Expat Living

What started as an introduction to native cacao seeds at a cacao ceremony has turned into a passion and full-time business for Lakeside resident Nora Maldonado. Prior to attending the ceremony near Guadalajara, Maldonado had never tasted native cacao or understood the magic behind the powerful seed that comes from native trees grown in Soconusco, a region in the southwest corner of the state of Chiapas.

St. Andrew’s Anglican

“Sunday, June 18 at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, we will hear in the readings God’s call for us to be a holy people and laborers for His harvest,” says Fr. Bryan Beveridge. “By virtue of our baptisms, we are also anointed for ministry. We are challenged to share God’s loving compassion with a hurting and needy world. As we are forgiven and healed at our Lord’s table, we are asked to go forth to share the good news, to seek to heal those who are sick, and to break bread with those who are hungry.” Fr. Beveridge will speak of the challenge worshipers face to be “compassion workers” for Jesus Christ. He will challenge the congregation to find the places where God would have them be workers for the harvest, who offer words and acts of compassion.

Christ Church Episcopal

Christ Church Episcopal, a mission of the Diocese of the West in the Anglican Church of Mexico, will observe the First Day After Pentecost (Trinity Sunday), June 11, 9:30 a.m. with Holy Communion at the Little Chapel by the Lake. Vicar Danny Borkowski will preside and give the message with the theme “Great Commission Christians “ based on Matthew 28:16-20.

Refreshments will be available before the service, starting at 9 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. 

The Lunch Bunch will meet at 11:15 a.m. at Lake Taco restaurant.

Bible Study meets Tuesday, 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The group will explore the meaning of Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Seventh Day Adventists

In John 21:15-17, Jesus tells Peter three times “Feed my Sheep.” This quarter, our Bible study examines what this former fisherman and earlier church leader wrote.

Everyone is welcome to Bible study on Saturdays at 9:15 a.m. This week we study False Teachers. 

“They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for people are slaves to whatever masters them.  2 Peter 2:19.

Worship service is Saturday, 10:20 a.m.

You may download the full lesson quarterly from Amazon in Kindle format (Canadian link, U.K. link). If you don’t have a Kindle, download the reader for the PC, or the free app for mobile devices.

Lakeside Seventh Day Adventist bible study and worship is at the Abundant Life church located at Carretera 140, San Antonio Tlayacapan (next to iShop&Mail). Facebook.com/ChapalaSDAChurch.

Little Chapel by the Lake

“Where did anyone get the idea that Jesus wants us to knock off having fun?” asks Ken Armstrong, Little Chapel’s pastor. On Sunday, June 11, Armstrong talks about spending time with Jesus in his message “The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship,” drawn from John 2 and Revelation 19.

Everyone is invited to stay for a friendly comida (church meal) after the service.

Little Chapel is open Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m. for silent prayer and worship in the sanctuary and memorial prayer garden. Everyone is welcome.

The Little Chapel is located at the historic stone church building in Chula Vista, at Carretera Chapala-Ajijic 10. 

Non-denominational, English-language Sunday worship service is at 11 a.m. The service is webcast live at facebook.com/groups/TLChapala or LittleChapelChapala.org.

For more information, see the display ad in this section.

Abundant Life

“If I only knew …” That is what many say about the things that happen to them. Have you ever wondered why Peter would disown Jesus three times after being told that it would happen? Being prepared beforehand didn’t seem to help Peter and in your life it may not be sufficient either. Jesus does not just want to warn you, he wants to save you from your own bad decisions. 

Come this Sunday, June 11, to discover what Jesus wants to give you that Peter didn’t have when he was asked that fateful question, “surely you are one of his disciples?”    

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, noon. Spanish-language Bible studies are Wednesday, 6:45 p.m. A children’s ministry is held Saturday, noon, and the youth meet Sunday, 6:30 p.m. 

Abundant Life Church is located at Carretera Chapala-Jocotepec 140, San Antonio Tlayacapan, a block from SuperLake. For more information, call 331-417-7038 (cel).

Unitarian Universalists

Sunday, June 11, Carole Favero will present “Growing Towards God” at the meeting of the Lakeside Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

Favero will share reflections on her spiritual journey, which has taken her from her mother’s teachings to the immersion in meditation and SRF yoga. She has found a constant source of inspiration in the holy scriptures of India, such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads. Richard Clarke is the service leader.

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. For more information, call Fred Harland at (376) 766-1458.

St. Andrew’s Anglican

Sunday, June 11 at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, the congregation will be talking about the Holy Trinity, the only theological concept that has its own special Sunday. This Christian teaching, that God is manifested in three different ways, all depends on a relationship. Someone recently said that one cannot fully understand God as a trinity of persons without recognizing the “plus one” that is each and every one of us – all of God’s children.  

Worship begins at 10 a.m., the bilingual children’s Sunday School starts at 9:45 a.m. and a coffee hour – a time of fellowship and welcome – follows the service.

The Company of Gentlemen will host their monthly breakfast on Wednesday, June 14, 8:30 a.m. at the church. All men of the community and church are welcome.

This Sunday we will collect donations for the support of our Sunday School children and their families. And every Sunday, the feeding programs supported by St. Andrew’s welcome donations of non-perishable food items.  Boxed milk and empty cardboard egg cartons are especially welcome, in addition to lentils, beans, pasta, oil, and salt. 

Todo Bueno, the resale shop that our Outreach operates to benefit lakeside charities, is looking for donations of time and treasure.  Don’t throw it out – recycle it into money that goes back to our community.  The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  and is located on the highway next to S & S Auto in Riberas del Pilar.

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

Lake Chapala Baptist 

Says Brother Bob Hendrick: “There is a movie on Netflix I have to see because of some quotes from it that I have read. It is titled ‘Gattaca’ (1997). Two brothers, one genetically modified, one a “God-child,” have competitions which are usually won by the best genetics. Then things change. The natural brother out-performs the new-and-improved brother. In a swimming contest where the loser is the one who turns back first, the child of love swims farther than his brother. When asked how he has done it, he responds, ‘This is how I did it … I never saved anything for the swim back.’ The abundant life is known by those who follow Jesus and ‘save nothing for the swim back.’”

Sunday, June 11, 11 a.m., Brother Hendrick will give the sermon at the worship service of the Lake Chapala Baptist Church, located at Santa Margarita 147, Riberas del Pilar.

Presbyterian Church

Lakeside Presbyterian is located at San Jorge 250 in Riberas del Pilar. Turn toward the lake at Mom’s Restaurant and the church is two blocks down on the right. English-language services begin each Sunday, 10 a.m. and Spanish-language services are 9 a.m. and noon. Everyone is welcome.

San Andres English 

“The Spirit glorifies the Son of the eternal Father, and today we in this Spirit give glory to God, for the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” 

So says Fr. Basil G. Royston, D. Min., who will offer the homily “Glory To The Father, The Son, And The Holy Spirit” at San Andres Catholic Church’s English-language service on Whitsunday, Sunday, June 11, 9 a.m.

The San Andres English congregation holds their second Sunday White Envelope Offering for the Outreach Projects of the congregation after Mass. This offering supports many local charities: Anita’s Shelter, six student scholarships, Villa Infantil, Operation Feed, Cruz Roja, Niños Incapacitados, El Corazon del Ancianos, the Ancianos Christmas Dinner, the San Andrés fiesta, Niños y Jovenes, and scholarships for local Seminarian students. 

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 see lakesidejews.com.

Home Church Int’l 

What goes on in a home church meeting? How different is it? This is a good inquiry for those interested. A time and date for the meeting is sent to all participating in that group. It could be virtually any day and almost any time. Whatever works best for the host and their group. Normally there is a known area where they meet, and members go to that area. Of course, weather may play a factor. When it is felt all have arrived, the leader(s) open with prayer, and share any upcoming matters for the group including testimonies. Then, the study/worship begins with the pertinent scripture. One great part of a home church meeting is the sharing and informality. As teaching begins, often someone will have a question or need for clarification from this meeting or in the past. This is verified in I Corinthians 14:26. Sharing is the big key in the gathering of this church, the ekklesia, the called-out ones. This gives people a chance to grow and feel accepted. 

The meeting begins to close with a communion service. Afterwards, intercessory prayer for needs is experienced with all in agreement. Fellowship and refreshments follow, prior to departure.

 To learn of when and where our worship groups meet, contact Pastors Paul and Susana Allen at (332) 242-8648, or by 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..

St. Mark’s Anglican 

Guadalajara

Sunday, June 11, Fr. Jim Priddy will give the sermon “Nicea and the Big A’s” at St. Mark’s Anglican Church. Plans are under way for a 4th of July celebration, Saturday, July 1, 2 p.m.

St. Mark’s is at Chichimecas 836 in Colonia Monraz.

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, June 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, 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.

St. Andrew’s Anglican

Sunday, June 4, at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, we celebrate the Day of Pentecost, which takes its names from the Jewish Festival of Pentecost, observed fifty days after Passover. It was at that Festival that the Holy Spirit poured out on the disciples, allowing them to witness to all who were there in their own languages. For Christians, Pentecost is the 50th day after Easter, and the Holy Spirit is the Living God who heals, forgives, inspires and unites us. Images of wind and fire are associated with this day, as is the St. Andrew’s tradition of wearing something red to church!  

Every Sunday, the feeding programs supported by St. Andrew’s welcome 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.

Todo Bueno, the resale shop that our Outreach operates to benefit lakeside charities, is looking for donations of time and treasure.  Don’t throw it out – recycle it into money that goes back to our community.  The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  and is located on the highway next to S & S Auto in Riberas del Pilar.

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

Presbyterian Church

Dr. Wayne Cook has accepted a position as Associate Pastor of Congregational Care at Lakeside Presbyterian Church. Dr. Cook has been in ministry since 1978. He received his Doctorate of Theology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1981. Dr. Cook has ministered as a pastor, a professor of preaching and counseling, a prison chaplain and a prison deputy warden. He retired to Ajijic in October 2016, but as is often the case with men of God, retirement didn’t last long.

Sunday, June 4, he will be speaking on “Lessons from the First Awakening,” from Acts 2.

Lakeside Presbyterian is located at San Jorge 250 in Riberas del Pilar. Turn toward the lake at Mom’s Restaurant and the church is two blocks down on the right. English-language services begin each Sunday, 10 a.m. and Spanish-language services are 9 a.m. and noon. Everyone is welcome.

Little Chapel by the Lake

Says Little Chapel Pastor Ken Armstrong: “Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. Addiction is very often our repeated, failed attempt to deal with some kind of pain by applying our own solution.” Sunday, June 4, Pastor Armstrong talks about how Christians confront addiction in his message “The Seven Percent Solution,” drawn from 2 Timothy 1 and Romans 7.  Communion will be observed.

Everyone is invited to stay for a friendly potluck meal after the service.

Little Chapel is open Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m. for silent prayer and worship in the sanctuary and memorial prayer garden. Everyone is welcome.

The Little Chapel is located at the historic stone church building in Chula Vista, at Carretera Chapala-Ajijic 10. 

Non-denominational, English-language Sunday worship service is at 11 a.m. The service is webcast live at facebook.com/groups/TLChapala or LittleChapelChapala.org.

For more information, call (376) 108-1842.

Abundant Life

What does your heart say about you? Jesus tells us that what we say is a sign of what is in our heart.  The Bible gives us all kinds of ways to measure the condition of our heart and like an EKG that a doctor may do we need to have our hearts tested to be sure our heart is what we want it to be. Sunday, June 4, come to have your heart tested and allow God to renew you. He is the only one who can show you your true condition and then heal you as well.

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, noon. Spanish-language Bible studies are Wednesday, 6:45 p.m. A children’s ministry is held Saturday, noon, and the youth meet Sunday, 6:30 p.m. 

Abundant Life Church is located at Carretera Chapala-Jocotepec 140, San Antonio Tlayacapan, a block from SuperLake. For more information, call 331-417-7038 (cel).

Unitarian Universalists

Sunday, June 4, Nancy Jordan-Zanot will present “Spirituality, Breath and Me” at the meeting of the Lakeside Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

Jordan-Zanot will describe her personal journey of breath-work and spiritual growth. The service will include a guided breath meditation.  Carol Johnson is the service leader.

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. For more information, call Fred Harland at (376) 766-1458.

Lake Chapala Baptist 

In the movie series “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Captain Jack Sparrow’s compass does not point North. When asked, “Where does it point?” Jack once said, “It points to the thing you want most in this world.” In different movies, it has pointed to different destinations. If you had Jack Sparrow’s odd compass in your hand, where would it point? Jesus said that wherever your treasure is there your heart will be also. Peoples’ hearts point in various directions. What is your heart attracted to? 

Sunday, June 4, 11 a.m., Brother Bob Hendrick will give the sermon at the worship service of the Lake Chapala Baptist Church, located at Santa Margarita 147, Riberas del Pilar.

Christ Church Episcopal

Christ Church Episcopal, a mission of the Diocese of the West in the Anglican Church of Mexico, will observe the Day of Pentecost by celebrating the Holy Eucharist Sunday, June 4, 9:30 a.m. at the Little Chapel by the Lake. Christ Church lay reader Dr. Inez Dayer will preside and give a message with the theme “Why Pentecost?” based on John 20:19-23.

Refreshments will be available before the service, starting at 9 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. 

The Lunch Bunch will meet as determined after the service.

Bible Study meets Tuesday, 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The group is chronologically exploring Paul’s letter.

Seventh Day Adventists

In John 21:15-17, Jesus tells Peter three times “Feed my Sheep.” This quarter, our Bible study examines what this former fisherman and earlier church leader wrote.

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness: and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” – 2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV.

Everyone is welcome to Bible study on Saturdays at 9:15 a.m. This week the congregation studies the Passion, Resurrection and Divinity of Jesus.

Worship service is Saturday, 10:15 a.m. All are welcome to a special annual church picnic that will follow. 

Lakeside Seventh Day Adventist bible study and worship is at the Abundant Life church located at Carretera 140, San Antonio Tlayacapan (next to iShop&Mail). Facebook.com/ChapalaSDAChurch.

San Andres English

 “Today we celebrate the great day of Pentecost, when Christ filled the church with the power of His spirit and sent it out into the world to bring his peace, joy, and forgiveness to all.” 

So says Fr. Basil G. Royston, D. Min., who will offer the homily “The Day of Pentecost” at San Andres Catholic Church’s English-language service on Whitsunday, Sunday, June 4, 9 a.m.

The San Andres English congregation holds their “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 see lakesidejews.com.

Home Church Int’l 

Here in the Western Hemisphere it is unlikely that we would hear the term “underground” used very often. In history we are told of underground railroads. Underground malls are not uncommon. However, the term is not uncommon amongst those who must protect themselves if trying to worship without alerting the opposition. It is believed that in a country as large as China, with a population of approximately 1.4 billion, there may be as many as 50 million underground churches. This was illustrated in the movie, “China Cry.” There are a few state regulated churches, but underground groups are not under any regulation because they are secret. 

This is an advantage of churches such as Home Church International. Christians, and Christianity, are being persecuted around the world, even in the United States. It is relatively easy for us to stop advertising and simply solicit only by word-of-mouth. We are not that visible and can continue with our worship and study underground — not visible. The fellowship is just as real, maybe even greater. Our dependence is upon the Lord. To learn of when and where our worship groups meet, contact Pastors Paul and Susana Allen at (332) 242-8648, or by 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..

St. Mark’s Anglican 

Guadalajara

Pentecost Sunday, June 4, there will only be one service, a special bilingual service at 12:30 p.m. It will begin with a balloon liftoff. Fr. Jim Priddy will give the sermon ““The Spirit of the Day.”

Come for a great celebration. 

 St. Mark’s is at Chichimecas 836 in Colonia Monraz.

For residents of the Lake Chapala area, the town of Jocotepec, on the lake’s western extremity, is where you’ll find the most reputable dispensers of birria, specifically in restaurants found among the porticos that ring the town’s main plaza.