Toastmasters Club
The theme for the September meetings of the Lake Chapala Bilingual Toastmasters Club is “Continued Learning,” which speaks to the reopening of area schools and the many classes and activities area retirees attend.
The Toastmasters meeting on Monday, September 8 will be conducted in English and will include an evaluation contest in English. A week later, on Monday, September 15, the Spanish contest and meeting will be held.
The group meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Sala at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS). For information in English about regular meetings and about the training session on Saturday, September 6, contact Guy Jobidon (376) 766-5181. Marissa Urrutia has information in Spanish at (33) 1600-5937.
Lakeside Progressives
The Lakeside Progressives will meet at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9 at the Peacock Garden Restaurant on Colón in Ajijic.
The August meeting featured a lively discussion about the on-going Gaza tragedy and the U.S. response to this world issue. During the September meeting, members will review the instructions for using the information-sharing email account at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and answer questions.
At the end of meetings those attending stay on to share a meal and continue the discussion. The group’s Facebook page is Lakeside Progressives. Those wishing more information or those who plan to attend the meeting can email Chad Olsen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Lake Chapala Democrats
After taking a summer break, the Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico will resume its monthly general membership meeting schedule in September.
The first meeting will be Monday, September 8, 4 p.m. at La Bodega Restaurant, 16 de Septiembre 124, Ajijic.
Voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts for the fall elections, continuing banking problems for expats caused by a new federal tax law, declining number of U.S. doctors who will accept Medicare patients, and plans for the second year of a fund raising program called Sunday Afternoon at the Movies are items on the agenda.
All chapter members and anyone interested in learning about Democratic efforts are invited to attend. There is no admission charge.
For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Lakeside Conservatives
Carl Goldberg will be coming from Arizona to speak at the next general meeting of the Lakeside Conservatives Group at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10 at Sol y Luna, Rio Bravo 10 in Ajijic.
Goldberg will talk about the Jihadists and why they are targeting the United States. During the meeting and question-and-answer period, attendees will gain sufficient understanding of the ideological nature of Islam to be able to make sense of much of what is going on in the world today.
The group meets each month to discuss topics of concern for U.S. citizens. For membership information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Christening
Chris and Harry Bublin stood up as godparents at the August 31 christening of Santiago Manuel, infant son of Elvia Palacios and Hector España. Following the baptism service at the Capilla del Rosario the new compadres welcomed family and close friends to a Mexican style luncheon celebration.
Pathways Sponsors
Pathways, the local grass-roots group of sponsors of San Juan Cosalá students, is hosting a 3 p.m. meeting on Thursday, September 11 with the group’s students attending prepa (high school) in Jocotepec. The group sponsored 21 prepa students last year; with more available sponsors, this year there are twice that number.
The sponsors of these students are invited to attend so that they can meet the other teens and see each student receive the 2,500-peso beca (sponsorship money).
Cash prizes will be awarded to last year’s top students. John Legood, one of the group’s sponsors, will be on hand to take photos of each of the students.
Sponsor Nancy Martinez will explain the Pathways program to the students and remind them of the expectations for them.
Those wishing to attend should meet at the school at 2:45 p.m. so that the Pathways contact, Gersom Preciado, can escort the attendees to the classroom assigned for the event.
Christ Church
“Building Healthy Community” is the theme of Father Danny Borkowski’s message for the 9:30 a.m. service of Christ Church Lakeside on Sunday, September 7.
The congregations of Christ Church Lakeside and the Little Chapel by the Lake share a common coffee fellowship between their respective services from about 10:25 until 11:10 a.m. in the fellowship area of the Little Chapel, Carretera 10 in Riberas del Pilar.
On the first Sunday of each month, the Christ Church congregations joins those from the Little Chapel for a potluck luncheon at about 12:30 p.m. The theme this month is Italian foods.
Deacon Rob Wells leads Bible study on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to about 11 a.m. in the fellowship hall of the Little Chapel. Wells is using The Jerusalem Bible as the basic text for the class due to the rich footnotes and commentary. The group is currently looking into the Gospel of Luke.
The Little Chapel
The interdenominational service of The Little Chapel by the Lake at 11:15 a.m. Sunday, September 7 will feature Rev. Gene Raymer’s message, “WWPD?”
Says Raymer: “We hear people ask, “What Would Jesus Do?” (WWJD?). While Jesus came to teach, heal and save all mankind, He wasn’t much of an evangelist. There were only about 20 in the upper room after the resurrection. On the other hand, Peter preached and converted 3,000 in one day. And Paul (then called Saul) totally altered his idea of how to serve God and spent the rest of his life starting churches and nurturing the new converts. So in addition to asking what Jesus would do, we need to ask what Peter and Paul would do as we decide how to live our daily lives.”
Beans and rice will be collected from both Christ Church Lakeside and the Little Chapel congregations to help feed the children at Love in Action.
Following the service, the two congregations will share a potluck lunch in the fellowship hall.
The movie “Love Comes Softly” will be shown on Wednesday, September 10 at 4:30 p.m. The movie’s story is of a woman who goes west with her new husband in the 1800s. Free refreshments will be provided.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is on the mountain side of the Carretera just east of the Chula Vista golf course.
Open Circle
Open Circle begins at 10 a.m. each Sunday with coffee, tea and sandwich bites in the back garden of the Lake Chapala Society.
Bob Miller has chosen the title “Mythology, Religion and Reality” for his talk during the 10:30 a.m. meeting on Sunday, September 7.
Says Miller: “There are many events and persons commonly defined as either part of mythology, or of religion, which are considered to be real or historical. Some thought to be real are actually myth or religious doctrine. Deciding where these belong isn’t easy when we remember that one person´s religious belief may be another’s mythology ... and vice versa.”
An 18-year Lakeside resident, Miller earned degrees from the University of Michigan before he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and as a deck officer spent three years on North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean patrol. After a stint at Columbia University, he joined an international company based in New York. Miller married Sally nearly 59 years ago. Transferred to Canada, they had six children. His work took the family to Germany for three years, and he did assignments in a dozen other countries. In retirement he joined archaeological digs in various Mediterranean sites.
Lakeside Presbyterian
This week Pastor Ross Arnold of the Lakeside Presbyterian Church begins a new series of sermons entitled “Return to Narnia,” in which he examines major Christian themes in C.S. Lewis’ classic children’s books, “The Chronicles of Narnia.” The first sermon will focus on “The Magician’s Nephew” and will consider both the dangers presented by occult practices and the wondrous account Lewis gives of creation and its meaning.
Following the 10 a.m. service, the congregation will gather in the garden for refreshments and fellowship. Lakeside Presbyterian Church is mountainside on the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar just west of S&S Auto. Just watch for the LPC sign: “You have family at Lakeside!”
St. Andrew’s Anglican
Father Winston Welty’s sermon for the Sunday, September 7 worship service at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church is entitled “Victim Power.” This week he looks at the painful, difficult choices that make true forgiveness a reality rather than remaining just wishful thinking.
The weekly worship service at St. Andrew’s begins at 10 a.m., with the children’s bi-lingual Sunday School program beginning at 9:45 a.m. A time of fellowship and refreshment in the garden follows the morning service.
The “Company of Gentlemen” meets at the church at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 10, for their monthly informal gathering and breakfast. Those attending should sign up on Sunday.
The congregation will celebrate Mexican Independence Day at the church on Friday, September 19. The social hour begins at 3 p.m. with comida, catered by Cinco Potrillos following at 4 p.m. There will also be a bake sale during the event. Tickets at 150 pesos are available on Sundays in the garden.
St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19, just a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Unitarian Universalist
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays at Sol y Luna at Rio Bravo 10A in Ajijic.
During the Sunday, September 7 service, Susan Miller will present a talk entitled “Is Justice Ever Possible?” A coffee hour will follow.
San Andrés English
Rev. Basil G. Royston, D. Min. has selected the title “Christ Who Paid the Debt of Love” as the homily theme for the Sunday, September 7, 9 a.m. English Mass which is held in the Ajijic parish church.
“Christ became our brother and made himself responsible for us, His brothers and sisters,” says Royston. “He contracted the debt of mutual love. All he asks of us is that we should do the same.”
In order to relieve the constant threat of hunger for the 26 children of Villa Infantil de San Jose y Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe on the south shore of Lake Chapala, those attending the first Mass of each month are asked to bring non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies, toilet tissue, soap and other necessities to place in the baskets at the center door.
Buddhist Community
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community meets in Ajijic for meditation and dharma teachings each Wednesday beginning at 4:30 p.m.at Encarnacion Rosas 9. The film on Wednesday, September 10 will be “Just Doing It,” which features Brad Warner, an American Zoto Zen priest.
The First Sunday Long Sit, from 9 a.m. to noon, will be held on Sunday, September 7 at the same address.
For more information on Heart of Awareness, call Karin Miles at (376) 766-0020.