Jewish Congregation
Shabbat Torah services are held the first and third Saturday of the month, 10 a.m., and Shabbat evening services and potluck every second and fourth Friday, 6 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation.
The synagogue is located at Sta. Margarita 113, Riberas del Pilar (mountainside of the Carretera, diagonally across from Mom’s Restaurant). Call (376) 766-2668 or go to lakechapalajewishcongregation.com.
Christ Church Episcopal
Christ Church Episcopal, a mission of the Diocese of the West in the Anglican Church of Mexico, will observe the third Sunday after the Epiphany, January 21, with the Holy Eucharist at 9 a.m. in the Little Chapel by the Lake. Vicar Fr. Danny Borkowski will preside and give a message titled “Fishing” based on Mark 1:14-20
The Lunch Bunch will not meet Sunday, but parishioners are encouraged to attend the Shrine Club fundraiser for Lakeside children from 1-5 p.m.
The Bible Study will not meet during the month of January. It will resume on February 6.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is located at Carretera 10, in Chula Vista.
Lakeside Presbyterian
Healing the Sick is this week’s sermon title. Jesus cared for people’s needs in three ways during His ministry on earth: by preaching, teaching, and healing. Most people today understand preaching and teaching, but do we really believe in the power of Christian healing? The focus of the sermon will consider what Jesus called us to do for those who are suffering, and what we should be expecting today from this aspect of Christian ministry.
Adult Sunday School will be held at its normal time of 8:30 a.m., at which the Lectionary readings for the third Sunday after Epiphany will be discussed. The Creative Forum, open to discussion of any church related topics, will be held shortly after the conclusion of the 10 a.m. service. Of special note is the scheduled make-up session of the new members class for those who missed the first or second original discussions. This will be held Saturday, January 27 at the church.
Lakeside Presbyterian Church is located at San Jorge 250 in Riberas del Pilar. English-language services begin each Sunday, 10 a.m. and Spanish-language services are 9 a.m. and noon. Everyone is welcome.
Lake Chapala Baptist
Says Brother Bob Hendrick: “Today, powerful voices express their compassion for others who are less fortunate.” However, infrequently does any sympathetic soul trade places with those whom he has anointed with pity, or even share his blessings to the point of making himself mean in standing. I doubt there has ever been a time of more talk about equality from people with no intention of pledging their own lives and fortunes to achieve it. The Bible neither promises nor blesses equal material wealth. What the Bible offers is peace and contentment with thankfulness. These are accomplished not by taking from the rich and giving to the poor, but rather, by rich and poor living out Proverbs 3:5; ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart.’”
Sunday, January 21, 11 a.m., Brother Bob will give the sermon at the worship service of the Lake Chapala Baptist Church, located at Santa Margarita 147, Riberas del Pilar.
Unitarian Universalists
Sunday January 21, the service at Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship examines “What Does It Mean to be Prophetic?” The sermon, via video, is by Rev. Dr. Daniel O’Connell of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston. Fred Harland is the service leader.
We’ll look at how a Hebrew prophet got his reputation, what prophecy meant back then, and how you might bring a prophetic voice to your community.
The Unitarians meet 10:30 a.m. at Hidalgo 261 in Riberas del Pilar, opposite the bell tower, on the north side of the Carretera. Questions? Call Fred at (376) 766-1458.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
The Gospel for Sunday, January 21 tells of Jesus’ calling of the disciples. He calls Simon and Andrew and immediately they follow him. He calls James and John and they follow him. As one writer has pointed out, the calling of the disciples may not be as much a story of call as a story of miracle. It may not be so much about our power to decide something as God’s power to take ordinary people and transform them into disciples.
St. Andrew’s service of Holy Eucharist begins Sunday, 10 a.m. and the bilingual Sunday School starts at 9:45 a.m. Coffee hour, a time of fellowship and welcome, follows the service.
St. Andrew’s will hold its annual Italian dinner Friday, January 26, with the social hour starting at 3 p.m. Sign-up is Sunday, January 21. The parish annual meeting will be held after the service on Sunday, January 28.
Every Sunday, the feeding program supported by St. Andrew’s welcomes donations of non-perishable food items. Boxed milk and empty cardboard egg cartons are especially welcome, in addition to rice, beans, pasta, oil and salt.
Decluttering? Clearing out your closet? If you are, please don’t forget resale shop, Todo Bueno. Every donation or consignment you make benefits the Outreach Ministry of St. Andrew’s. Be it clothing, kitchenware, electronics, bric-a-brac, furniture, appliances, books, collectables, sports equipment, etc., bringing it to Todo Bueno enables our parish to financially support many Lakeside charities. Todo Bueno is located on the highway, next to S&S Auto in Riberas de Pilar, and is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, except Sunday.
St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19, a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Little Chapel by the Lake
“I call it the ‘Expat Paradox,’” says Pastor Ken. “When we’re in a country that is not our own, we have the sometimes-conflicting expectations of being citizens of our home country, while at the same time honoring and respecting the traditions, culture, and authorities of our host.”
He continues: “That is exactly the paradox Christians face in a world that is not our own. Both Jesus and the apostle Paul were faced with that challenge. When a scribe tried to trick Jesus on the subject, he replied, ‘Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.’ Paul told the church in Rome, ‘Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.’ And yet, when a conflict arises between the two, we must decide where our ultimate allegiance lies.
“In the world today, many would have Christians believe that we must swear allegiance to a nation, a social battle, or a political party. In fact, God simply tells us that we are to follow him. We are to love as he loves. We are to reflect his Truth into a world full of conflicting loyalties and contradictory ideologies. Sometimes that will make us popular, and other times it will put us at odds with people, but it should always be clear what King we ultimately serve.”
Little Chapel’s conversation on Sunday, January 21, “Kingdom Living,” deals with the “paradox” of being a Christian in a “foreign land.”
“Our January series, ‘Thy Kingdom Come,’ will help you to find joy that isn’t dictated by your circumstances, and that can’t be stolen from you,” says Pastor Ken.
Non-denominational Christian, English language Sunday worship service is at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited to stay for a friendly comida (church meal) after the service.
Little Chapel is also open Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m. for silent prayer and worship in the sanctuary and memorial prayer garden. Communion, prayer, and anointing are available. Everyone is welcome.
For more information, see the display ad in this section.
Abundant Life Church
How would Jesus live if he were in your shoes? In past years, believers were challenged to ask themselves “What Would Jesus Do” in different situations? The question that will be addressed Sunday, January 21, is, “Would Jesus always do the same thing?” As believers we need to understand the times and perhaps the way we do things, but never will we modify what the Bible says. Jesus is still the answer to the problems we face each day but to see them we may need to adjust our way of thinking. This Sunday, we will be given a practical way of living for Jesus in 2018.
Abundant Life Church is affiliated with the Assemblies of God of Mexico and has services for everyone. An English-language worship service is held each Sunday, 10 a.m. and Bible Study Wednesday, 3 p.m. Spanish-language services are Sunday at noon. Spanish-language Bible studies are Wednesday, 6:45 p.m. A children’s ministry is held Saturday, noon, and youth meet Sunday, 6:30 p.m.
The church is located at Carretera Chapala-Jocotepec 140, San Antonio Tlayacapan, a block from Super Lake. For more information, call 331-417-7038 (cel).
San Andres English
“Like Jonah, Christ was sent to preach repentance. He calls us to change our ways. We are not to become engrossed in the world, but to believe the good news and live for the Kingdom of God.”
So says Fr. Basil G. Royston, D. Min., who will offer the homily “The Lord Who Teaches Us God’s Ways,” at San Andres Catholic Church’s English-language service Sunday, January 21, 9 a.m.
San Andres is located at the corner of Ramon Corona and Parroquia, one block from the Ajijic main plaza.
Home Church Int’l
Lately we’ve heard, “Oh, I’m not religious.” For the most part I think we can assume the inference is generally pointed at anything that has to do with some sort of worship. Basically, many worships can be in adoration, fear, or merely ceremonial obedience. So, definition is always in order to learn what an individual means by “religious” or “religion.”
There are over 31,000 verses in the Bible. Yet, the two words above are only found in seven of them. What does that say about their importance or relevance? Religion basically refers to mere ritual and disciplines. This can be applied to almost anything. What is missing? Relationship with the One worshipped (not merely a thing) and commitment in love. The mistake most often made is to call Christianity a religion. It is not. It is a Person, Jesus Christ, and personal relationship with Him following the His way of life. The Holy Spirit is God’s presence with us which brings us to Him, and eternal life in Him. Pastors Paul and Susana Allen encourage your search to be one with our Heavenly Father through Christ. To learn more, contact the pastors at (332) 242-8648, or at 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..