St. Andrew’s Anglican
Sunday, December 23, Rev. Robbin Moore will preside and preach. St. Andrew’s service of Holy Eucharist begins Sunday, 10 a.m., and bilingual Sunday School starts at 9:45 a.m.
Coffee hour and a time of fellowship and welcome follow the service.
Christmas Eve services will commence at 4 p.m. Following the service, St. Andrew’s will hold its traditional bonfire in the parish garden. Attendees are asked to bring finger food.
Christmas Day services will begin at 10 a.m.
The Company of Gentlemen’s monthly luncheon will be held at El Ancla in West Ajijic.
Every Sunday, Operation Feed, the 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, lentils, garbanzos, oats, oil and salt. The parish distributes the donations to Lakeside’s neediest families.
Decluttering? Clearing out your closet? If you are, don’t forget St. Andrew’s resale shop, Todo Bueno. Every donation or consignment made benefits the Outreach Ministry of St. Andrew’s. Clothing, kitchenware, electronics, books, bric-a-brac, furniture, appliances, collectables, sports equipment, etc., brought to Todo Bueno enables the parish to financially support a number of charities around Lakeside.
Todo Bueno needs volunteers to serve as sales clerks. Shifts are 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 12:30 to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Contact Patti Gonzales at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information and to volunteer.
Todo Bueno is located on the Carretera, just west of S&S Auto in Riberas del Pilar. Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
St. Andrew’s is at Calle San Lucas 19, a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Lakeside Presbyterian
Lakeside Presbyterian celebrates Christmas with joy and worship. Come and rejoice with us! Sunday, December 23, worship is followed immediately by a recital by the Mexican Children’s Chorale. What a pleasure it will be to hear these beautiful youngsters sing.
Christmas Eve, Pastor Bill Nichols will preach during a brief service at 4 p.m. Christmas Day, Pastor Gary Smith will preach during a brief service at 10 a.m.
We all look forward to the Christmas holidays, remembering the love and hope Jesus’ birth brought to the world. Let us not forget that hunger never takes a holiday. Families need and deserve our helping hand.
Despensas (food packages) continue to be distributed to the needy. Certainly, they relieve the lack of food, but fresh food additions make them even more welcome, even festive! Excess produce from your fruit trees or garden will make families very happy! God Bless you for doing your part!
A “Senior Walk In” with games, fellowship and free lunch is held every Tuesday, 10 to 2 p.m.
Saturday morning classes will resume January 16.
Lakeside Presbyterian Church, San Jorge 250, Riberas del Pilar. English services, Sunday, 10 a.m.; Spanish services, 9 a.m.; Sunday School for Adults, 8:30 a.m. in the Library; Pastor’s Forum, 11:15 a.m. following worship. Fridays, Bible Study at 9:45 a.m. in the Library.
Abundant Life Church
It’s Christmas time! The Christmas story is much more than a story; it is God’s response to your problems. Jesus came not to be a baby but to be your answer. Come Sunday, December 23, to receive more than just a Christmas present. We can receive Jesus this year!
Abundant Life Church will be celebrating a candlelight communion service on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24, 6:30 p.m. All are welcome.
Abundant Life Church’s worship service in English is held Sundays, 10 a.m., and Bible Study, Wednesdays, 3 p.m. Spanish-language services are Sundays, noon. Spanish Bible studies are Wednesday, 6:45 p.m. A children’s ministry is held Saturday, noon, and bilingual youth meet Sunday, 6:30 p.m. Communion is celebrated the first Sunday of each month.
The church is at Carretera Chapala-Jocotepec 140, San Antonio Tlayacapan, a block from Super Lake. Information: 331-417-7038.
Unitarian Universalists
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship invites you to a musical celebration of the Christmas season. The San Juan Cosala children’s choir, under the direction of Cindy Youell, will sing Christmas songs for the congregation. In addition, a special mixed choir composed of some members of the UU choir and some Mexican singers will perform “O Magnum Mysterium. Kathy Koches is service leader.
The Unitarians meet Sundays, 10:30 a.m., at Hidalgo 261, on the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar, opposite the Catholic Church.
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 at Santa Margarita 113, Riberas del Pilar (mountain side of the Carretera, diagonally across from Mom’s Restaurant). Contact (376) 766-2668 or lakechapalajewishcongregation.com.
Christ Church Lakeside
Christ Church Lakeside, a mission of the Diocese of the West in the Anglican Church of Mexico, will observe the fourth Sunday of Advent, December 23, with a beautiful Lessons and Choral service at 11 a.m. in La Huerta Events Center.
All are welcome to come and worship with us by listening to scripture and singing many of the wonderful Christmas hymns celebrating the Advent of the Christ Child.
Coffee and refreshments are available before and after the service, provided by Dana Smith and the Powers.
The Christ Church Lunch Bunch will meet 1 p.m. in Min Wah Restaurant, Tepalo 96, Ajijic, (376) 766-0686.
A Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service will be held Monday, December 24, 5 p.m. in the La Huerta Events Center, followed by a finger food potluck.
The Bible Study meets Thursday, December 27, 3 p.m. in the home of Elizabeth Carroll, located at Galeana 35 in Ajijic. All are welcome to learn about the inspired contents of the Bible.
Little Chapel by the Lake
On the cobbled streets of Ajijic you might hear “Ah, another Christmas already. What a nuisance. Bah. Humbug.” Or, “Christmas is for children.” Or even, “I just LOVE Christmas. I think all the lights are so pretty!”
Any or all of these ways of thinking about Christmas explain why we have our work cut out to discover the true spirit of Christmas.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
This simple verse describes the greatest single event in human history. There really can be no serious debate about that. Even secular historians would agree on that, if a little grudgingly. The purpose of this Advent season is to reappraise the significance of that singular event and its relevance to each one of us. One day God came. What does all that mean? What are the ramifications for you and me?
Sunday at the Little Chapel, Pastor Jim Andrew shares the true spirit of Christmas.
Join us after the service for a friendly comida, a time to eat, talk, and get to know each other.
Christmas Eve, December 24, Little Chapel will hold a traditional candlelight service, 6 p.m.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is at Chapala-Ajijic Highway 10 in Chula Vista opposite Mirasol. Information: Belva, (376) 766-2538. Sunday worship is at 11 a.m.
Lake Chapala Baptist
The four gospel accounts give us a complete view of the person and work of Jesus Christ and this time of year we tend to focus on the birth of Christ. A few things stand out in Matthew’s account of the birth of Christ.
The focus of Matthew’s gospel is the Jews, so he needs to prove to them that Jesus is the promised Messiah. In Chapter 1 he establishes Jesus’ credentials by virtue of His lineage and His virgin birth. He traces Jesus’ lineage back to Abraham, the father of the Jewish people. Then he details how the virgin birth of Christ fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. These two facts would certainly get the attention of his Jewish readers. But Chapter 2 details four more prophetic proofs showing Jesus as the promised one. All four have to do with locations: Bethlehem, Egypt, Ramah and Nazareth. You can read it for yourself or you can join us this Sunday, December 23, and you will be given some wonderful details.
Lake Chapala Baptist Church is at Santa Margarita 147, Riberas del Pilar. Sunday worship is at 11 a.m.
San Andrés Mass
“Today’s Mass is a great song to the everlasting love of God revealed in God’s covenant (love pact) with God’s people. We praise the mystery of God’s love kept secret for endless ages, but now revealed through a new Ark of the Covenant, Mary of Nazareth.”
Fr. Basil G. Royston, D. Min., will offer the homily, “Mary, the Arc of God’s Covenant,” at San Andrés Catholic Church’s service in English, Sunday, December 23, 9 a.m.
Christmas Day Mass is Tuesday, December 25, 9 a.m. “Today we celebrate the birth of Christ who was to bring the joy of God’s saving love to the whole world. And we make our own the jubilant cry of the angels: ‘Glory to God in the highest.’ We celebrate the marvelous events of the first morning of a new world, when the kindness and love of God our Savior made us God’s holy people, the Lord’s Redeemed, God’s ‘sought-after,’ and God’s ‘city-not-forsaken.’”
San Andrés is at the corner of Ramon Corona and Parroquia, one block from the Ajijic main plaza.
Home Church Int’l
If we think back, we might remember someone telling us, “Oh, grow up!” Maybe we have uttered it ourselves either to or about someone. This comes about because we think the person on the receiving end should know better or should have matured in their understanding. Sometimes we add, “Even a kid knows better than this” or “Haven’t they learned anything?” Though there may be some obvious truth to these criticisms, probably they are exaggerations which might be tempered somewhat.
If we’re honest, we might find this applying to our Christmas celebration. It is one thing to enjoy seeing an adult’s or child’s eyes light up when opening a package. No harm done. Yet, does this Mass of Christ, Christmas, receive the focus it is due? How often have we heard, “Christmas is for kids?” Wrong conclusion! Growing up in understanding is sorely needed. Praise to God for His love and gift is sidelined. Unlike us, God is not going to major on the minors. Pastors Paul and Susana Allen urge us all to mature in our faith and focus. He is worthy!
Information: 332-242-8648, 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..
Riberas Meditation
Mindfulness Meditation: Tuesday meditation will take a break for the holidays and return January 8.
Ramana Maharshi Satsang: Listen to current day teachers of non-duality, then a period to practice self-inquiry, Wednesdays, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
No cost. Free books provided for both groups.
Hosted by Richard Clarke and Carol Johnson. San Luis 73, Riberas del Pilar. Call (376) 765-6976.
Meditation Circle
The Chapala Meditation Circle of Self Realization Fellowship holds meditation services Thursdays, 7 to 9 p.m. Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the spiritual classic “Autobiography of a Yogi,” founded Self Realization Fellowship in 1920 to make available the universal teachings of Kriya Yoga, a sacred spiritual science originating millennia ago in India.
Information about the meditation service: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 333-598-7577. The website for Self Realization Fellowship is yogananda-srf.org.
Namaste Lake Chapala
This is an interfaith community focusing on the non-dual teachings found at the center of all spiritual paths. Sunday service is 11 a.m. and the goal is to enter into the direct experience of the peace that surpasses understanding. Drawing on the sacred writings of many religious traditions, including A Course on Miracles, Namaste seeks to fully embody the spiritual oneness and message at the heart of them all.
Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m., join author James Twyman and other teachers as Namaste awakens through music, song, laughter and heart-centered sharing.
Namaste Lake Chapala is at Angel Flores 5, in Ajijic.
Meditation & Chanting
Chanting followed by silent meditation will regularly include live Kirtan Music at least once a month. Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary. The experience is every Sunday, 5 to 6 p.m. with refreshments to follow in a beautiful home overlooking the lake at Calle Manzanillo 4 (light yellow house), Chula Vista Norte. Doors open 4:30 p.m. with refreshments and a social gathering, chanting and meditation, 5 to 6 p.m. and refreshments and a social goodbye afterward. Chairs, pillows and refreshments are provided. There is no charge for this event.
Directions, inquiry, ride-shares, contact: Doug Reid, 331-354-1558, doug4yoga@gmail, or Rocky Lipkowitz, 333-461-6017, 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..