Unitarian Universalists
Rev. Matt Alspaugh will speak on “The Paradox of Helping Others” at thte next meeting of the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Sunday, March 18, 10:30 a.m.
“Why do we strive to help others as a congregation? While we hope that we might help others with our outreach programs, I believe a central motivation is to help ourselves – to transform us into better people. We’ll explore the complexities of helping others, and helping ourselves thereby.” Heidi MacLennan will be Service Leader.
Following the service, a Congregational Conversation will be held. This will be a time to reflect on how the congregation is doing with the many changes in the last few month.
The Unitarians meets Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Hidalgo 261, on the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar, opposite the Catholic Church.
Little Chapel by the Lake
“What’s your god?” asks Pastor Ken. “I’m not asking who God is; I’m asking what your god is,” he says. “Even the most devout believers have ‘little-g’ gods that drive many of their decisions. Family, status, wealth, security, sex, drugs, rock-and-roll. God knew that when he said, ‘Don’t have any other gods before me.’ Nothing created is greater than the Creator.”
This Sunday’s conversation at Little Chapel is titled “Don’t Worship Creation.” It is drawn from Exodus 20 and other passages.
Non-denominational Christian, English language Sunday worship service is at 11 a.m. An informal hour of worship music, prayer, and open communion begins at 10 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 the chapel’s 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..
Lakeside Presbyterian
Before Jesus could be raised from the dead, He first had to follow in obedience to the Father to die on a cross. Following the will of God always involves a cost. It has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and not tried. Wayne Cook, Pastor of Congregational Care is basing his sermon, titled “The Cost of the Jesus Way,” on Luke 14: 25-33, which describes what it takes to be a disciple of Jesus.
March 18 is Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in the season of Lent in the Western Christian liturgical calendar. Traditionally, this Sunday has been a day of celebration, within the austere period of Lent.
Ongoing activities continue with Adult Sunday School at 8:30 a.m., Creative Forum – an open discussion about the sermon, the church or any other topic regarding Lakeside Presbyterian – immediately follows the 10 a.m. English-language service. A men’s luncheon, open to all men of the community, will be Wednesday, March 21, 11:30 a.m. in the church dining area. Perspective and comments will be presented by Arnold Smith of “The Via Dolorosa” (Way of Suffering), which is a historical street divided into two parts located in Jerusalem. It is also the street where Jesus passed through at the time of His crucifixion.
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.
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 of Lent, March 18, with the Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. in the La Huerta Eventos Center (where the Tuesday Organic Market is held), Carretera West 522, West Ajijic. Vr. Fr. Danny Borkowski will preside and give a message “Life & Death” based on John 12:20-33.
The Lunch Bunch will meet at noon at La Vie en Rose Restaurant, Independencia 2, Ajijic, (376) 766-1360.
The Bible Study will meet Tuesday, March 20, 2 p.m. at the home of Elizabeth Carroll at Galeana 35. All are welcome to learn about the wonderful revealed writings which make up the Holy Scriptures.
Lake Chapala Baptist
Says Brother Bob Hendrick: “I am not one who puts my clothes in a drawer at a hotel. I might hang some things up so the wrinkles will fall out, but not actually take things out of my luggage and lay them in someone else’s furniture. And the reason … I am not going to be there very long. I will be moving on soon. When God called Abraham, He called him to be a pilgrim headed to a place God would lead him. So Abraham never built a house. He lived in tents. God’s Word tells the believer to not settle in this world as if it is his final destination. A lot of frustration could be avoided if we would remember, “This world is not my home. I’m just passing through …” ”
Sunday, March 18, 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.
Abundant Life Church
Works vs. Grace. In the minds of many believers this is a big question, as some preach and teach that it is only by grace that we are saved (Eph 2:7-8) and others state that we can not be saved without works (James 2:24). These seem to be contradictory to one another yet both are in the scriptures. What is it that God expects of us? Come Sunday, March 18, and discover the answer. Pastor Gary will be showing from scripture with personal examples what God wants. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
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).
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.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” This passage from the Gospel of John also served as preface to Dostoyevsky’s famous novel, The Brothers Karamazov, says Rev. Glenn Chalmers. Come join St. Andrew’s this Sunday as the congregation explores the meaning of these words as Holy Week and Easter approach.
The new Bishop of St. Andrew’s “Ham-it-Up” dinner is Friday, March 23. Appetizers and cocktails at 4 p.m. and dinner at 5 p.m. Tickets are 250 pesos.
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.
Every donation or consignment you make to Todo Bueno resale shop benefits the Outreach Ministry of St. Andrew’s, which financially supports 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 service of Holy Eucharist begins Sunday, 10 a.m. and bilingual Sunday School starts at 9:45 a.m. Coffee hour, a time of fellowship and welcome, follows the service.
St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19, a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
San Andres English
“God promised: ‘I will forgive their iniquity and never call their sin to mind.’ Today we consider the cost of the forgiveness: the tears of Christ; his avowal: ‘Now my soul is troubled.’”
So says Fr. Basil G. Royston, D. Min., who will offer the homily “The Lord’s Forgiveness” at San Andres Catholic Church’s English-language service Sunday, March 18, 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
Generally we might say that knowledge is data absorbed in the brain. Normally, it comes from effort, yet often it is received as from a passing, unintentional sight. This data more often than not involves our five senses. Effort is important. Things like language require some frequent use to maintain usefulness. Some knowledge is positively useful, while other knowledge brings negative results. That’s where wisdom is needed, combined with an honorable heart which is the union of the soul and spirit.
Is there a difference between knowledge and wisdom? Both seem to employ inner response and evaluation. Someone once said that wisdom is discerning the proper use of what knowledge you have. One flaw in this is that there is mere human wisdom, and then Godly wisdom. The former may or may not be admirable and accurate. This verifies the need for heavenly wisdom. Godly wisdom will lead you to do and say the holy thing. Mere earthly wisdom reaps its own reward. In Proverbs we read, “With all your getting, get wisdom.”
Pastors Paul and Susana Allen urge you to pursue God’s wisdom as much or more than intellectual data. To learn more, contact them at (332) 242-8648, 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..">.
JEWISH COMMUNITY CELEBRATES PASSOVER
Passover (in Hebrew, Pesach) commemorates the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. The holiday originated in the Torah, where the word pesach refers to the ancient Passover sacrifice (known as the Paschal Lamb). It is also said to refer to the idea that God “passed over” (pasach) the houses of the Jews during the 10th plague on the Egyptians, the slaying of the first born. The holiday is ultimately a celebration of freedom, and the story of the exodus from Egypt is a powerful metaphor that is appreciated not only by Jews, but by people of other faiths as well.
Passover is observed for seven days in Israel and eight days in the Diaspora. The main event of the Passover holiday is the seder (literally, “order”), a festive meal in which the haggadah (story of the exodus and related writings) is recited in a set order. During the entire duration of the holiday, it is forbidden to eat leavened food products (bread, pasta, etc.). The reason for this is that, according to Jewish tradition, in their haste to escape from Egypt the Jews did not have enough time to wait for bread to rise. Instead, they ate matzah, unleavened bread. For many Jews, the process of preparing for Passover involves cleaning every corner of the home and removing all leavened products, known as chametz.
A Passover seder will be observed on Friday, March 30 at Manix Restaurant in Ajijic. Reservations may be made at Diane Pearl. For further information, contact Maureen Davis 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..