There’s a very active and experienced group of birders at Lake Chapala hosted by John and Rosemary Keeling.

The future of a mobile health van that serves seven economically-challenged communities on Lake Chapala’s north shore is hanging in the balance after financial funding for the service was curtailed.

Lake Chapala Baptist

“I used to hear that when the going gets tough, the tough get going,” says Brother Bob Hendrick, pastor of Lake Chapala Baptist Church. “Later I heard, ‘Life is hard and then you die.’ Now I hear folks saying things like, ‘Life is unfair, the government should fix it.’”

He continues: “The world has been broken ever since sin was introduced by our distant kinfolks, Adam and Eve.  It will not get fixed by pithy sayings that fit on a bumper sticker. However, the Bible does give us some Pre Traumatic Stress Direction.” 

Hendrick says the congregation will “see what God’s Word says about dealing with tough times and temptation” during the worship service on Sunday, October 11,11 a.m. 

Sunday school at Lake Chapala Baptist starts at 9:45 a.m. each Sunday. The church is at Sta. Margarita 147 in Riberas del Pilar. 

New Hope 

The non-denominational congregation of the New Hope Christian Fellowship meets Sunday, October 11, 10:30 a.m.

As part of the service, Pastor Gene Raymer will deliver a message based on lessons learned from the book of Esther. “God had a plan for Esther just as He does for everyone He creates. This week we will seek to understand God’s plan for Esther and for each of us.” 

The congregation meets at Raymer’s home at Privada Jesus Garcia 11 Refreshments are provided for early arrivals. After the worship service, the fellowship time continues as the group adjourns to visit a different restaurant each week.

St. Andrew’s Anglican 

One of Jesus’s most uncomfortable sayings, “Sell all that you have, and follow me,” is the challenge heard during the worship service at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church on Sunday, October 11, 10 a.m. 

Fr. Winston Welty’s sermon, “Getting Beyond Rich,” suggests that the only authentic response to that challenge is one which leaves behind all that binds and imprisons Christ’s followers, and that shedding of material things results in the freedom that faith makes possible.

Sunday School begins at 9:45 a.m. There are refreshments in the garden following the service. On every second Sunday of the month, donations are received for the support of the families of the Sunday School children in Jocotepec. The donations of non-perishable food items for the feeding program supported by St. Andrew’s can be left in baskets at the Church doors.

Wednesday, October 14, the monthly breakfast of the “Company of Gentlemen” meets in the church kitchen at 8:30 a.m.

St. Andrew’s is at Calle San Lucas 19, a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.

Little Chapel by the Lake

During the 11:15 a.m. worship service of the Little Chapel by the Lake on Sunday, October 11, guest speaker Quy Ngugen, owner of Ajijic restaurant Chopsticks, will  speak about the prodigal father, from the parable of the prodigal son. 

When children out on the Chapala malecon last Sunday (World Animal Day) were invited to make a spontaneous drawing involving an animal, they jumped into the task wholeheartedly.

“Our mission is to rescue and transform Chapala,” declared Chapala Mayor Javier Degollado Gonzalez in his inaugural speech, prompting thunderous applause.   

Introductory instruction in tae boxing, zumba, jazz aerobics and other types of high octane fitness workouts will be to open all comers attending the Expo Xtreme Gym Fitness scheduled for Sunday, October 4, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Chapala’s waterfront Malecon. A variety of wholesome outdoor activities for children will also be on-going during the event. Admission is free of charge.