Expat Living

Editor’s note: Organizations representing “1.5 million U.S. citizens residing in Mexico, the largest community of American expatriates in the world,” including Democrats Abroad Mexico, the Women’s March Mexico City, Bridges to Understanding and Concerned Citizens Living in Mexico, presented a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on his visit to Mexico this week. These are the highlights.

The educational Niños de Chapala and Ajijic (NCA) charity celebrated their 40th anniversary February 11 with their annual fundraiser: a Valentine’s dinner gala. The popular event, held at Chapala’s beautiful Montecarlo Hotel, included a delicious dinner buffet, a live and silent auction, and live music by rock and blues band Mike and the Suspects.

Lakeside Presbyterian
 “What’s in it for me?”  Whether these exact words are spoken or not, it’s still common for people to evaluate events according to the benefit they will receive. But what if we turned this upside down? What if our question instead was, “What’s in it for the people around me?” This week, Pastor Ross Arnold of Lakeside Presbyterian Church will consider this question in his sermon entitled “Serve One Another.”

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 at 10 a.m. and Spanish-language services are at 9 a.m. and noon. Everyone is welcome.

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 www.lakesidejews.com.

Abundant Life Church

Sunday, February 19, Pastor Gary Neighbor ministers from James 1. Most believers want a crown but are not willing to do what is necessary to receive one. Many may contemplate the laying of crowns before the throne (Rev 4:10) but what will you have to offer?  James encourages us to prepare beforehand so that we can offer to Jesus what is pleasing.

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 at 10 a.m. and Bible study Wednesday at 3 p.m. Spanish-language services are Sunday, noon. Bible studies are on Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. A children’s ministry is held Saturday, 10 a.m. and the youth meet Sunday, 6:45 p.m.

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

San Andres English

“We cannot celebrate the Lord of love without resolving to be more like him; for we are built into him like stones into a temple erected to give glory to God.  We belong to him.” So says Fr. Basil G. Royston, D. Min., who will offer the homily “The Lord Is Compassion and Love” at San Andres Catholic Church’s English-language service Sunday, February 19, 9 a.m.

San Andres is located at the corner of Ramon Corona and Parroquia, one block from the Ajijic main plaza.

Unitarian Universalists

The speaker at the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship service, Sunday, February 19, is Trudy Crippen. Her talk will be “What does a UU do with Alternative Truth?” Karyn Carpenter 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.

St. Andrew’s Anglican

Churches depend heavily upon their volunteers to do everything from printing the bulletins to fixing the kitchen sink.  This Sunday at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, the congregation recognizes and thanks their office volunteers, finance committee, and a host of other “one-person” committees who keep the church online, repaired, and looking good.

Worship begins Sunday, February 19, 10 a.m., the bilingual children’s Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. and a coffee hour – a time of fellowship and welcome – follows the service.

There will be another opportunity for worship at the Evening Prayer service, Wednesday at 5 p.m., led by the Rev. Robbin Del Nagro. A Choral Evensong service, led by the choir of St. Andrew’s under the direction of Timothy G. Ruff Welch, will be held Thursday, February 23, 6:30 p.m.

The Company of Gentlemen will have their monthly luncheon Wednesday, February 22, noon at the Brew House Restaurant in west Ajijic. A Ladies’ luncheon will be held Thursday, February 23, at the Food Container in Riberas del Pilar, across from the church’s resale shop, Todo Bueno.

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.

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 was a lady that lived behind our church (in a far away land) who took pride in abiding by her sect’s adherence to vegetarianism. She was certain that she was more saved than those who ate meat. On one occasion a friend of mine accompanied my neighbor to McDonalds. What occurred was, the vegetarian ordered a hamburger and upon its arrival, opened the sandwich, removed the meat, squeezed the grease out of it onto the bun, and then discarded the meat. She got the flavor while technically remaining faithful to her vow.  I do not consider eating meat a sin, but there are times when we ‘squeeze the grease out of a forbidden situation’ so as to get the taste without technically committing the wrong. That is what Jesus calls ‘honoring Him with your words while your heart remains far from Him.’ From time to time, we all have all-beef patty grease on our hands.”

Hendrick will give the sermon at Sunday’s 11 a.m. worship service at the Lake Chapala Baptist Church, Santa Margarita 147 in Riberas del Pilar.

Little Chapel by the Lake

Are “ordinary” Christians called to ministry? That’s the question Pastor Ken Armstrong discusses Sunday, February 19 in “The Gift List,” a message drawn from 1 Corinthians 12.

Non-denominational, English-language Sunday worship service is at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited to stay for a friendly potluck meal after the service.
Little Chapel by the Lake is located in the historic stone church building in Chula Vista, at Carretera Chapala-Ajijic 10. Public visits of the building are free and available by reservation. To arrange a visit, 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..

For more information, call 766-2538 or 332-186-0417 (cell) or visit LittleChapelChapala.org.

Christ Church Episcopal

Christ Church Episcopal, a congregation of the Anglican Church of Mexico, will observe the seventh Sunday after Epiphany by celebrating the Holy Eucharist Sunday, February 19, 9:30 a.m. at the Little Chapel by the Lake. Fr. Danny Borkowski will preside and Warden Jim Powers will give a message with the theme, “N I 4 N I” based on Matthew 5:38-48.

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

The Sunday Lunch Bunch will meet at Yves’ Restaurant at 11:15 a.m.  

Christ Church Episcopal sponsors a Bible Study Tuesdays, 2-3 p.m. in the hall to tackle the fascinating Book of Isaiah.

Wednesday, February 22, 3:30-4:15 p.m., the Lakeside Singers will have a sing-a-long at Alicia’s Rest Home, Juan Alvarez 56 in Ajijic. Tel. 766-3152. The group will then move on to sing from 4:30-5:15 p.m. at Abbeyfield, Privada Independencia 9 in Ajijic, tel. 766-2794, before heading out to eat at Ajijic Tango. Reservations must be made at 766-2458.

Christ Church sponsors a Lenten series, “Building Healthy Community,” each Friday of March (except March 24), at the home of Aideen and Brian Howard, Rio Nazas 43 in Rancho del Oro. Presentations begin 5 p.m. followed by a short evening prayer service.

St. Mark’s Anglican, Guadalajara

Sunday, February 19, Father Jim Priddy will deliver the sermon “Holy Reapers” at the 10:30 a.m. English-language worship service at St. Mark’s Anglican Church.

St. Mark’s will hold its annual Pancake Supper on “Fat Tuesday,” February 28, from 6-7 p.m. The season of Lent begins the following day with the celebration of Ash Wednesday. Join St. Mark’s for a short service for the imposition of ashes at noon in English and 3 p.m. in Spanish.

St. Mark’s is located at Chichimecas 836, corner of Aztecas, in Colonia Monraz.

Sunny weather and a huge band of volunteers led by Jacque and Carol Bouchard were the perfect formula to turn the 39th Mexican National Chili Cook-off into a whopping success. Throngs of visitors roamed the Tobolandia water park fairgrounds over the February 10-12 weekend to eat, drink and make merry in support of eight local charities.

Mi Bebe y Yo is a unique group at Lakeside that donates its time to assist mothers and their newborns. 

Unitarian Universalists

The speaker at the Sunday, February 12 Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Valentine’s Day service is the Rev. Dr. Paula Gable, visiting from the Frist Unitarian Universalist congregation in Ottawa, Ontario.