New Hope Christian
This has been a moving week for the non-denominational congregation of New Hope Christian Fellowship. In true Christian spirit, Lakeside Presbyterian Church has made space available for the congregation to worship.
“We will continue with our refreshment time at 10:45 a.m. and worship service will begin at 11,” says Pastor Gene Raymer. “We’ll enter from the rear of the building and go to the second floor.” Greeters will guide visitors to the right location.
Raymer says: “Our message this week will deal with how God blessed the Israelites from the time of their exit from Egypt until their arrival at Mount Sanai and compare it to how God has blessed us since August.”
As always the worship service will be followed by a meal at a local restaurant.
For directions to the church or more information about the congregation, call the pastor at 766-3435.
Christ Church Episcopal
Christ Church Episcopal will observe the Last Sunday after Epiphany, Transfiguration Sunday, by celebrating the Holy Eucharist, Rite II, February 7, 9:30 a.m. in the Little Chapel by the Lake in Chula Vista. Fr. Danny Borkowski will preside and give the message “The Light of Tabor,” based on Luke 9:28-43a.
Ash Wednesday will be celebrated on February 10, 11 a.m. in the Little Chapel with the Holy Eucharist, Rite 2, and the imposition of ashes.
The congregations of Christ Church and the Little Chapel share a coffee fellowship between their two services from about 10:35 until 11:10 a.m.
The Tuesday Bible Study sponsored by CCE continues the study of John’s Gospel.
Little Chapel
Little Chapel by the Lake will continue with the message “Prayer, is it worthwhile and effective?” lead by Frances Clemmons at the 11:15 a.m. service. Fellowship time with coffee and refreshments begins at 10:30 a.m.
The Little Chapel is in Chula Vista, on the Carretera, east of the golf course entrance.
Unitarian Universalists
The Sunday, February 7 presentation by Janet Napper is entitled “End of Life Care: A Volunteer Hospice Perspective.” Napper, a former executive director of the Hospice Association of Ontario, discusses the benefits of hospice care. Jan Manning leads the service.
The Unitarian Universalists have an enhanced personal sound system to help those with hearing issues during their Sunday services. Attendees may use headphones or ear buds connected to an FM radio or FM capable cell phone.
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalists are an English-speaking, lay-led fellowship that meets every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on the west side of Ajijic in Plaza de la Ribera, Rio Bravo 10A, in a wheelchair-accessible facility.
Lake Chapala Baptist
Says Brother Bob Hendrick: “Loweezy, Snuffy’s wife in the Snuffy Smith (pronounced “Smif”) comic strip used to say, ‘You are gooder’n ary angel!’ The letter to the Hebrews says that Jesus Christ really is superior to the angels. To decipher what that means we will have to determine something about angels. Are we talking about little chubby Cupid-like cherubs or something like the paintings of Archangel Michael sword or spear in hand and standing over a defeated foe? It would be worth rattling the pages of Scripture to see what shakes out … as long as we come back to the One who is even better than the angels.”
Attend the service at the Lake Chapala Baptist Church on Sunday, February 7, 11 a.m. The church is at Santa Margarita 179 in Riberas del Pilar.
St. Andrews Anglican
What does the Transfiguration of Jesus have to do with a dog that walks on water? “Glimpses of Glory,” Fr. Winston Welty’s sermon at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, makes that connection this week. Worship begins at 10 a.m., the children’s bilingual Sunday School is at 9:45, and coffee hour in the Garden follows the worship service.
On Shrove Tuesday, February 9, the annual Pancake/Sausage Supper starts with a Social Hour at 4 p.m., supper at 5 p.m. (50 pesos), including optional seconds. Lent begins the next day with the Ash Wednesday liturgy at noon, including imposition of ashes and Fr. Winston’s sermon, “Two-and-a-Half Cheers for Hypocrites.” Following the Ash Wednesday service, and then at 11 a.m. for the next five Wednesday mornings, will be this year’s Lenten Bible Study: “Muted Voices: Old Testament Women.”
“From Eve to Bathsheba, their voices bring us, men and women alike, to a clearer understanding of what it means to live as persons of faith in a faithless world,” Fr. Winston says.
St. Andrew’s is at Calle San Lucas 19, a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
San Andres English
Fr. Basil G. Royston, D. Min. will give the homily on “Christ Makes Us His Apostles” Sunday, February 7, 9 a.m. at the English-language Mass held at San Andres Catholic Church in Ajijic.
San Andres holds its “First Sunday of the Month Food Drive” to support the children at Villa Infantil orphanage and the sisters who care for them. Consider bringing a non-perishable food item, toilet tissue or cleaning product to Sunday’s Liturgy.
On Ash Wednesday, the faithful are invited to receive the sign of the Cross on the forehead traced with ashes made from the palm branches blessed during Passion Sunday 2015.
Says Fr. Royston: “Penitence is an essential part of the Christian life, for none of us can measure up to the tremendous vocation that is ours as Christians. We are in constant need of the mercy and forgiveness of God. That day we express this by taking part in an impressive corporate act of penitence and reconciliation, beseeching God for the grace to use with profit the ‘favorable time’ of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s Passover feast.”
Mass and the distribution of the ashes will take place at San Andres Catholic Church on Wednesday, February 10, 9 a.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available after Sunday Liturgy or by appointment.
San Andres is located at the corner of Ramon Corona and Parroquia, one block from the Ajijic main plaza.
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 in a short (30 minutes) group HU Chant followed by refreshments and fellowship time, Saturday, February 6, 10:30 a.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living, located at Nicholas Bravo 17, Ajijic. For more information, contact Hallie Shepherd at 766-3656 or 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.
St. Mark’s Anglican, Guadalajara
St. Mark’s Anglican/Episcopal church in Guadalajara held its annual meeting January 24 and approved two new vestry members, Ana Hueramo and Gretchen Coffey. Coffey will function as senior warden under the rector, the Rev. Dr. Jim Priddy.
Dr. Priddy, on the last Sunday of the Epiphany February 7, will preach on what happened on the mountain of the transfiguration and what the significance of Moses and Elijah appearing with Jesus was.
As a prelude to Lent, St. Mark’s holds a pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday, February 9, serving luscious hotcakes with all the fixings from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Everyone is invited, said Priddy.
The next day, Wednesday, February 10, the Lenten season begins. There will be three services for the imposition of ashes: noon, 5 pm, and 7:30 pm.
St. Mark’s holds services in English Sundays at 10:30 a.m. with choir accompaniment. The choir is directed by Debbie Matthew and practice is at 9:45 a.m. Sundays. Chichimecas 836, corner of Aztecas, a two-minute drive north of Plaza Mexico, in Colonia Monraz. End of bus route 33-A. (33) 3641-6620 or (cell) 33 1432 3497.