Several English-speaking churches have announced plans to celebrate Christmas.
At St. Mark’s Anglican church, Christmas Eve worship begins at 7 p.m., Saturday, December 24, with a bilingual Mass. Many carols and hymns will be sung by St. Mark’s 15-person choir, which will include several singers invited from local professional choirs. Debra Rodriguez directs, accompanied by Ana Siliva Guerrero on organ. A highlight will be Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” sung at the conclusion of Mass.
Afterward, worshippers will enjoy seasonal refreshments in the parish hall.
The church is a two-minute drive north of Plaza Mexico, on the corner of Aztecas and Chichimecas in Colonia Monraz. www.stmarksanglican.org, (33) 3641-6620.
At St. John Cristosomo Roman Catholic church, the English speaking group holds its English Mass at 11 a.m. on Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, with music by the church choir, the well known ten-member, a cappella group Cantabile. The group was founded by American musician John Brown and has been directed for several years by Jesus Chavez.
After Mass, a coffee and doughnut brunch is planned.
The church is near Sears in the Grand Plaza shopping center at Vallarta and Lazaro Cardenas Avenues.
Larry Trotter, pastor of Christ the Redeemer Presbyterian church, said the Bugambilias-area congregation will present a Christmas program, including children and adults performing songs and skits, at 6 p.m. Saturday, December 24. “Visitors are welcome,” Trotter stressed, including at the full dinner that follows the program.
The church will have an English-Spanish Christmas service at noon Christmas Day. The music will consist of the congregation singing music that will be more traditional than usual, Trotter said, accompanied by piano, guitar and/or violin. Refreshments follow. Located at Callejon del Iris 45 off Cto. De Las Flores N., (33) 3684-5448.
At English Fellowship of Guadalajara, an offshoot of Rey de Reyes Presbyterian church near Patria and Vallarta, Pastor Ray De Lange notes that the church actually slows down during this season since so many members are international and travel home. But a Christmas Eve celebration is planned at the De Lange home at 7 p.m., Saturday, December 24. Call (33) 3627-8559 or 044-331-445-4779 for more information. On Sunday, Christmas Day, a worship service is planned at the normal time (6 p.m.) and place (5181 Gabriele d’ Annunzio, in Colonia Jardines Vallarta).