Christ Church
Christ Church Lakeside, a parish of the Diocese of the West in the Anglican Church of Mexico, will observe the fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20, by with Lessons and Carols followed by a shortened Communion service, 11 a.m. in the La Huerta Eventos Facility. Rev. Jim Powers will celebrate.
Covid-19 ordinances and diocesan mandates will be observed. Masks are required. There will not be a Zoom service. Those wishing to have brunch/lunch will meet at Yves’ Restaurant, 12:15 p.m.
A giving basket on the entrance table to the church will be ready for donations to purchase Christmas gifts for 35 children this year. Please give generously.
There will be a Joint Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service with The Little Chapel by the Lake, at their church, on Thursday, December 24, starting at 5 p.m. Rev. Jim Powers will celebrate and give the message “Follow the Light.” A gathering of those wishing to eat out after the service, will meet at Janelle’s Garden Restaurant for a 7 p.m. dinner. To make your reservation, contact Barbara Reitano at the church or at 376-106-1094.
A Christmas Day Service will not be held.
The Loaves and Fishes Food Distribution will not be held the rest of December.
The Bible study group, hosted by Rev. Danny Borkowski, will not meet via Zoom on Wednesday, December 23. It will resume December 30, at 1:30 p.m., to learn about the inspired contents of the Bible and share their insights with each other.
Lakeside Presbyterian
Sunday, December 20, at the 10 a.m. service of the Lakeside Presbyterian Church (LPC), worship services are at facebook/lpcchapala or www.lpcchapala.org. Devotionals are on the same sites on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Pastor Wayne will talk about Peace: 1. Peace with ourselves; 2. Peace with others; and 3. Peace with God
One of the most precious gifts that Jesus gives us is peace. After Jesus was born, the angels declared the message to the shepherds. “Peace on Earth to those with whom he is pleased,” Jesus said,
My peace I give, not as the world gives.” Even nature submitted to his words. “Peace be still,” and the storm subsided.
LPC supports some feeding programs at San Antonio Tlayacapan, Mezcala, La Cuesta, and La Zapotera Villages. At each location, an average of 70 children receive meals three times a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The week of December 7 to 13, LPC delivered 31 despensas (pantry supplies) for a total of 63 despensas this month, so far. We insert some Bible verses in every despensa and one Daily Bread to share the Gospel, since it is the primary goal of the church’s mission. You can donate by check, Paypal, or cash; call Rick Cartwright 376-766-4057 or Dean Hanson 376-766-2660.
Unitarians
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will provide services via Zoom Sunday, December 20, 10:30 a.m. Instructions for accessing the online service are at lakechapalauu.org.
Christmas Concert will be performed via video by Musica Para Crecer, the children’s choir from San Juan Cosalá. Kathy Koches is the service leader.
Lake Chapala Baptist
If you, like most people, have been longing for a return to normalcy, especially during the Christmas season, consider attending one of the free presentations offered by LCBC’s choir and Freedom Chorale. “Advent of Joy” is a traditional carol singalong interspersed with Biblical readings of the nativity story. Reconnect your heart with the true meaning of Christmas. It’s free! Three concerts are scheduled: Sunday, December 20, 4 p.m., at the American Legion Post 7, Chapala; Thursday, December 24, 4 p.m., at Mama’s Musical Bar; and Friday, December 25, 4 p.m., at the Lake Chapala Baptist Church.
Do you have a favorite Christmas song? Most of us have several, and generally, it isn’t “Here comes Santa Clause”! Many of us recapture fond memories of Christmases past from songs that moved us, created joy, and captured precious moments in our hearts. In the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Pastor John Linton points out songs of joy. Elizabeth, Mary’s relative, was barren. Both Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah were advanced in age. Zechariah was visited by the angel Gabriel while he was serving and praying in the temple. The angel proclaimed to him that his prayer had been heard and Elizabeth will give birth to a son and he shall be named John. Zechariah doubted and lacked faith, as a result he was struck with the inability to speak.
The angel Gabriel also appeared to Mary, a virgin, and announced that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and she will conceive a son who will be named Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” Mary was blessed because she believed. Mary was told by the angel that Elizabeth was with child. Mary could not contain her joy and visited her in a three-day journey. As Mary entered the house of Elizabeth and greeted her, the babe in Elizabeth’s womb jumped for joy as she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Elizabeth sings out in joy “...the mother of my Lord.” Mary rejoiced with Elizabeth in the two miracles they shared. Zechariah lacked faith. Mary believed and accepted. Both were blessed by God. Never give up asking God for what seems to be impossible and you feel you lack faith. God hears your prayers and may you one day sing joyfully for answered prayer. Christmas is a time for great joy. A Savior has been born to us. Emmanuel, God is with us! God is for us!
The Lake Chapala Baptist Church will meet for in-person services Sunday, December 20, 11 a.m., when Pastor John Linton discusses a Biblical approach to Church growth.
Covid protocol will be adhered to, including masks, social distancing, sanitizing, etc.
Bible Study is held in the church on Thursdays, 10 a.m.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
Sunday, December 20, St. Andrew’s congregation will worship in-person at church at 10 a.m. with the allowed 25-percent capacity – 40 people. There also will be seats available outside for more worshipers. The service will also be live-streamed.
Susan Powell, who is preparing for the diaconate, will preach on December 20, the fourth Sunday of Advent.
Each Tuesday in Advent, we offer a meditation, prayer and sharing group on Zoom, from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Please contact the office for details.
St. Andrew’s Outreach Committee has re-created its traditional “Angel Tree” Christmas gift program. From now until Christmas Day, Angel Tree cash donations will be accepted at our church, with donors receiving a lovely “Angel Card” to sign and hang on our Christmas tree.
After Christmas, Outreach members will use the funds to buy gifts from wish lists for two Chapala charities: Mama Cleo’s House for teenage boys, and Casa de Ancianos, a home for needy elderly and the mentally challenged. Gifts will be presented to representatives of the charities on Three Kings Sunday, January 10, during our service. Reverend Robbin will dedicate the gifts and bless the Christmas angels. All are welcome to join us.
If you would like to purchase a poinsettia this year in thanksgiving or memory of a loved one, they are 100 pesos each, or two for 150 pesos. You may take them home with you when our Christmas season is over. To pay, you can fill out an envelope with your names listed and put it in the offering plate, or drop it off at the parish office.
To be part of the St. Andrew’s family, and receive a Zoom invitation, contact Rev. Moore 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.. More information is at standrewsriberas.org.
Little Chapel by the Lake
Sunday, December 20, 11 a.m., Pastor Pete Campbell, from Grace and Truth ministries, will celebrate the joyous season with us in song and special music provided by Grace and Truth worship team.
Wednesday, December 23, 5:30 p.m., we will not be showing a video due
Christmas Eve a candlelight service, a joint celebration with Christ Church Lakeside, will be held at 5 p.m. with refreshments afterward.
Little Chapel is located on the Chapala-Ajijic highway in Chula Vista. 376-766-2538.
Jewish Congregation
The Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation holds Friday services at 7 p.m. via Zoom. See www.lakechapalajewishcongregation.com for the URL link.
Abundant Life Church
Are you looking for that perfect gift to give this Christmas? Some people are very hard to buy for since it appears that they have everything. How is the perfect gift determined? Is it determined by the giver or the receiver? This year God wants to give the perfect gift…it has been chosen and determined to be perfect by Him, the giver. Come this Christmas Sunday, December 20, and discover just WHO your perfect gift is! Don´t forget our annual candlelight communion service at 6:30 p.m. in English and 7:15 p.m. in Spanish on Christmas Eve. You will also enjoy our services both on our Facebook page as well as our YouTube channel. Our Sunday service will begin at 10 a.m. for English and at www.abundantlifechapala.com and at noon for Spanish at www.vidaabundantechapala.com.
Abundant Life Church is affiliated with the Assemblies of God of Mexico. English Bible study is Wednesdays at 3 p.m. Spanish-language services are Sundays, noon, and Spanish-language Bible study is Friday, 6:45 p.m. Abundant Life Church, Carretera Chapala-Joco 140, San Antonio Tlayacapan.
San Juan Bautista
English Mass at 9 a.m. at San Juan Bautista Catholic Church in in San Juan Cosala. All sanitary precautions and protocols are in place. Masks are mandatory. Calle Del Cardinal, across from the plaza.
Lakeside CommunityFellowship
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. The government will rest on his shoulder. And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6).
This prophetic verse details the various aspects of the person of Jesus Christ and includes one of His titles, “Prince of Peace.” The birth of Jesus was heralded by angels who announced peace on earth. But there’s never really been peace on earth the way we think of it. So consider the words of Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” God is pleased with those who, by faith, yield their lives to Him and establish a personal relationship with Him. That relationship gives them “peace with God.” That really was the focus of the angels’ proclamation, peace with God. And as those men and women of faith walk with God they experience “the peace of God.” Now, in the future Christ will bring about universal peace on earth, but until then we proclaim the only one who can give true peace to individuals, the Prince of Peace.
The church meets online every Sunday at 10 a.m.
For instructions 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..
St. Mark’s Anglican,Guadalajara
A bilingual (primarily Spanish) service is held Sundays, 12:30 p.m. On the third Sunday of each month, the 12:30 p.m. Mass will be primarily in English. All recommended health precautions are observed and this service is brief (45 minutes).
Virtual Sunday services will continue to be provided online on St. Mark’s Facebook page SaintMarksAngicanGDL and on YouTube.
St. Mark’s will hold a variation of the traditional “Lessons and Carols” service, with Holy Communion, Sunday, December 20, 12:30 p.m. in the church garden, with seasonal music, masks and social distancing. Warm clothing and a blanket or lawn chair are suggested.
On Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 5 p.m., a Mass with music will be held in St. Mark’s garden. Covid precautions will be in place. Warm clothing and a blanket or lawn chair are suggested. Everyone is invited.
Scriptural reflection on the Sunday readings is held every Tuesday via Zoom, 1 to 2 p.m. For more information contact Father Michael Schirmacher 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..
Iglesia Cristiana Agape
Bilingual Christian Church Service Sundays at 6 p.m., with music. Calle Nudo de Cempoaltepetl 842, Col. San Marcos, Guadalajara. Information: 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..