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 Saturday, February 3, 10:30 a.m., at the Center for Spiritual Living located at 17 Nicholas Bravo, Ajijic, for a short (30-minute) group HU Chant followed by refreshments and fellowship time. 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.
Unitarian Universalists
Sunday, February 4, Bob Koches leads a participatory service titled “Reflections on Humanism.” Fred Harland, Jan Manning and Trudy Crippen will explore their understanding of Humanism as it relates to their journey, ethics and spirituality.
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.
Christ Church Episcopal
Christ Church Episcopal, a mission of the Diocese of the West in the Anglican Church of Mexico, will observe the fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, February 4, with the Holy Eucharist at 9 a.m. in the Little Chapel by the Lake. Vicar Danny Borkowski will preside and give a message titled “Priorities” based on Mark 1:29-39.
The Lunch Bunch will meet at 11 a.m. in the Lake Taco Restaurant, (376) 766-2945, located on the Libramiento, behind the Pemex Station.
The Bible Study will meet Tuesday, February 6, 2 p.m. in the fellowship hall.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is located at Carretera 10, in Chula Vista.
Lakeside Presbyterian
Sunday school for adults is held Sunday, February 4, 8:30 a.m., followed by the worship service with a sermon titled “Reflections,” from the parable of the lamp on a lampstand (and the city on a hill) from Matthew 5:14-15. “Wherein Jesus tells his followers [which includes us] that we are the light of the world’ – meaning we are to reflect His light. Yet many people look for light from other sources; hope for help from other places. The sermon will consider how we, as Christians, should be helping bring light into the world, rather than hoping it will come from somewhere else.”
This is a Communion Sunday, which is open to all baptized Christians.
The creative forum will be held at 11:30 a.m. following the postponed annual general meeting.
The (brief) church meeting will be held immediately after the service to approve the 2018 budget and introduce new leaders for the coming year.
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: “Thursday, November 19, 1863, a little before two o’clock in the afternoon, orator, Edward Everett, finished his one hour and fifty-seven-minute speech. When the roar and applause of the crowd ceased, the next speaker was introduced. In the next two minutes, a speech that began, ‘Four score and seven years ago …’ and contained the words, ‘The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here …’ was delivered in its totality. Over 150 years later, that speech by President Abraham Lincoln is still ‘noted and remembered’ as being two of the most memorable minutes in history (certainly of the United States). I do not know if it was original with Dr. Adrian Rogers, but he used to say, ‘Life is lived in depth – not length.’ Two minutes of earnest prayer is likely to do more good than two hours of erudite preachment.”
Sunday, February 4, 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.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
Sunday’s Gospel leaves us with a lot of questions. Why, in Mark’s Gospel, is there something called the Messianic Secret? Why does Jesus silence people from telling about his miracles, his healings, his identity? Why, when Jesus hears that everyone is searching for him, does he make a hasty departure?
There are a lot of questions, and for many of them, there seem to be no immediate answers. But maybe not knowing all the answers is a good thing; it can leave us open to discovering the new and different ways Jesus can make himself known.
St. Andrew’s service of Holy Eucharist begins Sunday, February 4, 10 a.m. and bilingual Sunday School starts at 9:45 a.m. Coffee hour, a time of fellowship and welcome, follows the service.
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 St. Andrew’s 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.
Abundant Life Church
Our God is big. We say it with conviction but when a problem is faced we often only see its size. How can we learn to trust God in the difficult if not impossible situations that we face in life? Come this Sunday, February 4, as Pastor Gary will share with us the keys to living in victory even when the battle seems horrifically slanted against us. As we go, we will be saying, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31)
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).
Little Chapel by the Lake
“What does the Bible mean when it tells us to pray or cast out demons ‘in the name of Jesus’? What is the only unforgivable sin? And what do these two questions have to do with each other?” asks Pastor Ken. He continues, “Join us this Sunday, February 4, at Little Chapel, as we learn more about how the Bible was written and how to understand its instructions for us. Our conversation is titled, ‘In Jesus’ Name,’ and is drawn from the Gospel of Mark and from the book of Exodus.”
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 a dog-friendly congregation, to allow for those who need to keep their fur friends close. For a copy of their Canine Etiquette, email Little Chapel 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..
San Andres English
“Without Christ, our lives would be pure drudgery. We would be like slaves, or like workmen with nothing to look forward to but our wages. But the healing power of Christ has transformed our lives: now we are free to make ourselves like him, the slaves of everyone, offering all the good news without asking for anything in return.”
So says Fr. Basil G. Royston, D. Min., who will offer the homily “Christ Who Makes Us Free to Serve” at San Andres Catholic Church’s English-language service Sunday, February 4, 9 a.m.
The San Andres English congregation holds a “First Sunday of the Month Food Drive” to help support the children at Villa Infantil orphanage in Jocotepec and the sisters who care for them. Consider bringing a non-perishable food item, toilet tissue, cleaning products, and the like to Sunday’s Liturgy.
San Andres is located at the corner of Ramon Corona and Parroquia, one block from the Ajijic main plaza.
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.
Home Church Int’l
One can hardly blame a person for questioning the existence of God. We are programmed to evaluate everything by the five senses, primarily by mind and emotions. This says we’re only dependent on self. We think, “Why doesn’t he show himself. I think I’m smarter than that.” Yet, we choose to ignore the issues of life, emergencies, and death. But, gosh, that leaves us out in the cold. Everyone dies, so what about us at that point? To surrender to a potential nothingness is fatalistic, bleak, and hopeless.
Have you thought, “What’s so bad about believing in God?” Many have seen the lives of some ‘believers’ and are turned off. It’s true, and sad. Many have gotten erroneous information about our Creator God, and shy away. One simple thing you can do is to take a little chance without fear. Just be bold and simply say, “If there’s a God, I want you to make yourself known. Bring me what’s really real. Do that to convince me. Then I’ll become a believer.”
Pastors Paul and Susana Allen say that’s a real and honest seeker’s prayer. Learn more by contacting them at (332)242-8648, or email 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..