 to make reservations.

Christmas Program

Lake Chapala Baptist Church is hosting an evening of Christmas music, drama and food for the lakeside community on Sunday, December 14, 6 p.m.

“This program has a variety show format,” says Judy Hendrick, music director. “There will be sing-a-longs, choir numbers, solos and instrumentals and, of course, the children are always a real highlight.”

This year’s program also includes a dramatic vignette, a surprise contest, and will be followed by a soup supper. There is no admission charge. The church is on San Lucas in Riberas del Pilar. Turn toward the mountain on the first street east of the animal shelter. For directions or information, call (376) 765-2925.

LCS Membership

The problems created by the rebuilding of the Lake Chapala Society website have been resolved so that during the final days of the 2015 membership drive, members can process their own renewals at http://lakechapalasociety.com/website/membership/joinform.php.

New and renewing LCS members must complete the process before December 15 in order to be included in the 2015 LCS membership directory.

Crime Reports

A representative from either the Chapala or Ocotlan office of the Ministerio Publico (District Attorney’s Office) will be at the Neill James verandah of the LCS campus on Wednesday, December 17,  from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

With the assistance of a bilingual attorney, the official from this investigative branch of government (similar to the district attorney’s department north of the border) will assist local residents through the process of filing denuncias (criminal complaints). This is the process that is necessary to officially report a crime. LCS organizers hope that expats will take advantage of this assistance and help in what can be a difficult process.

Toy Drive

The junior high students at lakeside’s International Institute on the libramiento, across from the Tech School of Chapala, have planned a toy drive for children in some of the less advantaged villages around Lake Chapala.

Those wishing to assist with the drive can leave toys with Aida or Jessy at the school’s reception desk prior to December 17. With the assistance of the school’s computer science teacher Lupita Estrada, the students are drawing up a system to dispense the toys to children in the Chapala neighborhoods of San Miguel, Tepehua, Puerta del Horno, Barrio del Guadalupe and in Hacienda de la Labor and Santa Cruz de la Soledad.

Holiday Shopping

The final LCS shopping trip to Guadalajara before the holidays will leave from the sculpture in La Floresta at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, December 17. These shoppers will have the day to browse and shop at the upscale shops and anchor stores of Plaza Andares. Included in the shopping mall are Palacio de Hierro, Liverpool, Zara, Apple, the Body Shop, Prada, Hugo Boss and many more. Shoppers will enjoy lunching at P.F. Chang’s, Chilis, Sushi Factory,  La Moresca and the California Pizza Kitchen. Some shoppers may make time to stop off at the neighboring Walmart.

The 250-peso-tickets for the trip must be purchased in advance at the LCS office.  

Holiday Bash

The 3rd Annual Lake Chapala Society Holiday Bash, sponsored by the LCS Singles group, will be held on Sunday, December 21, from 3 to 7 p.m. This popular event drew a crowd of more than 150 in 2013.

A festive dinner will be served with Ricardo and Blanca providing the live soft rock background music. Tickets are 200 pesos in advance at the LCS office or Diane Pearl Colecciones, or 240 pesos at the door.

Trivia Quiz

Niños Incapacitados will host two of their popular fundraising Trivia Quiz sessions on Tuesday, January 13. Contestants are urged to gather a table, or to come on their own, but to purchase tickets soon for the 2 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. sessions in the Salón Eucaliptos of the Hotel Real de Chapala.

Tickets are 250 pesos per person for the afternoon game and 300 pesos for the evening event. For more information and to reserve tickets and tables for teams of eight, contact Dawn McGinnis at (376) 766-4953 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or by emailing Donna Lillie at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

All proceeds go to the children assisted by Niños Incapacitados.

Sponsors will provide a wide variety of multiple choice questions for the BYOM (Bring Your Own Munchies) games. The cash bar is available and will open one hour before the quizzes start.

Little Chapel

Rev. Gene Raymer returns to the pulpit of the interdenominational congregation of the Little Chapel by the Lake for the 11:15 a.m. worship service on Sunday, December 7. Raymer’s message asks, “Are You Ready for Christmas?”

“The preparations of the New Testament characters were far different than ours today – the decorations, gifts, parties and such. Examining those early preparations can perhaps enrich our own Christmas experience,” says Raymer.

The usual after-service fellowship and lunch will be delayed as the congregation will travel to San Juan Tecomatlan with members of Christ Church Lakeside to participate in the posada the two congregations are co-sponsoring there. The special event will feature a fellowship meal with the lakesiders and the residents of San Juan Tecomatlan.

The Little Chapel by the Lake is located on the mountain side of the Carretera just east of the golf course in Chula Vista.

Lakeside Presbyterian

During the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, December 7, Pastor Ross Arnold continues his series of Advent sermons with “Comfort, Comfort My People,” based on text from Isaiah 40: “He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.”

Says Arnold: “This passage tells how God’s first desire is not to judge, but to love and comfort His people, to have them reconciled to Him. That reconciliation began with the birth of Jesus, chapter one in the Christmas story, God’s great plan of redemption.”

The congregation gathers for refreshments and fellowship following the service. The Spanish- language worship begins at noon. Lakeside Presbyterian Church is on the mountain side on the Carretera beside S&S Auto in Riberas del Pilar.  Watch for the sign “You have family at Lakeside!”

Christ Church

“Prepare the Way,” based on Mark 1: 1-8, is the message selected by Rev. Sandy Olson for the 9:30 a.m. service of Christ Church Lakeside for Sunday, December 7.

A joint fellowship time with the congregation of the Little Chapel by the Lake will be held from 10:30 to 11:10 a.m. Then, at about 12:15 p.m., the two congregations will travel in a convoy to San Juan Tecomatlan to hold a posada there for the townspeople.

Bible study is held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday mornings in the Fellowship Hall of the Little Chapel. The group is studying the Gospel of Luke. Christ Church meets at the Little Chapel by the Lake, Carretera 10 near the entrance of Chula Vista.

St. Andrew’s Anglican

Fr. Winston Welty’s sermon, “Risking the Wilderness,” on Sunday, December 7 challenges people of faith to find God somewhere other than in church. The message is based on John the Baptizer’s sudden appearance in the Judean desert from the Gospel of Mark. The 10 a.m. service begins with the lighting of the Advent Wreath and is followed by a coffee hour in the garden. The children’s bilingual Sunday School starts at 9:45 a.m.

Non-perishable food items for the feeding program can be left in the baskets at the church doors.

There will be a sign-up sheet in the garden for the annual potluck supper, carol sing and Sunday School pageant. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 11. St. Andrew’s Anglican Church is at Calle San Lucas 19 in Riberas del Pilar.

Heart of Awareness

The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community meets Wednesday, December 10, 4:30 p.m. for for meditation and a dharma teaching, “The Five Precepts.” The sangha will meet at Paseos de los Velaros 60 in Lower La Floresta for the month of December.

This is a non-sectarian Buddhist practice community grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Membership in Heart of Awareness is open to those with Zen, Tibetan or Shambhala backgrounds, as well as people with no previous meditation experience. For further information, call Karin Miles at (376) 766-0020.

Open Circle

Those attending Sunday Open Circle sessions gather at 10 a.m. in the back patio of the LCS for socializing over coffee, tea and sandwich bites.

Marci Bowman and the Genealogy Forum will present the 10:30 a.m. program on Sunday, December 7. These avid genealogists will talk about ways to interest other family members in your family’s history. They suggest that just recording names and dates is not enough. Passing on family stories and myths, family heirlooms, photographs and the place held by the ancestors in history help make the study more interesting to others.

Members of the Genealogy Forum will share examples of histories they’ve excavated and projects they currently have in progress. They urge attendees to bring interesting tales of their own ancestry.

Unitarian Universalist

The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays at Plaza de la Ribera at Rio Bravo 10A in Ajijic. Bob Koches will present “A Ripple in a Pond,” and discuss how each individual’s behavior affects others during the service on Sunday, December 7.

A coffee hour will follow the meeting. For further information either call (376) 766-1458 or visit www.uuflc.org.

Unitarian Universalists search for truth along many paths and gather around common moral values that include the inherent worth and dignity of every person. This is a caring, liberal, open-minded community that encourages others to seek individual spiritual paths wherever they lead.