Making a difference
The Infant Care Joco group consists of only eight active members, but what it lacks in numbers, it makes up for with dedication and enthusiasm.
The group began about a year ago when Barbara Work and Martha Conway realized there was a need among new mothers that was not being met on the far west and south side of the lake. The group now provides 40 to 50 newborn packages per month to the Jocotepec municipality. Each package consists of a sleeper, a pair of booties, four diapers, a bib, a blanket, and a small gift of lotion, soap or shampoo for the mother. The layettes are distributed in San Juan Cosala, Jocotepec, San Cristobal, and El Molino by the free clinics. The nuns at Sacred Heart in Jocotepec also receive packages to give to needy families.
Sewing, knitting, crocheting and quilting are among the talents used by the Infant Care Joco group to complete each package.
Says Work: “Our reward is knowing that poor mothers will have something cute in which to dress their new babies. Each mother is so grateful upon receiving the layette.”
Infant Care Joco welcomes new members and/or contributions of materials or money. Contact Barbara at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Charity bazaar
Why not head over to the charity bazaar/yard sale at Flora Exotica – across from Centro Laguna Mall – on Sunday, August 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Stop by and say hello to “Niño the McCaw,” or have your photo taken with an adorable rescued Chinchilla.
Several charities will be participating. They report lots of new treasures and if you’re looking for something in particular and don’t see it, ask one of the charities. They may have it even if it’s not on display at the sale. No reasonable offer is refused.
Genealogy switch
Due to a scheduling conflict, the August meeting of the Lakeside Genealogy Forum will be held on the patio at the Wilkes Center on Monday, August 26, from 2-4 pm. The Wilkes Center is about two blocks from the Lake Chapala Society at Hermenegildo Galeana 18.
This month’s topic is Reverse Genealogy: Finding the Living. The forum will discuss why one might want to locate living family members, and discuss some techniques that could be used. With the delicate balance between privacy laws and the wealth of information available on the Internet, finding the living can sometimes make you feel like a genealogy private detective.
There won’t be a projector available for the Webinar, so the meeting will include more open discussion. Anyone who has found a long-lost relative or distant cousin is encouraged to bring along their story. Everyone is invited to attend.
Bus trips
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) bus trip will head to Plaza Galerias on Tuesday, September 3. This covered Guadalajara mall boasts many fine stores, including Liverpool, Sears, Best Buy, Zara, the Home Store, Suburbia, Walmart, Sams, Mega and Costco.
There are several excellent restaurants, such as Outback, Applebee’s and Chili’s, plus a food court which has a yummy Krispy Kreme. The price of the trip is 200 pesos. The bus leaves at 9:30 a.m. and returns from the Costco area at 4 p.m.
The craft centers of Tonala and Tlaquepaque are the destinations for the trip planned for Tuesday, September 24. The Guadalajara suburb of Tonala is the first stop, and then it’s on to Tlaquepaque, where a female mariachi group performs at 3 p.m. Cost: 200 pesos. This trip also leaves at 9:30 a.m. and the return is at 4 p.m.
Jewish news
The Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation will be very busy in the next few weeks with several important activities. On Sunday, August 25, 2 p.m., the synagogue is inviting all Jews at Lakeside who are interested in learning about the congregation and potentially becoming members for a comida/lunch of bagels and lox. They will meet renewing members and hear about all the Congregation offers to the Jewish community. Everyone will be welcomed.
Following closely behind are the Jewish High Holidays, which begin the evening of Wednesday, September 4, 6:45 p.m. Rosh Hashanah services continue on Thursday and Friday, September 5 and 6, 10 a.m.
On Friday, September 13 the Congregation will celebrate the beginning of Yom Kippur, by hearing the Kol Nidre chant, and begin the holiest of Jewish holidays. The service continues on Saturday, September 14, 10 a.m. with a break during the day and then returning in the afternoon for the rest of the service, followed by a community potluck breakfast.
All members receive free tickets to all High Holidays’ services. Non-members may attend for 500 pesos. However, no one will be denied attendance due to financial burden.
If you wish to attend Sunday’s membership meeting, RSVP by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The synagogue is located in Riberas del Pilar at Sta Margarita 113, just east of Arden Furniture, behind the big white building on the corner. Call 765-4560 for more information.
Simulcast
Join in the Beth Moore Living Proof Live Simulcast on Saturday, September 14, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Baptist Church (Santa Margarita 147, Riberas del Pilar).
This will be a day of spiritual growth through a message from Beth Moore and praise and worship leader Travis Cottrell.
There will be lunch, snack foods and door prizes.
Tickets cost 150 pesos. The ticket sale cut-off is September 7. No tickets will be sold at the door.
For more information, email Ruthie Baker at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 765-7545.
Christ Church Anglican
Christ Church Anglican Fellowship will mark the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost on August 25 by celebrating the Holy Eucharist Rite II at 9:30 a.m. in the Little Chapel by the Lake, Carretera 10, Chula Vista, Ajijic.
Father Danny Borkowski’s sermon topic is “You Hypocrites! (part 2)” based on Luke 13:10-17.
Christ Church and the Little Chapel by the Lake are resuming their joint fellowship time this week in the Fellowship Hall of the Little Chapel between their two services, from about 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Deacon Rob Wells is leading a Bible Study on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the Little Chapel. Each session lasts about an hour. This week’s session is a continuation of a look at the Gospel of Matthew, a subject which began three weeks ago. Deacon Rob is using the Jerusalem Bible as his principal study text and commentary. It is not necessary to have attended any session in order to take part.
Spiritual Living
Continuing on the theme “Happiness,” the Reverend Maureen Jones will present “Happy Talk” at the Center for Spiritual Living’s regular service on Friday, August 30 (5-6 p.m.). A social hour will follow.
The Nonviolent Communication class continues on Wednesdays (from 10:30 a.m. to noon). Thursday’s discussion group deals with the book “Untethered Soul.”(from 10:30 a.m. to noon, preceded by an optional meditation from 10 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.).
For further information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 766-0920. The center is located at Nicolas Bravo 17, Ajijic.
Interdenominational
The interdenominational congregation which last met at Shangri La will meet at the Little Chapel church building on the Carretera in Chula Vista on Sunday, August 25, 11:15 a.m. The topic of Rev. Gene Raymer’s sermon will be “Thank God for Stress.” It will be based on Haggai 1:4-6. Following the service, members are invited to join together for lunch at Quetzal in Chapala.
LCS party
The Lake Chapala Society and Ajijic Delegado (town administrator) Hector España – along with the España brothers at Manix Restaurant – are once again sponsoring their always popular September 16 Viva Mexico celebration party.
Held on the LCS grounds, this fiesta is a lively, interactive party, picnic and games day for the expat and Mexican communities. The ticket price of 150 pesos includes a globos (balloon) launch, greased pole and sack racing competitions and other activities organized by España. Popular musicians will entertain throughout the day and music will be provided for dancing. A delicious all-you-can-eat Mexican buffet will be prepared and soft beverages and alcoholic drinks will be served at a cash bar.
Children aged ten and under are invited free of charge if accompanied by an adult. This is an opportunity to invite your Mexican friends and their children to share this day together. Get your tickets now at the Lake Chapala Society patio table, Monday to Friday, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Also, contact Manix Restaurant for further details.
Presbyterians
As written in Mark 7:31-37, when Jesus left Tyre, he traveled by a circuitous route to the Sea of Galilee and then to the region of the Decapolis. The people brought a deaf and mute man and begged Jesus to place His hand on him. Imagine the isolation and confusion of this afflicted man, who could not communicate in any way, and was entirely cut off from the rest of the world! Jesus gently took him aside in order not to make him a public spectacle, then signaled what He was about to do. He put His fingers into the man’s ears, touched the man’s tongue, then looked up to Heaven and said “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be Opened.”) And the man could both hear and speak, probably for the first time in his life. The people were overwhelmed with amazement. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone about it, but the more He did so, the more they kept talking.
On Sunday, August 25, in his sermon “Be Opened” at the Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Pastor Ross Arnold will tell us more about faith and miracles. Sunday worship begins at 10 a.m. Following worship, there is a time of refreshments and fellowship. Lakeside Presbyterian Church in is in Riberas del Pliar on the mountain side of the Carretera, just west of S&S Auto.
St. Andrew’s
What is God for you – Comforter, Creator, Savior, Spirit, Forgiver, Teacher, Example, Friend, Healer? How about Consuming Fire? Not so much? No, that’s not the God most of us go looking for, not the God of our hopes and dreams, not the God of our longing. But that may indeed be the God we most need, the God whose holiness can obliterate all in us that stands between us and God. That’s the theme suggested by this week’s sermon at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. “Fire Worship” is based on the reading from the Letter to the Hebrews. For many, perhaps most, avoiding that aspect of God’s reality means that our lives remain incomplete rather than realizing their truest meaning. On the other hand, experiencing that facet of God is one of the primary goals of worship, which begins at St. Andrew’s at 10 a.m. every Sunday morning, and is always followed by a time of welcome, refreshment, and fellowship in the garden. The Church is located at Calle San Lucas 19, just a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Unitarians
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Sta. Margarita 113 (southwest corner of Santa Clara and Sta. Margarita) in Riberas del Pilar. On August 25 Sue Kelley will give the talk “Living Life As If You Mean It,” and will discuss living the age you are now. Guests are welcome to join the fellowship for lunch at Viva Mexico in San Juan Cosala. For more information please call 766-1119 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..