Lake Chapala Baptist
Last Sunday, Pastor John Linton delved deep into Isaiah 7:1-17 in his sermon titled “The Lord Will Give You a Sign.” He asked us all some very pointed questions:
“Are you going to trust God fully or are you going to trust in your own resources? Have you wearied God through your reliance on self rather than the Almighty? Do you sometimes look back and see God’s sure hand in your life … and {know} that He was in charge all along? Such a realization is proof that you can trust God with your whole heart and mind.”
Possibly Pastor John’s most provocative question—being asked by some churches today—was: Do you believe heaven needs earth’s authorization to intervene? “Such a stance,” he went on, “is blasphemy, doubting the sovereignty of God.
“Complete trust in God is the lesson of Isaiah 7 for us all,” he said, in conclusion. “Did you know that faith can be refused by will? Your faith is in God, not in your faith. Let us trust in God always, and let our answer ever be ‘Lord, your way; mine really hasn’t worked very well.’”
LCBC offers a special Christmas service this year on Saturday, December 25, at 9 a.m., along with the usual Sunday service the following day.
Share thoughtful weekly sermons, uplifting music, God-driven fellowship, and an ongoing thirst for true wisdom at Lake Chapala Baptist Church every Sunday, 10:45 a.m. Adult Sunday school 9:45 a.m., and Bible study groups Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. Santa Margarita 147, Riberas del Pilar. Covid protocols are observed.
Information: 376-765-2925; lakechapalabaptistchurch.com or LCBC Facebook page.
Christ Church Lakeside
A Christmas Eve candlelight communion service will be held Friday, December 24, beginning 5 p.m. Rev. Jim Powers will celebrate and give the message, “A Star Is Born.” Masks are required. Finger food will be available following the service.
Christ Church Lakeside, a parish of the Diocese of the West in the Anglican Church of Mexico, will observe the first Sunday after Christmas, December 26, by celebrating the Holy Eucharist service in person and via Zoom at 10:30 a.m. in our location with the red door and windows next door to the Smokehouse Restaurant.
Rev. Christine Wysock is celebrating and Deacon Jerry Stiles will give a message based on John 1:1-18. Masks are required. Those wishing to have brunch/lunch will meet at noon in La Nueva Posada Restaurant, Donato Guerra #9, Ajijic, 376-766-1444.
The Loaves and Fishes Food Distribution will not be held Tuesday, December 28. Information/monetary donation: Al Ramos, 332-384-2343, 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..
The Bible study, hosted by Rev. Danny Borkowski, will be via Zoom December 29, 1:30 p.m. All are invited to learn about the inspired contents of the Bible and share their insights with each other.
A Christmas Day service will not be held.
To receive the Zoom sign-in information to join the Holy Eucharist service and/or the Bible study, contact Rev. Jim Powers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 322-356-0382.
Lakeside Presbyterian
Lakeside Presbyterian’s Christmas Eve musical praise service will be held at 3:30 p.m. December 24. Everyone is welcome.
Sunday, December 26, Pastor Wayne, will continue with the series Men and Women of the Bible. This Sunday he will talk about Hosea.
Just before Israel was destroyed, a prophet named Hosea began to prophesy. He apparently fell for a woman named Gomer and took her as his wife. Even when she became unfaithful, he still loved her dearly.
While still young and beautiful she made a decision to become a prostitute. Then later, her beauty faded and her sin and adultery led her into slavery. Hosea bought her and again took her as his wife. Her actions were unforgivable, yet Hosea still loved her and forgave her. Likewise God loved Israel even when they were unfaithful to him; likewise, God forgives the unforgivable sins in our lives as well.
In-church services are at 9:30 a.m. for the English language service, and 11 a.m. for the Spanish language service. All masking and distancing protocols are in place.
If you need someone to pick you up to come to church, contact LPC at 376-106-0853.
Unitarians
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship offers in-person services for those who are fully vaccinated at the fellowship hall located on the Carretera at Hidalgo 261, Riberas del Pilar (and also on Zoom). Covid-19 protocols are followed and masks are required.
We take up one of the more challenging parts of the Biblical Christmas story, Matthew 2:13-23, sometimes known as “The Slaughter of the Innocents.” This text reveals a dark side of Christmas, as Herod, representing imperial power, has all the male infants in the Bethlehem region killed in a desperate attempt to eliminate the baby Jesus. This is not the stuff of Christmas carols and greeting cards! We’ll delve into the complexities of this story, and how it might inform a thoughtful reading of scripture and other sacred texts.
The speaker will be Rev. Matt Alspaugh. The service leader is Fred Koesling.
Jewish Congregation
The Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation holds Friday services at 7 p.m. via Zoom. See www.lakechapalajewishcongregation.com for the URL.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
Christmas Eve service is at 4 p.m., with choir and instrumental accompaniment. Mulled wine and soft drinks after the service.
On the first Sunday after Christmas, December 26, St. Andrew’s Anglican is open for worship. All Covid protocols are followed, and masks must be worn.
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will be presented and sung by the choir. There will be no homily or Eucharist.
St. Andrew’s is now active on Facebook. Our “page” is: St. Andrew’s Anglican Church – Riberas del Pilar. Please “like” and “follow” us for daily inspiration, parish news and events. Sunday services and sermon highlights are live-screened on St. Andrew’s FB page. Join us online!
St. Andrew’s feeding program collects non-perishable food items to donate to “Operation Feed,” which feeds about 140 families in and around San Juan Cosalá. Pledge envelopes marked “RICE” or “BEANS” are available every Sunday.
After our service, please join us for coffee and cookies in the garden.
Every donation or consignment to our Todo Bueno resale shop benefits St. Andrew’s Outreach Ministry and enables our parish to support a number of Lakeside charities. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
St. Andrew’s volunteer phone/email tree stays in touch with all members personally every week.
To be part of our parish family, contact Rev. Robbin 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.. Information: 332-267-6643, standrewsriberas.org.
Little Chapel by the Lake
The Christmas Eve carol sing will be held Friday, December 24, 5 p.m., with refreshments afterward.
Sunday, December 26, at the 11 a.m. praise and worship service, Pastor Pete Campbell will speak and share from the Word of God in the book of Romans, chapter 8 (returning to the book of Mathew in January). Little Chapel by the Lake is located on the Ajijic-Chapala Highway #10 in Chula Vista.
Women’s Bible study continues in the book of Ephesians, at the Little Chapel, Tuesdays, 10 a.m.
Conversational Spanish is Fridays at 1 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, open to all who are interested in improving their spoken Spanish.
Little Chapel is still collecting jackets and coats to give away. Please drop them off in the big purple box in front of the Chapel.
Abundant Life Church
When all the presents are opened and it looks like another year may give you just more of the normal daily experiences how did all the presents affect your life? When we think about last Christmas or the one before we may not even be able to remember what we got or gave but this can never be with the most important Christmas present of all, Jesus. Sunday, December 26, come to see how Jesus is not like all the other presents, He deserves and needs to be remembered every day of the year.
Abundant Life Church is affiliated with the Assemblies of God of Mexico and has services for everyone. English Sunday service is at 10 a.m., also at abundantlifechapala.com. Bible studies are in person Wednesdays, 11 a.m., Carretera Chapala-Jocotepec 140 in San Antonio Tlayacapan.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Guadalajara
A Christmas Eve, musical Mass will be celebrated 6 p.m. with an excellent 8-member choir, leading the congregation in carols and anthems, culminating in Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from “The Messiah.”
Mass in English Sundays, 10:30 a.m. Spanish Mass at 12:30 p.m. Masking and social distancing at all events. Chichimecas 836 at Aztecas, Col. Monraz, 8 blocks behind Plaza Mexico. www.stmarksanglican.org
Iglesia Cristiana Agape
Bilingual Christian Church Service Sundays at 6 p.m., with music. Calle Nudo de Cempoaltepetl 842, Col. San Marcos, Guadalajara. Information: 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.. Tel. 332-590-7760.