Activities
Adults are going to have their very own “play days” at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) on coming Saturdays.
Beginning on Saturday, March 31, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. games like Scrabble, Texas Hold ‘Em, Mexican Train, Hand and Foot and others will be set up on the back patio and run by volunteers. A cash bar will be set up with Bloody Marys, beer and wine for sale. Besides the activities on March 31, more are scheduled for April 21, May 19, June 25 and August 5 (none in July). Playing is free for LCS members.
Liberals and conservatives
“Why do Liberals and Conservatives Disagree?” will be the title of a lecture on Tuesday, March 20, 2 p.m. in the Lake Chapala Society Sala.
Richard Rhoda will present the current research on the very basic underlying human values that explain why these two groups disagree.
“Many liberals think conservatives must be ignorant, self-serving, stupid or just plain evil and conservatives often feel that liberals are hopelessly naïve, idealistic, degenerate and immoral,” says Rhoda.
Come early, seating is limited. For information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Jewish congregation
Members of the Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation gathered for Purim on March 7 to celebrate the courage of Queen Esther when she revealed the evil plans of the king’s aid, Hamen, and saved the Jewish people. The party is noisy because, as they are enacting the story and Hamen’s name is mentioned, they all make noise with their noise makers. A special pastry shaped like Hamen’s three-cornered hat is typical fare. Purim is a joyous and noisy celebration.
New IRS form
Democrats Abroad has sent out a message to inform U.S. citizens living in Mexico about a new information reporting form that taxpayers will use starting this tax filing season to report specified foreign financial assets for tax year 2011.
The Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets) should be filed by taxpayers with specific types and amounts of foreign financial assets or foreign accounts. It is important for taxpayers to determine whether they are subject to this new requirement because the law imposes significant penalties for failing to comply. Form 8938, the instructions, regulations implementing this new foreign asset report and other information to help taxpayers determine if they are required to file Form 8938 is available on the web at www.irs.gov/businesses/corporations/article/0,,id=251217,00.html.
Doctors
Lakeside residents will have the opportunity to learn more about how to access top physicians around the world for any serious medical condition at an event set for Friday, March 23, 1 p.m. at the Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurant (lower level). TioCorp Insurance will introduce Best Doctors Health Insurance to Lakesiders, with executives from the Best Doctors from the worldwide head office in Boston, Dr. German Ochoa and Jazmin Hutchinson in person. Complimentary wine and refreshments will follow the talk. For more information contact TioCorp at 766-3978.
Red Cross bus
The Red Cross bus trip to Guadalajara on Wednesday, April 4, heads to Galerias Mall, with its many stores, restaurants and movie theaters, plus adjacent Wal-Mart, Sam’s, Costco and Mega. The bus leaves from the sculpture at the lower La Floresta entrance at 9 a.m. and will return at 3:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, April 25, the bus leaves for Tonala and Tlaquepaque at 9 a.m. and returns at 4 p.m.
There are still a few seats left for the trip to the plush Andares Mall on Wednesday, March 28, leaving at 9:30 a.m. and returning at 3:30 p.m.
Tickets for the round trips cost 200 pesos and can be purchased at the Cruz Roja table at the Lake Chapala Society.
String theory
Fred Harland will chair the seminar set for March 20, at noon in the LCS Sala. The seminar will feature (via TED Internet podcast) physicist Brian Greene speaking on “String Theory made Simple.” Greene, author of “The Fabric of the Cosmos,” teaches physics and mathematics at Columbia University. He is perhaps the best-known proponent of the superstring theory—the idea that miniscule strands of energy vibrating in a higher space-time dimension create every particle and force in the universe. Show up and join in what is sure to be a lively discussion after the podcast.
Charity at Roberto’s
Roberto’s Restaurant is sponsoring “An Evening under the Caribbean Moon” to benefit the feeding program of San Antonio Tlayacapan.
Operation Ministries feeds 60 to 90 needy local people each day and delivers 20 to 30 meals to those who are house-bound.
The event will be held Wednesday, March 28, with cocktails (Frosty Pina Colada or Fresh Mango Daiquiris) from 5:30 p.m. and dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Appetizers will be citrus-dressed greens with a marinated pork and pineapple kebob. The entrée is giant seafood-stuffed shrimp and jerk chicken breast, plantains and San Juan rice and beans. Dessert will be tropical fruit mousse on thin, crispy pastry with coconut crumble.
Music for the mood and dancing will be by D.J. Howard.
Tickets are 250 pesos at Roberto’s Restaurant, Diane Pearl’s Colecciones, from Suzanne Poole at 766-4184 or Thomas Music at (cel.) 331-547-2726.
Winding up
By the way, Roberto’s is throwing an End-of-Season-Wind-Up on Friday, March 23, 6:30 p.m. with a great delicious Mexican buffet, music by Sol y Luna and topped off with fireworks at 9 p.m.
The price is 160 pesos per person. Reservations mandatory at 766-1616.
Presbyterians
Continuing his Lenten series, Pastor Ross Arnold of Lakeside Presbyterian Church will continue with his Lenten series on March 18. The title of the sermon is “The Cross of Christ,” using Colossians 2: 13-15 as the text. The Friday interactive Bible study at 10:30 a.m. is continuing in the Book of Acts.
Lakeside Presbyterian Church is located on the mountain side of the Carretera just west of S&S Auto and Bubba’s Restaurant.
The church is planning its second annual Easter Sunrise Service and Breakfast at Hole-in-One Restaurant. Because Easter falls on April 8 and is much earlier in the spring than usual, the service will be held at 8 a.m., anticipating the sunrise at about 7:45 a.m.
The Church will offer a full breakfast at the restaurant at no charge. All community members are welcome. No tickets and no RSVP required. The service celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and will include praise, prayer and lots of singing.
Unitarians
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in Riberas del Pilar at Santa Margarita 113. Sunday, March 18, Helen White will read a sermon entitled “Goodbye to All That” by Rev. Edward A. Frost. It’s about holding on rather than letting go and thus creating a more productive life. For more information call 766-1119 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Christ Church Anglican
The Christ Church Anglican Fellowship will take its service to Mazamitla on March 18, along with a picnic to share with Anglicans there.
Christ Church was honored last week with a visit from The Rt. Reverend Lino Rodriguez Amaro, Bishop of the West of Mexico in the Anglican Church of Mexico. During the visit he and Rev. Ricardo Joel Gomez Osnayato, head of the Anglican seminary in Guadalajara, approved Lakesider Rob Wells to study for the diaconate and to receive Inez Dayer, Frances Clemmons and Mina Powers into the Anglican Communion.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
The somewhat startling message from Father Winston Welty at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church on Sunday, March 18 will be “Don’t Call Me a Christian!” This is a meditation on grace, based on Ephesians 2: 1-10 and a portion of Jesus’ nighttime encounter with Nicodemus in the Gospel of John.
During the Fellowship hour between the 9 a.m. and the 11 a.m. services, St. Andrew’s will present donations to eight Lakeside charities from the proceeds of the successful 2011 Regalorama held in December.
Tuesday, March 20, the fourth part of the Lenten Bible study of the Gospel According to St. Mark begins at 11 a.m. and, as it focuses on Mark 5; 18-21 it asks “Do you Not Yet Understand?” Take your Bible and a seeking spirit.
The Annual Spring Garden Party is set for Friday, March 30, with social hour at noon and a tasty lunch to follow at 1 p.m. Reserve your space by phoning the church office at 765-3926.
St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19 a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.