The Guadalajara Reporter

Laguna Chapalac - December 27, 2013

Recognizing that our marvelously benign year-round climate makes the Chapala area an ideal place to cultivate edible garden goodies, Ajijic resident John McWilliams came up with the idea of getting interested folks together to share ideas and experiences in cultivating home-grown vegetables.

His concept for the veggie growers group is to explore different gardening methods, such as planting in the ground, in containers or hydroponics, to discuss influences of the local altitude and seasons and the best ways to deal with common pest issues, to exchange plants, seeds and information on sources for potting soil, seedlings, fertilizers and tools, and to delve into other relevant topics.

He also hopes to line up guest speakers for regular meetings and arrange occasional field trips to visit greenhouses, farms and gardens in the area.  Kindred spirits may contact McWilliams at 766-0620 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information and the date and location for the first get-together.

LCS Christmas posada

The Lake Chapala Society Christmas posada started with a party for kids who attend the Saturday morning children’s art program. Youngsters a enjoyed refreshments and breaking piñatas donated by LCS and eSun. A party for LCS volunteers followed.

Volunteer fair deadline

Attention Lakeside non-profit groups: the deadline to reserve a slot at the Volunteer Fair to be held Friday, January 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Lake Chapala Society is looming. The cut-off date for booking exhibition space is Friday, January 3.

The fair is open at no charge to all local organizations that strive to make positive differences in the community in areas such as education for Mexican youth, assistance to children with disabilities, human health, animal welfare, and the arts and culture. It’s an event that offers a terrific opportunity to introduce your group’s mission and activities to newcomers and attract new volunteers to the cause.

For registration and further information contact Barbara Hildt via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Lakeside carolers

Approximately 40 Lakeside carolers (the largest turnout since the group began) gathered to entertain residents of the Casa Nostra Assisted Living Home on Thursday, December 19.  Santa was in attendance, in full garb, as was helping dog Tae. They were also joined by La Ola Bell Choir, who will perform at the 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services on Sunday, December 29 at the Little Chapel by the Lake.  The afternoon was deemed a great success by all.

Genealogy Forum

The December meeting of the Genealogy Forum will take place Monday, December 30, 2:30 p.m. in the Sala at Lake Chapala Society. This month’s topic will be “Evernote for Genealogy.” This free software application, Evernote, has proven to be a real boon to genealogy research. This month’s meeting will be an overview of some of the possible uses and techniques to simplify and organize your research. We will also talk about what members are doing currently: any breakthroughs, any exciting new sources, any stubborn brick walls.

Open House

Werner Ruizica will talk on “Thought Chain” at the Open Circle on Sunday, December 29, 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Chapala Society. He will explain how to “change those old records in your head.”

Weekly Open Circle gatherings start with coffee, tea and sandwich bites for socializing at 10 a.m., followed by the program at 10:30 a.m. sharp.

St. Andrew’s Anglican

The story of Christmas is told three times in the Bible.  Luke’s familiar version speaks of shepherds, a crowded inn, a manger, and an angelic chorus.  Matthew’s version is darker, including mysterious visitors from the East, a murderous King Herod, a slaughter of innocents, and a flight into Egypt.  John’s Gospel is the most lyrical and poetic of all, declaring that the Word of God, the Word that spoke all creation into being, took on our flesh and our very nature, and came to dwell among us in the person of Jesus, to be our light and our life.  That’s the version you will hear on the first Sunday after Christmas at St. Andrew’s, and “Light” is the focus of the sermon. 

Worship services at St. Andrew’s are at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., with a time of fellowship and welcome in the garden between services.  Children’s Sunday School begins at 10:45 a.m.  St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19, just a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.

Christ Church

Christ Church Anglican will celebrate the Holy Eucharist on Sunday, December 29, 9:30 a.m. at the Little Chapel by the Lake (Carretera 10) in Chula Vista. There will be a special presentation by the Bell Choir from La Ola Casa Hogar in Jocotepec.  Fr. Danny Borkowski’s sermon topic will be “The Word Made Flesh,” based on John 1:1-18. 

After the Sunday service,  from about 10:35 a.m. until 11:10 a.m., Christ Church and the Little Chapel enjoy a common fellowship time. 

Deacon Rob Wells is leading a Bible Study on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. at the Little Chapel.  The current topic is the Gospel of Matthew.  Wells is using the Jerusalem Bible as his source text because of the richness of its notes and commentary.  You don’t have to have been present at previous sessions to join in.

Center for Spiritual Living

The Reverend Tim Schubert presents “Setting Intentions for the New Year” on Friday, January 3 at the Center for Spiritual Living (Nicolas Bravo 17, Ajijic).  A social hour will follow.  

Wednesday classes resume on January 8 with “This Thing Called You” by Ernest Holmes. The Thursday discussion group has selected a new book, “A Thousand Names for Joy” by Byron Katie. The program begins with an optional meditation from 10-10:20a.m.,  followed by the group from 10:30 a.m.-noon.  The Thursday evening Spanish Group continues in January. 

Unitarians

The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the Plaza de la Ribera (Rio Bravo 10A, Ajijic).  On Sunday, December 29, the Reverend Marsha Fowler will give the talk “Religious Conversion,” an intentionally provocative title for a talk about what religion offers to prospective members.   Dr. Fowler is a a professor of ethics and spirituality at Azuza Pacific University.  

After the service all are welcome to gather for lunch at Viva Mexico in San Juan Cosala.  For more information call 766-1119 or 765-7231, or email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Little Chapel

The Little Chapel by the Lake will return to its normal schedule of services on Sunday, December 29. The congregation will share a refreshment period with Christ Church Anglican Fellowship beginning at 10:30 a.m.  At 11:15 a.m. the regular worship service will begin. The topic of Rev. Gene Raymer’s message will be “Immanuel, God With Us.” Following the service, members of the congregation will meet for a fellowship lunch at a local restaurant.

On Thursday, January 2, the ladies will meet for a fellowship luncheon at 1:30 p.m.  The location for that event has not yet been determined.

The Little Chapel is located on the mountain side of the Carretera just east of Chula Vista Golf Club.

Presbyterians

At Lakeside Presbyterian Church on Sunday, December 29, Pastor Ross Arnold will deliver a sermon entitled “Fulfilling the Prophesies,” based on text from Matthew 2:13-23. 

After Jesus was born, political events appeared to conspire to prevent the fulfillment of his destiny, as the prophets had warned many years before.  Forced by their fear of Herod to flee from Bethlehem to Egypt, the holy family then escaped to Israel, then to Nazareth. 

Sunday worship begins at 10 a.m.  Following the service, there is a time of fellowship and refreshments.  Lakeside Presbyterian Church is in Riberas del Pilar, on the mountain side of the Carretera, between S&S Auto and Vigolari.

CASA

The Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (CASA) is directing one of its charitable efforts to the Soup Kitchen in San Antonio, an organization that provides up to 130 meals daily, six days a week, to the village’s poorest residents.  Each year, CASA member Collette Clavadetscher organizes a very successful Christmas toy drive for needy children in the Lakeside area.  This year CASA will join forces with Clavadetscher’s effort and, in addition to a cash donation, will provide toys to the 58 children who receive their meals at the soup kitchen.

When CASA members arrived at the San Antonio Soup Kitchen to present their donation they were pleased to find the organization’s founder Tom Music and his staff interacting with the needy villagers, who were eating a hearty meal. 

For more information about this group, contact Tom Music at 045-331-547-2726. For more information on CASA contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .