Bible Study
Baruch Rand from the Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation begins Bible study classes on Saturday, December 12, 12:15 p.m.
With the exception of statuary holidays, the group will continue meeting for eight weeks. The study begins with the Book of Kings. Those participating are urged to attend regularly so everyone can move forward together.
There will be a charge of 30 pesos for copies. Those wishing to attend should notify 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..
Lake Chapala Baptist
“In grammar, words within parenthesis are usually just extra detail,” says Brother Bob Hendrick of the Lake Chapala Baptist Church. “The sentence is complete without that information; it still makes perfect sense. In math equations, numbers and figures inside parenthesis are important and need to computed first.
“Sometimes Christians treat the Sovereign Lord as if He is grammatically parenthetical. The last part the fourth chapter of James reminds us that God is more mathematical than grammatical. He is to be considered first in our equations if we want to come to proper conclusions.”
Lake Chapala Baptist’s worship service on Sunday, December 13 is set for 11 a.m. Sunday school begins at 9:45 a.m. at the church at Santa Margarita 147 in Riberas del Pilar.
Christ Church
Christ Church Episcopal observes the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) on Sunday, December 13, 9:30 a.m. when Fr. Danny Borkowski celebrates the Holy Eucharist, Rite II, in the Little Chapel by the Lake. Borkowski’s message is “Good News!” based on Luke 3: 7-18.
The two churches share fellowship and coffee from 10:35-11:10 a.m. Refreshments will be more substantial this week as the congregations will leave at 12:15 p.m. to provide a posada in San Juan Tecomatlan.
The Tuesday, December 15 Bible Study meets at 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Little Chapel
Pastor Michael Hoyle will be back in the pulpit of the Little Chapel by the Lake for the service on Sunday, December 13, 11:15 a.m.
Members of the Little Chapel and Christ Church will visit San Juan Tecomatlan (east of Chapala) for the annual children’s posada, leaving around 12:15 p.m. For more information, call Belva at 766-2538.
Lakeside Presbyterian
In his third Advent message on Sunday, December 13, 10 a.m., Pastor Ross Arnold of Lakeside Presbyterian Church will reflect on the role of John the Baptist in a sermon entitled “The Herald.”
Arnold says, “In the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist called the people to repent from their sins, predicting dire consequences for those who did not obey. Soldiers, tax collectors, and a gathered crowd all ask John what they should and should not be doing. John’s answers predict the teachings of Jesus.
“The people wondered if the charismatic John might be the expected Messiah. John assured them that the One who was to come, the One we now celebrate during Advent and Christmas, would be much greater. He said that he ‘was not the light, but came only to bear witness to the light, and that he was not worthy to carry the sandals of the One who would come.’”
Lakeside Presbyterian Church is at San Jorge 250 in Riberas del Pilar. Turn at Mom’s Restaurant and go two blocks. The church is on the right. On this second Sunday, the church hosts a full lunch buffet for members and guests.
Unitarian Universalist
Teresa Sande is the leader at the Sunday, December 13, 10:30 a.m. service of the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist. The program is “Girl Rising: Why the Education of Girls Matters,” by Ellen McFarland.
The group now has an enhanced personal sound system to help those with hearing issues during the Sunday services. Attendees can use headphones or ear buds connected to an FM radio or FM capable cell phone.
This is an inclusive English-speaking, lay-led fellowship that meets every Sunday at Plaza de la Ribera, Rio Bravo 10A, in a wheelchair-accessible facility.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
For the second consecutive Sunday, those attending the December 13 service at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, will hear John the Baptizer raining on their parade, calling them names, threatening them with destruction, and then calling it all “good news.” It may have parishioners wondering if this is how they are to prepare for Christmas? Fr. Winston Welty’s sermon at the 10 a.m.service, “Turning Up the Volume,” suggests that John’s harsh but realistic words do prepare us, not just for the Babe of Bethlehem, but also for the complex Messiah who baptizes with Spirit and fire.
Sunday School begins at 9:45 a.m. Refreshments are served in the garden after the service. On the second Sunday of each month, donations are received for the support of Sunday School children and their families in Jocotepec. Every Sunday, the feeding program supported by St. Andrew’s welcomes donations of non-perishable food 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.
New Hope
New Hope Christian Fellowship will make a second attempt to install elders for the congregation on Sunday, December 13, 11 a.m. Unfortunately, illness forced postponement of the service originally planned in November.
When the elders are in place, plans to move to a new location will proceed as the group secures signage, furniture and other necessities.
Meanwhile, Sunday services will continue at the home of the association president, with a prior refreshment and fellowship time. Following the worship service, members continue fellowship at a local restaurant.
New Hope Christian Fellowship is a non-denominational congregation for all believers. For more information, including directions to the service, call the pastor at (376) 766-3435.
Buddhist Community
When the Heart of Awareness Community meets on Wednesday, December 16. the Noble Silence begins at 4 p.m., followed by a formal meditation, dharma teachings and discussion at 4:30 p.m.
Local long-time student Kevin Knox will give the first of two talks on Buddhist practice traditions. This week’s talk is “The Buddha’s Own Practice, Theravada and Modern Vipassana.”
The sangha’s 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 heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert at (376) 766-6069.
St. Mark’s Anglican/Guadalajara
On Sunday, December 13, St. Mark’s will continue to celebrate Advent and enjoy the excellent sermons of the Rev. Dr. Jim Priddy at the 10:30 a.m. English Mass.
Sue Priddy will distribute envelopes to provide mothers who give birth at a tiny Jocotepec clinic with items such as blankets and diapers.
She is also organizing the purchase of poinsettias to decorate the church for the Christmas Eve musical Mass Thursday, December 24, 7 p.m. St. Mark’s choir under Debbie Matthew, with regular and guest singers and the acclaimed Ana Silvia Guerrero on the organ, will provide the music. As director Matthew explains, “We’ll do a lot of beautiful music, from hymns and carols and anthems.” The small chapel is known for its excellent acoustics.
See www.stmarksanglican.org.