St. Andrew’s Anglican
“The Word of God came to John … in the wilderness.” A fragment of one sentence is the framework for a three-part message in “Word and Wilderness,” Fr. Winston Welty’s sermon at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church on Sunday, December 6. John the Baptizer’s role was to prepare the way for his cousin Jesus, and the way he did it is a model for how every person of faith can do the same as Christmas approaches once more.
Sunday School begins at 9:45 a.m. The worship service is at 10 a.m. followed by refreshments in the garden. Every Sunday, the feeding program supported by St. Andrew’s welcomes donations. Non-perishable food items can be left in baskets by the church doors.
The monthly breakfast of the “Company of Gentlemen” welcomes the men of the parish into fellowship in the church kitchen on Wednesday, December 9, 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
Retired pastor Max DeBeeson presents the message, “The Five Purposes for Our Lives,” at the Sunday, December 6, 11:15 a.m. service of the Little Chapel by the Lake. The congregation joins the members of Christ Church for a fellowship time at 10:30 a.m.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is on the Carretera just east of the entrance to the Chula Vista Country Club.
San Andres English
The Sunday, December 6, 9 a.m. English mass is marked by a series of special events. Special guests at the service will be the children from La Villa Infantil, who will sing the mass. The congregation’s traditional “Angel Tree,” decorated with cards which bear the names of the 35 orphans. will be on display so members can prepare Christmas gifts for them.
Lake Chapala Baptist
“We like to blame things like our anger or depression on someone or something else,” says Brother Bob Hendrick of the Lake Chapala Baptist Church. “If she would spend less money … If he would give me more of his time … If they would listen to reason … If they were not so … lazy/stingy/dishonest/mindless/arrogant … then we would get along just fine.”
He continues: “Jesus’ bold little brother, James, is very direct in pointing out that the reasons for conflict with our fellow man are our own selfish desires, lack of humility, failure to please God. All those things are inside us. If we get these right it will not ‘fix the world,’ but it will mend many relationships and stop the frustrating internal battles that rob us of our peace.”
The Sunday, December 6 worship service will be held at 11 a.m. at the church at Sta. Margarita 147 in Riberas del Pilar.
Center for Spiritual Living
The first Sunday of month celebration service at the Center for Spiritual Living is set for Sunday, December 6, 4 p.m.
The theme is “Finding the Light within and expressing it in our lives.” A potluck dinner will follow. The Center is at Nicolas Bravo 17 in Ajijic. Call (376) 766-0920 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information.
New Hope
Pastor Gene Raymer will deliver the message, “Living Temptation Free? Shame on You!” during the Sunday, December 6, 11 a.m. worship service of the New Hope Christian Fellowship. Raymer contends that Satan doesn’t tempt sinners, only God’s servants. He cites David, Solomon and Peter as examples. After the service, group members continue the fellowship at a local restaurant.
New Hope is a non-denominational congregation seeking to model itself after the first-century Christian church. While awaiting the completion of their new home, they are meeting at the home of their association president at Sta. Isabella 175, in Riberas del Pilar. For directions, call the pastor at 376-766-3435.
Christ Church
Fr. Danny Borkowski will preside as Christ Church Episcopal observes the Second Sunday of Advent on Sunday, December 6, 9:30 a.m. at the Little Chapel by the Lake. Borkowski’s message is “All Flesh Shall See the Salvation of God,” based on Luke 3:1-6.
The congregations of Christ Church and the Little Chapel share a common coffee fellowship from 10:35 until 11:10 a.m. Bible Study sponsored meets Tuesday, December 8, 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Members of the two congregations will then decorate the sanctuary and make plans for the joint communion service on Christmas Eve.
Unitarian Universalist
The speaker at the Sunday, December 6, 10:30 a.m. service of the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist is Dr. Rick Rhoda. His topic is “The Role of Language and Religion in the Evolution and Dominance of Humans.” Fred Harland is the group’s service leader.
The group has an enhanced personal sound system to helping those with hearing issues during the Sunday services. Attendees can use headphones or ear buds connected to an FM radio or FM capable cell phone.
The English-speaking, lay-led fellowship meets on the west side of Ajijic in Plaza de la Ribera, Rio Bravo 10A, in a wheelchair-accessible facility.
Buddhist Community
The Heart of Awareness Community meets on Wednes-days. Noble Silence begins at 4 p.m., followed by a formal meditation, dharma teachings and discussion at 4:30 p.m. On December 9, Janet Reichert will give a dharma talk on “The Practice of Generosity.”
The First Sunday Long Sit is on Sunday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to noon. Arrive by 8:50 a.m. to prepare for three rounds of 40 minutes sitting and 20 minutes walking meditation.
The Monday Dharma Movie Matinee on December 7 is “Kunda,” a biographical film based on the life of the 14th Dalai Lama, the exiled political and spiritual leader of Tibet. The movie starts at 3 p.m.
The sangha’s location is at Guadalupe Victoria 101, suites A&B, in Ajijic.
St. Mark’s Anglican
Guadalajara
Sunday, December 6, will be a full day at St. Mark’s, with Tom VandenBosch ordained as transitional deacon at the 10:30 a.m. Mass and the hanging of the greens at 1:30 p.m.
Next, at 6 p.m., is the beloved community musical service “Lessons and Carols.” The choir under Debbie Matthew, with regular and guest singers, will provide the musical half of the event. “We started doing Lessons and Carols at St. Mark’s in 1993,” says Matthew. “People of various religious backgrounds generally attend and community singers are invited to join choir regulars. We do some beautiful Episcopal hymns that may be unfamiliar to some people, such as ‘Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming’ and ‘Once in Royal David’s City,’ and then we continue with better known carols that follow along with nine Bible readings.”
The congregation sings with the choir for many of the hymns. Acclaimed organist Ana Silvia Guerrero will accompany on the organ.
Sue Priddy continues to collect each Sunday in Advent to provide Jocotepec mothers who give birth at a tiny clinic with items such as blankets and diapers. She is also organizing the purchase of poinsettias for the annual, musical Christmas Eve Mass at 6 p.m.