Arts and Crafts Fair
American Legion Post Seven’s 12th Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair opens Saturday, December 13, 9 a.m. with back-to-back features, including a popular assortment of bake and take foods – prepared, ready-to-eat favorite entrees. Shoppers will find a selection of homemade holiday goodies and handmade gift and decorating items from a number of vendors at the one-day event at Post Seven headquarters on Calle Morelos in Chapala.
Bilingual Toastmasters
The English-language session of the Lake Chapala Bilingual Toastmasters on Monday, December 15, 7 to 8:30 p.m., in the Neill James Sala of the Lake Chapala Society will be the group’s last meeting of the year.
The local club will resume alternating between Spanish and English, with the Spanish session scheduled Monday, January 5. Snowbird residents are encouraged to join in the weekly activities. For more information contact Guy Jobidon (in English) at (376) 766-5181 or Marissa Urrutia for Spanish assistance at (33) 1600-5937.
LCS Seminar
Reba Mayo will chair the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Seminar on Tuesday, December 16, noon. The TED podcast features Pamela Meyer speaking on “How to Spot a Lie.” Meyer, the author of “Liespotting,” cites research that indicates who lies, why lies are told and how to know when someone else is lying.
Meyer considers if lying is a cooperative activity involving both the liar and the recipient in an act of complicity, and reflects on the dramatic costs of deception and how to build a world where trust and character matter.
Freethinkers
During the November meeting of the Lakeside Freethinkers, the group discussed a review of the book, “The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas.” The group’s Wednesday, December 17 meeting will be the First Annual Lakeside Freethinkers Xmas Party hosted by the chairman. A video broadcast by Richard Dawkins on “Militant Atheism” will be featured.
For additional information on the Lakeside Freethinkers, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Pet Food Drive
Holiday dinners (and everyday meals) for local shelter animals continue to depend on the generosity of lakeside donors. This month the pet food drive at the Lakeside Friends of the Animals (LFA) Shelter and pet food store will be held on Thursday, December 18, from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
Volunteers from Anita’s Animals will be on hand during the December event to assist shoppers, but donations can be purchased at any time. Shoppers should inform the store clerk that the cat or dog food being purchased is to be donated to the local animal rescue organization of the shopper’s choice. The store will hold the purchase for pickup, but shoppers should notify the organization that a donation is waiting at the LFA store.
History Club Returning
The popular Lake Chapala Society’s History Club meetings are resuming on Tuesday, December 16, 1:30 p.m. in the LCS Sala. The first session will feature the first half of a two-part series reviewing the life of legendary operatic diva Maria Callas. LCS members who attend the sessions will view film footage of some of Callas’ marvelous performances.
Last Holiday Trip
Last-minute holiday shoppers still have time to reserve a spot on the Wednesday, December 17 LCS shopping trip to Andares Plaza in Guadalajara. The bus will leave at 9 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta headed for the upscale mall, which includes the anchor stores Liverpool, Best Buy and Sears, and numerous boutiques and high-end shops, including Hugo Boss, the Body Shop and Prada. The plaza’s restaurants offer various lunch choices such as P.F. Chang’s, Chili’s, Sushi Factory, California Pizza Kitchen and more. The bus trip cost is 250 pesos. Participants must sign up in the LCS office.
Hanukkah Hoedown
Hanukkah Hoedown featuring the lighting of the menorah, festive holiday food and a short story commemorating the origins of the holiday will be hosted by Chavurah Chapala on Sunday, December 21, beginning at 3 p.m. Square dancing with Johan and Carla calling the moves for the participants will be one of the afternoon’s highlights, according to members of Chavurah Chapala, who explain that “Chavurah” means friends in Hebrew.
Hanukkah is an eight-day holiday that begins on the 25th day of Kislev (usually in December), commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BCE by the Maccabees after it had been desecrated in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Greeks. The festive celebration, also called the Festival of Lights, centers on the successive kindling of eight lights. This year the lighting of the first candle will be on the night of Tuesday December 16.
Space is limited. RSVP via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or call (376) 766-5149. A contribution of 70 pesos per person will be solicited at the door. The “Hanukkah Hoedown” will be held in Fellowship Hall of the Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Hidalgo 231A, in Riberas del Pilar.
Military Ball
The Anezeh Shriners Legion of Honor Unit will sponsor a Military Ball at the Hotel Monte Carlo in Chapala on Saturday, January 10. The event is open to all who have honorably served in the military of their country. In addition to the Shriners Legion of Honor Unit, the 904th Wing of the Canadian Air Force Association, American Legion Post Seven, American Legion Post Nine, the
Canadian Legion and the Navy League will be participating.
Event attendees will gather at 5:30 p.m. for refreshments, followed at 6:30 p.m. by the opening ceremonies, presentations of flags and introduction of special attendees. A brief memorial service will precede the 7 p.m. dinner. Sol y Luna will be on hand to provide music for listening and dancing until 10 p.m. Dress for the men will be dark suit, tux or military uniform; the ladies will wear military uniforms, cocktail dresses or formals.
For information and/or tickets, email Denny Strole at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (376) 766-0485.
Tech Classes
The Lake Chapala Society’s three computer discussion sessions for LCS members (Windows, iPad, iPod, iPhone and Android) recently merged into a single comprehensive group. All Things Tech is set to meet in the Sala from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Fridays. Membership numbers are required.
Sign-up for the new beginners’ iPad or Android classes is underway. Members can reserve a spot in the course of their choice by emailing their name and membership number to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Designer Sale
Casi Nuevo, the consignment and thrift store whose proceeds benefit three local charities, just received a collection of the gently used designer women’s fashions featured at last week’s School for Special Children’s Fashion Show.
Casi Nuevo at Riberas del Pilar at Hidalgo 95 is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Exercise Class
Balance and Core Classes which feature low-impact stretch, balance and core exercises will soon begin on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9-9:50 a.m. in the LCS Gazebo. Those who wish to participate should contact Jackie Web at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to sign up and be prepared to bring an exercise mat.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
Fr. Winston Welty’s sermon, “Among You … Unknown,” at St. Andrew’s’ Sunday, December 14 service is based on John the Baptizer’s assertion that Christ can be found even in the midst of people who are not looking for Him, or are unaware of his presence. The 10 a.m. worship service begins with lighting the Advent Wreath. A coffee hour follows in the garden. Children’s bilingual Sunday School is at 9:45 a.m.
The church’s Advent Angel Tree is decorated with the names of more than 70 Mezcala and Jocotepec children. Parishioners will bring Christmas gifts for the children to the church on Sunday December 21.
St. Andrew’s Anglican Church is at Calle San Lucas 19, a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Little Chapel
Rev. Gene Raymer will deliver the message, “The Joys of Angelhood,” during the 11:15 a.m. worship service of the Little Chapel by the Lake on Sunday, December 14. The interdenominational congregation will begin the day with a refreshment and fellowship period at 10:45 a.m. Many members of the congregation join in a fellowship meal at a local restaurant after the service.
Wednesday’s Midweek Movie will be “A Season for Miracles.” The popular holiday movie is about two wayward children, their aunt and a helpful angel. There is no admission fee, and free refreshments will be served.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is located on the mountain side of the Carretera, just east of the golf course in Chula Vista.
Christ Church
Deacon Rob Wells will celebrate Holy Communion from pre-sanctified elements during the Sunday, December 14, 9:30 a.m. service of Christ Church Lakeside. Wells’ sermon topic is “Testimony,” based on John 1:6-8; 19-28.
The congregations of Christ Church Lakeside and the Little Chapel by the Lake enjoy a common fellowship time from about 10:35 until 11:10 a.m. Christ Church is grateful to all who worked to make the Posada in San Juan Tecomatlan a great success.
The Tuesday morning Bible Study is at 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the Little Chapel. The group is studying the Gospel of Luke.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is at Carretera 10, near the entrance of Chula Vista.
San Andrés English
“On this third Sunday of Advent we celebrate our joy in Christ’s redeeming work among us, realizing that he who is to come is indeed already with us, ‘unknown to us,’” says Rev. Basil G. Royston, D. Min., of the 9 a.m. English Mass at San Andrés Church in Ajijic.
Members of the congregation quickly cleared 55 children’s names from the Angel Tree and are now shopping and wrapping the gifts for the children of the orphanage, La Villa Infantil. Gifts will be returned to the church on December 21 and distributed to the children on Christmas Eve.
Royston adds that those interested in learning more about the Catholic Church, considering becoming a member or are just curious about what Catholics believe are invited to join a forming group of similarly interested people at San Andres Catholic Parish (English Mass). For information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Lakeside Presbyterian
Pastor Ross Arnold is continuing a series of Advent sermons for the congregation of Lakeside Presbyterian. For the 10 a.m. English service on Sunday, December 14, he uses Isaiah 9:2-7 as the text and considers the meaning of the Messiah coming to “a people walking in darkness.” He also looks at what that says about the human condition today and how Jesus speaks to that situation.
After the English service and the noon Spanish service, the two congregations will share “the Second Sunday Pot Luck Luncheon.” The Lakeside Presbyterian Church is in Riberas del Pilar, on the mountain side of the Carretera next to S&S Auto.
Open Circle
The Sunday, December 14, 10 a.m. Open Circle program at the Lake Chapala Society is being billed as a doubleheader. First Michael Warren will present a couple of Christmas readings leading with a short humorous piece, “Hoodoo McFiggin’s Christmas” by Canadian writer Stephen Leacock. Then he will read the nostalgic Dylan Thomas essay, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.”
Following the readings, the San Juan Cosala Children’s Choir will sing songs for the holidays in both English and Spanish. The choir, formed by Agustin Vasquez Calvario, is directed in Spanish by Daniel Medeles and in English by Pia Kraus Aitken. The co-directors have requested that those attending each bring one shiny red apple. They add that children in rural area communities often do not have enough fruits and vegetables to make a balanced diet. They are sure that the audience members will be instantly aware of what they should do with the apples, and they’re equally sure that audience members will not want to be without the apples.
Buddhist Community
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community next meets on Wednesday, December 17, 4:30 p.m. for meditation and dharma teachings at Paseos de los Velaros 60 in lower La Floresta. The dharma talk is “The Three Marks of Existence.”
The Monday Afternoon Dharma Movie on Monday, December 15, 3 p.m. is “Ikiru,” a 1952 Japanese film directed and co-written by Akira Kurosawa.
For further information on Heart of Awareness, call Karin Miles at (376) 766-0020.