St. Andrew’s Anglican
“Assisting at the Birth” is the subject of the Sunday, November 29 sermon at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church.
Says Fr. Winston Welty: “Advent, the four Sundays before Christmas is not the only way in which Christians anticipate, again, the birth of Jesus. This is also a time of truth-telling, about God and about ourselves, that helps us see and participate in all the ways in which God continues to be present in the circumstances of every human life.”
Sunday School begins each week at 9:45 a.m. The worship service is at 10 a.m. with refreshments served afterwards in the garden. On the last Sunday of each month, donations provide lunches for Mezcala schoolchildren. Every Sunday, the feeding program supported by St. Andrew’s welcomes donations of non-perishable items, which can be left in baskets by the church doors.
St. Andrew’s is at Calle San Lucas 19, a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Christ Church
Christ Church Episcopal congregation honors Advent Sunday and the new liturgical year during the Sunday, November 22, 9:30 a.m. service at the Little Chapel by the Lake (Carretera 10, Chula Vista). Fr. Danny Borkowski will preside. The theme of his message is “Look Busy, Jesus Is Coming,” based on Luke 21:25-36.
The congregation shares a common coffee fellowship with the Little Chapel from 10:35 to 11:10 a.m.in the Fellowship Hall.
The two congregations are co-sponsoring a Christmas Posada in San Juan Tecomatlan on Sunday, December 13. Those attending will leave the Little Chapel in a convoy at 12:15 p.m.
The Christ Church Bible Study meets on Tuesday, December 1, 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
San Andres English
The theme of the English Mass at San Andres Catholic Church on Sunday, November 29, 9 a.m. is “Our Liberation from Fear.”
“Fear is the most crippling of all the emotions and there are many things in life and in the world to make us afraid,” says Fr. Basil G. Royston, D. Min. “We lack integrity because we are afraid to be ourselves. Today we lift up our souls to Christ who comes to deliver us from fear. We can stand erect, hold out heads high, and dwell in confidence.”
The children from Villa Infantil de Guadalupe and San Jose will sing during their visit to the English mass on Sunday, December 6. The congregation helps provide some of the food, clothing and other needs for the 32 orphans and three sisters who live in the south shore home.
Little Chapel
Retired Pastor Max DeBeeson’s sermon topic for the Sunday, November 29, 11:15 a.m. service at the Little Chapel by the Lake is “The Purpose of Life – What on Earth Am I Here For?
There will be a time of fellowship from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. with the congregation of Christ Church Episcopal. The two groups will also cooperate to sponsor the annual
Christmas Posada for children in San Juan Tecomatlan on Sunday, December 13, 1 p.m. Those interested in attending can meet at the church at 12:15 p.m. to caravan to the village.
The two congregations have scheduled Christmas caroling at assisted living centers for Thursday, December 17 and Friday, December 19. Contact Kay Borkowski from Christ Church at (376) 766-2495 for more information. A Candlelight Christmas Eve Service is planned for Thursday, December 24. The time will be announced.
Unitarian Universalists
The Sunday, November 29, 10:30 a.m. service for the congregation of the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalists is titled “We Give Thanks.” Maintaining an attitude of thankfulness in good times and bad is a spiritual discipline worth cultivating.
The service leader is Mardele Harland and the speakers are Janice Kimball, Teresa Sande, Fred Harland and Sandy Wallin. In addition, Rodrigo Leal will play Mozart’s Piano Sonata Ks .331.
The group now has an enhanced personal sound system to helping those with hearing issues during Sunday services. Attendees can use headphones or ear buds connected to an FM radio or FM capable cell phone.
The local group is an English-speaking, lay-led fellowship that meets every Sunday on the west side of Ajijic in Plaza de la Ribera (formerly Sol y Luna), Rio Bravo 10A, in a wheelchair-accessible facility.
Buddhist Community
When the Heart of Awareness Community meets on Wednesday, December 2, Noble Silence begins at 4 p.m. followed by a formal meditation, dharma teachings and discussion at 4:30 p.m. The teaching will be the last of the four-part Tricycle Retreat, “Cultivating Emotional Intelligence.” Josh Korda does a video presentation, “Being an Emotional Support.”
The sangha is at Guadalupe Victoria 101, suites A-B, in Ajijic. The 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.
HU Chant
Chanting HU, an ancient name for the Divine, while in a contemplative state, is a simple technique to open your heart to greater happiness, love, inner peace and understanding. Join the group on Saturday, December 5, 10:30 a.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living, Nicholas Bravo 17, for a short group HU Chant followed by refreshments and fellowship time.
For more information, contact Hallie Shepherd at (376) 766-3656 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.. Sponsored by Eckankar Mexico.
Bible Study
Classes in Bible study begin Saturday, December 12, 12:15 p.m. With the exception of statuary holidays, the sessions will continue for eight weeks of study of the Book of Kings.
Those interested in attending are asked to commit to attending regularly. Organizers say it’s unfair to regular attendees to repeat chapters missed by some. There is a cost of 30 pesos for copies. Notify Baruch Rand at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register interest in the study, before Tuesday, December 8.
St. Mark’s Anglican
Guadalajara
The hanging of greens, lighting of the Advent wreath and start of the campaign for “InfantCare Joco” are highlights of Sunday, November 29, the first Sunday of Advent, at St. Mark’s Anglican/Guadalajara. The English speaking group arrives a half hour early, at 10 a.m., to facilitate the greens hanging.
During Mass, the choir under Debbie Matthew will sing Advent music: Bach’s exquisite arrangement of “Sleepers Wake!” and the 9th-century plainsong hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”
Sue Priddy distributes envelopes throughout Advent for donations to provide Jocotepec mothers who give birth at a tiny clinic with items such as blankets and diapers. She also organizes the purchase of poinsettias, usually given as a memorial to a loved one, to decorate the church for the “really big show,” as the Rev. Dr. Jim Priddy jokes — the musical Christmas Eve Mass at 6 p.m.
Sunday, December 6, will be a full day at St. Mark’s, with Tom VandenBosch ordained as deacon at the 10:30 Mass and the beloved community musical service “Lessons and Carols” at 6 p.m.