Wildlife Bazaar
A special charity bazaar and wildlife expo is set for Sunday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Flora Exotica, across the Libramiento from Centro Laguna Mall.
Shoppers can stop by, check out the bargains, visit with Whiskers the Chinchilla or get a hug from Flamita, the corn snake.
Members of Fauna Silvestre Mexico will be on hand with rescued area wildlife.
Volunteers from a variety of charities will exhibit a selection of new and gently used treasures.
British Society
Adriana Fernandez, the owner of Ajijic’s El Granero, will present the program at the Saturday, August 1, 1 p.m. meeting of the Lakeside British Society at Restaurant Manix.
Fernandez will share with members of the group the uses of the many grains, spices, cereals and other dry goods she stocks in her shop on the Carretera.
Call Alicia 765-4786 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you plan to attend and state your choice of menu. Visitors are welcome
The meal costs 120 pesos, including tip. Choices are Chicken Cordon Bleu and vegetables, or Basa Florentine and vegetables. Both come with a side salad. A large salad is available instead of the two main dishes, if preferred. Dessert is carrot cake.
Intro to Spanish
A casual Spanish class for beginners is offered each month for Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members. The four class sessions include the pronunciation of the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases to use about town, and other useful information about lakeside and Mexican culture.
In August, the weekly class will start on Tuesday, August 11, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Classes are held on the LCS campus. Learning materials are provided; class tuition is 175 pesos. Students can sign up in the LCS office during regular office hours. It is even easier and quicker to sign up at www.lakechapalasociety.com.
LCS Seminars
Fred Harland, coordinator of the LCS Learning Seminars, reveals that the society is experimenting with a pilot series of four August TED-based learning seminars to test the response and attendance ahead of the normal fall resumption of the seminar program.
Each of the sessions will be chaired by Harland and held in the Neill James Sala from noon to 1:15 p.m.
The Tuesday, August 4 seminar features a TED talk, “The Fringe Benefits of Failure,” by J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books. In this 2008 Harvard commencement address, Rowling offers powerful, heartening advice to dreamers and overachievers, including one hard-won lesson that she deems “worth more than any qualification I ever earned.”
Monica Lewinsky’s TED talk on Tuesday, August 11 is “The Price of Shame.” As she wisely says, “Public shaming as a blood sport has to stop.” In 1998, she lost her personal reputation, on a global scale, nearly instantaneously. Today, that type of public shaming has become constant online, and can turn deadly. In this brave talk, she takes a hard look at the online culture of humiliation.
The Tuesday, August 18 seminar features psychologist Guy Winch presenting,“Why We All Need to Practice Emotional First Aid.”
The month’s last learning session on Tuesday, August 25 features Anand Giridharadas with “A Tale of Two Americas and the Mini-mart Where They Collide.”
Love in Action
Recent renovations sponsored by Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club, Charles Lloyd and Geoffrey Kaye have transformed Love in Action’s teen girls’ house, and provided offices for staff psychologists, new play therapy space and a community room.
Nonetheless, there is plenty more work to be done.
A recent government inspection condemned two buildings at the home. One is the boys’ living quarters. The other houses the school library and computer room. These buildings are beyond repair and must be demolished immediately. The demolition cost for both buildings is estimated at $US 7,000.
Those interested in helping with the project can email Kari Romey 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..
Planning Ahead
Dates have been set for two of lakeside’s most popular holiday events.
Local residents will be anxious to mark their busy December calendars and reserve tickets for the annual Christmas dinner at the Jaltepec Education Center in Hotel and Hospitality Management on Tuesday, December 1, as well as the luncheon on Wednesday, December 2.
While the full menu will be revealed in the formal invitations sent to sponsors and announced in this publication in mid-October, Linda Buckthorp is taking reservations for the popular sell-out events now. Those interested can call her at (376) 766-1631 or email 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..
According to local holiday tradition, in addition to the roast turkey dinner, the Los Cantantes del Lago along with Musical Director Timothy G. Ruff Welch will be on hand at both events to give diners a taste of their annual Christmas concert.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
The version of the story of Jesus feeding a multitude from the Gospel of John is the worship service reading on Sunday, July 26 at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. When Mark tells the same story, he criticizes the disciples for not seeing the connection between a loaf of bread and walking on water. That mysterious connection, and its implication for modern believers, is the focus of Fr. Winston Welty’s sermon, “Finding God In A Loaf of Bread.”
Sunday School begins each week at 9:45 a.m. with the worship service at 10 a.m., followed by refreshments in the garden. On the last Sunday of each month, donations are received to provide lunches for Mezcala schoolchildren. Every Sunday, the feeding program supported by St. Andrew’s welcomes donations of non-perishable food items. They can be left in the baskets by the church doors.
The men of the parish will meet for lunch on Wednesday, July 29 at Adelita’s Restaurant in San Antonio Tlayacapan.
St. Andrew’s is at Calle San Lucas 19, a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Lakeside Presbyterian
One of many words once in common usage but seldom used and little understood today is “repent,” a term critical to understanding the message and mission of Jesus.
On Sunday, July 26, during the 10 a.m. worship service at the Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Pastor Ross Arnold will explore the meaning of the word, and how it still applies in his sermon, “If You Love Me – Repent.” From the time that Jesus withdrew to Galilee upon hearing that John was in prison, he began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” as is recorded in Matthew 4:12,17.
Refreshments will be served following the worship service and the Pastor’s Forum convenes in the church library at 11:30 a.m. Attendees may ask Pastor Ross questions about the sermon, the church, the faith, or any other topic of interest.
Lakeside Presbyterian Church is at San Jorge 250 in Riberas del Pilar, two blocks south of Mom’s Deli.
Little Chapel
The interdenominational congregation of The Little Chapel by the Lake will share a fellowship and refreshment time with the congregation of Christ Church Lakeside on Sunday, July 26, 10:45 a.m.
Rev. Gene Raymer begins the Little Chapel’s weekly worship service at 11:15 a.m. “With so many activities available to us,” he says, “it’s easy for our spirits to wander from the plan God has for each person He has created. We need to be aware of the efforts of Satan to distract us from our calling.” Following the worship service, members of the congregation meet in a different restaurant for a meal to continue the fellowship.
The video series, “Experiencing God,” continues on Tuesday, July 28, 7 p.m., followed by discussion.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is on the mountain side of the Carretera just east of the Chula Vista golf course. More information is available on the Facebook page: TLCBTL.
San Andres English
The Biblical readings for the English Mass on Sunday, July 26, 9 a.m. begin with the prophet Elisha and 20 heads of barley, and culminate in the familiar reading of the loaves in the Gospel of John.
“This week we celebrate the ‘Christ Who Feeds Us,’” says Fr. Basil G. Royston, D, Min. He adds, “We celebrate today the new Elisha who feeds his people and makes us one body, one spirit in himself.”
Remember: On the first Sunday, August 2, members of the San Andres congregation have the opportunity to replay the story of “The Christ Who Feeds Us,” when they present offerings of non-perishable food, cleaning and laundry supplies, toiletries, and paper products for the 30 orphans and their caregivers at Villa Infantil de Guadalupe y San Jose.
Christ Church
Christ Church Lakeside will observe the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost by celebrating the Holy Eucharist Rite II on Sunday, July 26, 9:30 a.m. in The Little Chapel by the Lake at Carretera 10 near the entrance to upper Chula Vista.
Fr. Danny will preside. The theme of his message, based on John 6:1-21, is “Bread and Fish.”
The congregations of Christ Church Lakeside and The Little Chapel by the Lake share a fellowship time between the two Sunday services.
The Christ Church Bible Study has resumed and will be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The group is beginning with the Gospel of John.
Open Circle
Mexicans call successful author, jazz singer, retired IT consultant and world traveler Dilia Suriel “una cajita llena de sorpresas” (a little box full of surprises).
Suriel will present “Living a Life of Expression, Passion and Possibilities” at the Open Circle meeting on Sunday, July 26, 10:30 a.m. During the talk she will share her insights on the words “passion,” “creativity” and ‘expression” – terms so often thrown around like rings onto bottles in a penny arcade. She’ll view their meanings and the impact they have on those humans who enjoy those attributes, and those who are missing them from the perspective of neurological science, based on her own life in eight different countries, from her own observations ... and while finally divulging her secret recipe for a serious margarita.
Those attending Open Circle meet in the rear gardens of the Lake Chapala Society at 10 a.m. for socializing and refreshments before the weekly presentation.
Buddhist Community
When the Heart of Awareness Community meets on Wednesday, July 29, Noble Silence begins at 4 p.m., followed by a formal meditation, dharma teachings and discussion at 4:30. The teaching will be Larry Rosenberg’s recorded dharma talk, “The Rufuges,” given at the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center.
The sangha is at Guadalupe Victoria 101, suites A-B, in Ajijic. Heart of Awareness is a non-sectarian community grounded in the teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Prior experience or affiliation is not required. For further information on the community and scheduled activities, visit www.heartofawareness.org or call Janet Reichert at (376) 766-6069.
Unitarian Universalist
Bob Koches will present “A Curmudgeon in Community” at the Sunday, July 26, 10:30 a.m. meeting of Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist. This is a follow-up service to Koches’ June talk, “A Curmudgeon in Paradise.” It will be an interactive dialogue concerning how a curmudgeon can live and function in our community.
Unitarian Universalists draw from many sources. The direct experience of transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, moves them to a renewal of the spirit and to being open to the forces which create and uphold life.
These spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct them to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature, with other principles and sources of faith are the backbone of this religious community.
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist group meets every Sunday at Plaza de la Ribera, Rio Bravo 10A. For further information, visit www.uuflc.org.