Little Chapel by the Lake
“Some people seem to think God gets a giant case of cosmic amnesia,” says Pastor Ken Armstrong.
“When the Bible says He forgives our sins, it means just that. You can’t forgive something you don’t remember. It’s the same when we forgive others; forgiving is not synonymous with forgetting.”
On Sunday, September 10, the conversation at the Little Chapel is entitled “Forgive and Forget?” and will discuss love, forgiveness, and boundaries, drawn from Psalm 103 and other passages.
Non-denominational Christian, English-language Sunday worship service is at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited to stay for a friendly comida (church meal) after the service.
Little Chapel is also open Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. for silent prayer and worship in the sanctuary and memorial prayer garden. Everyone is welcome. Communion and anointing are available.
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Lakeside Presbyterian
Pastor Wayne Cook will deliver the sermon at the Sunday, September 10, service of the Lakeside 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.
Unitarian Universalists
The Rev. Matt Alspaugh, the new minister of the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, is the leader for the service on Sunday, September 10. He will show a video sermon, “Hospitality is a Leap of Faith,” by the Rev Daniel O’Connell of First Unitarian Universalist church in Houston, Texas.
“It can feel a bit scary reaching out to strangers, but doing so can make you a better person. We’ll hear a couple of low stress ways to do that, and explore our connection to hospitality.”
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. If you have any questions, call Teresa, 766-0776.
Abundant Life Church
“Sooner or later … we have a lot of ways to say that something will eventually happen but what if it seems like the promises of God are too slow in coming? We can say God always completes his promises, but if we are feeling let down and without hope these words bring little comfort. Come Sunday, September 10, and be encouraged to see how God acts on our behalf from the moment we ask. We may have to wait for the answer, but while we are waiting God will be with us.”
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 at noon. Spanish-language Bible studies are Wednesday, 6:45 p.m. A children’s ministry is held Saturday, noon, and 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).
St. Andrew’s Anglican
“The concluding sentences for the Gospel reading this Sunday contain the words ‘Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, I will be in the midst of them.’ This is often heard as an assurance from the living God that we will never be alone. Being on one’s own is not in and of itself a bad thing but if taken to the extreme it can lead to isolation and arrogance. In this week’s sermon at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, we will be reminded that our God is a God of relationships through which the living God strengthens our spirituality and makes our faith real. We will be reminded that the Trinity of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – are with us at all times.”
Worship begins at 10 a.m., and the bilingual children’s Sunday School starts at 9:45 a.m. “Coffee Hour,” a time of fellowship and welcome, follows the service.
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.
The Company of Gentlemen invites all men of the community to their monthly breakfast at Min Wah Restaurant in Ajijic Wednesday, September 13, 8:30 a.m.
Tickets are on sale for the Mexican Fiesta on Thursday, September 14, 2 p.m. sponsored by the Social and Hospitality Committee. During the social hour, come into the church to enjoy the performance of the children of the Ballet Folklorico Macehuani. Agustín Vazquez, owner of Viva México Restaurant, will serve his succulent Mexican buffet at 3 p.m.
Looking for something unique for your home or for a gift? Check out our resale shop, Todo Bueno, open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. except Sunday, 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 Hendrick: “There is a story about a preacher who had committed a secret sin many years before. He had confessed this sin to God but never had peace about being forgiven. A woman in his congregation who loved Jesus Christ claimed to have visions in which she spoke directly to her Lord. The preacher was skeptical, so he told her, ‘The next time you speak with Christ, ask him what sin your pastor committed while he was in seminary.’ She agreed to do so. A few days later the preacher asked her if she had had a visit with Christ. She said she had, so he asked ‘And did you ask him what sin I committed in seminary?’ She replied, ‘Yes I did. He said he did not remember.’ In Isaiah 43:25 the Bible says, ‘I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and I will not remember your sins.’ Sin confessed to God and forsaken is blotted out of God’s memory by his grace … grace sufficient for you to forgive yourself.”
Sunday, September 10, 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.
Christ Church Episcopal
Christ Church Episcopal, a mission of the Diocese of the West in the Anglican Church of Mexico, will observe the 14th Sunday after Pentecost, Sunday, September 10, with Holy Communion at 9:30 a.m. in the Little Chapel by the Lake. The Rev. Chuck McKinney will preside and give a message with the theme “More Stormy Cs” based on Matthew 18:15-20.
The Lunch Bunch will meet at Yves’ Restaurant at 11:15 a.m.
The Bible Study will meet Tuesday, September 12, 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the Little Chapel. All are welcome to attend and continue our exploration of Paul’s letters in chronological order.
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 go to lakechapalajewishcongregation.com.
San Andres English
“Christ became our brother and made himself responsible for us, His brothers and sisters. He contracted the debt of mutual love. All he asks of us is that we should do the same.”
So says Fr. Basil G. Royston, D. Min., who will offer the homily “Christ Who Paid the Debt of Love” at San Andres Catholic Church’s English-language service on Sunday, September 10, 9 a.m.
After Mass, the San Andres English congregation will have a “Second Sunday White Envelope Offering” for the Outreach Projects of their congregation. This offering supports many local charities: 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.
Home Church Int’l
Scientists, try as they may, are plagued by a multitude of unanswered questions. After their best effort, then comes speculation. For instance, the universe is so indescribably vast, it is impossible to calculate its expanse. Even our small planet, earth, has a trove of unanswered questions. So, rather than admit defeat, guesswork dominates. To admit or affirm anything outside of the test tube or mathematical effort demands more than the brain can conjure. Most speculative attempts are more than curiosity. They are inseparable from the ego need.
The alternative in our searching is something called faith, putting your belief and trust in something higher than yourself. It demands in this questionable arena that we admit something or someone much bigger is responsible. Even God’s Word explains it. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” Everything which appears and has substance in the universe comes from things invisible, merging natural and supernatural.
Pastors Paul and Susana Allen affirm God to be God, and give Him His credit. Contact them for meeting times and places: 332-242-8648, 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..
St. Mark’s Anglican
Guadalajara
Sunday, September 10, 12:30 p.m., Fr. Jim Priddy will give the sermon “Tough Love” at St. Mark’s Anglican Church.
St. Mark’s congregation will celebrate Mexican Independence, Sunday, September 17, 2 p.m. with food, games and fun. Tickets are 100 pesos.
St. Mark’s is at Chichimecas 836 in Colonia Monraz.