Jewish Films
The Third Annual Jewish Film Festival will get underway on Sunday, February 5 with the showing of a short film, “The Wall” and “Infidel,” beginning at 2 p.m. (starting early to accommodate Super Bowl fans). Other films will be shown on consecutive Sundays over six weeks, starting at 3 p.m. at the movie theater at Plaza Bugambilias.
The schedule is: February 12 – “Monsieur Bitingly,” February 19 – “Secrets,” February 26 – “The Black Book,” March 4 – “Toyland” (a short) and “A Matter of Size” and March 11 – “Fugitive Pieces.”
Admission will be 50 pesos per person and part of the proceeds will benefit Villa Infantil Nuestra Señora Guadalupe y San Jose.
Congats
Jim and Tillie Kirby celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary and Tillie’s 90th birthday at Fonda Dona Lola in Ajijic on January 23. As well as friends and family in attendance, there was a performance by a children’s ballet folklorico troupe and a great dinner. Some of Tillie’s Red Hat Ladies friends also showed up. Congratulations!
Learning
The Lake Chapala Society Learning Seminar set for Tuesday, February 7, noon will be chaired by Fred Harland and feature (via TED Internet podcast) Harvard’s Michael Sandel speaking on “The Lost Art of Democratic Debate.”
Sandel is considered one of the world’s most interesting philosophers, whose “Justice” lectures regularly draw 1,000-plus students eager to discuss big questions of modern political life. In this podcast Sandel argues that democracy thrives on democratic debate, that we’re woefully out of practice and models such a debate.
Green meeting
The Lake Chapala Green Group is celebrating its fourth anniversary and wants to thank the community for supporting its many talks and projects.
Celebrate with them and help brainstorm ideas for the coming years at a meeting on Tuesday, February 7, 3 p.m. on the back patio of the Lake Chapala Society. There will be snacks and door prizes. Check out the website at www.lakechapalagreengroup.com.
More shots
In view of the recent rise in reported cases of “swine” or “H1N1” flu in Jalisco, flu shots have been added to the list of vaccinations to be given at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) during its Health Care Days, Wednesday, February 8 and Thursday, February 9, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The shots cost 300 pesos each. Prior sign-up at the LCS office is necessary. The fee must be paid at the nurse’s station at the time of the vaccination.
Duck races
Pair up with rubber duckies and race for prizes in the upcoming duck races at the Ajijic Chili Cookoff, scheduled for Tobolandia Friday, February 10 through Sunday, February 12.
The speedy quackers come at a price of 50 pesos for one, three for 100 pesos, seven for 200 pesos and 20 for 500 pesos. Ducks are available at the Cruz Roja table at LCS, in front of SuperLake Market and from your Cruz Roja volunteers – so get in the inaugural race, benefit several lakeshore charities and maybe win a new flat-screen TV.
Dine with the Shrine
La Nueva Posada owner Michael Eager and his mother Judy receive a certificate of appreciation from Shriner Jack Norman for hosting the Dine with the Shrine event on January 26.
Parteee
Don’t miss the Party Cruise of the year with the Lake Chapala Society Singles Group on Thursday, February 23, 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the Batur cruise ship.
Tickets are 180 pesos per person and include a free drink and all the fun you and your friends can drum up, along with a spectacular sunset. Buy your tickets at the Lake Chapala Society, February 13 to 23, from 10 a.m. to noon or at Diane Pearl Colecciones at Ocampo 1 in Ajijic. They are also available from Phil Rowlatt-Smith at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and (387) 761-0125, or Sue Hurst at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and (376) 765-6334. Everyone, single or not, is welcome.
The Batur will leave from the east end of the Chapala malecon.
Life planning
Everyone is invited to a presentation by Life Planning in Jalisco on Friday, February 24, 2 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Society.
Topics of discussion will be Mexico’s federal “End of Life” legislation and the Jalisco state legislation on the same subject passed in July 2011.
The speaker will be Lic. Roberto Espinoza. Also in attendance will be Rafael Vargas, a notary public who put in key work on the legislation. Azucena Bateman will be translating.
There is no charge for this informative meeting.
Bus trips
Upcoming Cruz Roja bus trips head to Tonala/Tlaquepaque on Wednesday, February 15 (200 pesos) and Tequila on Wednesday, February 29 (950 pesos). Tickets can be purchased Monday through Friday at the Cruz Roja Table at LCS from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
Did you know that the first Pope was married?
St. Peter, traditionally recognized by Roman Catholics as the first Bishop of Rome, the rock upon which the Christian Church was built and the center of Church authority, had a mother-in-law. We don’t know her name but the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke all mention her healing at the hands of Jesus, and she’s the focus of Father Winston Welty’s sermon on Sunday, February 5 titled “From Fever to Faith.”
What must it have been like for her to have her son-in-law leave his wife, family and business to follow Jesus? What do her sickness and her healing tell us about the nature of faith? The congregation will be thinking about that at St. Andrew’s this week and they would love to have you join them for worship at either the 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. service. Whichever service you chose, you’re welcome at the fellowship hour between the two services at 10 a.m. The church is located at Calle San Lucas 19 in Riberas del Pilar.
February 5 is also “Outreach Sunday,” at which time Tom Music of Operation Compassion, a feeding program in San Antonio Tlayacapan, will be on hand between services to talk about his mission.
The St. Andrew’s choir will present a wonderful “Hymn Festival” at 4 p.m. on Sunday, directed by the renowned Thomas Pavlechko and accompanied by musical instruments. The concert costs 200 pesos.
Presbyterians
Pastor Ross Arnold of Lakeside Presbyterian Church will preach about “Real People: The Deliverance of Jonah” from Jonah 1:1 to 2:10. The service begins at 10 a.m.
Friday, February 10, the Bible Study class meets at 10 a.m. in the Book of Acts.
The Presbyterians are collecting donated items for their spring charity bazaar. Clothing, furnishings, electronics, books and such can be dropped off whenever the church is open or between 10 a.m. and noon, Monday through Wednesday, from February 6 through February 22. For pick up or for more details, contact Betty Prentki at 766-4292. The bazaar is scheduled for March 2 and 3. All of the proceeds from the bazaar will go to local Lakeside charities.
Christ Church Anglican
Christ Church Anglican Fellowship will observe the fifth Sunday after the Epiphany on February 5 with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 10 a.m. The service will be held on the ground floor of Manix Restaurant at Ocampo 57 in Ajijic. The sermon by Father Danny Borkowski will be “What Jesus Came out to Do,” based on Mark 1:29-39.
Unitarians
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Sta. Margarita 113 in Riberas del Pilar. Sunday, February 5, Fred Harland will give a talk entitled “Understanding Religion: A Perspective from Science.” Why do so many people throughout the world and in every culture have religious beliefs? They hold beliefs for which they are sometimes prepared to die and kill for. Often, those beliefs come with little evidence.
There will be a coffee hour social following the service. For more information call 766-1119 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..