Lake Chapala Baptist
Interim Pastor Blair Smith is still filling in through December for LCBC’s home Pastor John Linton. We are fortunate to have Pastor Blair, a consummate Bible scholar who is humble yet precise at the pulpit.
Last Sunday he told the congregation, “One can know the power and truth of God simply by observing His creation. The search for God is not a search for a faraway being: God is near to all who call on Him.
“When man disobeys God, he experiences a spiritual separation from the creator. He imagines that God is far from Him, but in Him we live and move and have our being. The Holy Spirit of God dwells within us. We can pray with Christian hope and our prayers will be heard. We can pray without ceasing! The eternal God is your dwelling place, inside His arms where no evil can assail you. Dear friends, whether you live or die, you are the Lord’s.”
Share memorable weekly sermons, uplifting music, and an ongoing thirst for true wisdom Sundays, 10:45 a.m. at the Lake Chapala Baptist Church. Sta. Margarita #147, Riberas del Pilar. LCBC’s bilingual services continue Sunday afternoons, now at 4:30 p.m.
Rediscover the nativity this December! The LCBC choir offers three chances to attend “Advent of Peace: Breath of Heaven,” a hand-picked collection of nativity readings and beautiful music of the season, including your favorite carols: December 12, 4 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church: FREE! December 16, Sol y Luna Hotel, 5 p.m.: Dinner and show: 400 pesos. 50 percent of proceeds go to Mama Cleo’s Boys Home. December 23, 4 p.m. at LCBC, with a bring-and-share Agape Feast after the program: FREE! Write This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details.
Unitarians
Sunday, December 4, “Celebrating the Holidays With Music. Join us for a service celebrating the Christmas season presented by LCUUF Music Director Michael Reason. This will be a musical mix of everyone’s holiday favorites along with special readings and some holiday humor. Richard Clarke will be the service leader.
Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship services are Sundays, 10:30 a.m. In-person services are now available at Hidalgo 261, Riberas del Pilar.
Lakeside Presbyterian
This Sunday Dr. Wayne Cook, our senior pastor, will draw interesting parallels between his own younger years, and the experiences of long-ago peoples from the time of Haggai. Dr. Cook’s text is from Haggai 1:1-4
He mentions that when he was growing up, his parents and grandparents gave a lot of advice, and sometimes warnings. If I was arguing with a sibling while we were driving, they would say, “Don’t make me stop this car.” I decided I would never say that to my kids. But after hearing them yelling in the back seat, my mind suddenly dredged up those old recordings and I would blurt out, “Don’t make me stop this car.”
As a kid, I had not lived long enough to realize adults acquired their wisdom through the years by making mistakes. Often bits of wisdom or warning were expressed by common truths. My parents were perhaps hoping I would listen and avoid the mistakes they made, but I usually had to find out the hard way they were right all along.
That same kind of advice is given from God by Haggai to the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon. After 15 years, they had made no progress in rebuilding the Temple to worship God. Let us look at the lessons from God.
English-language service begins at 9:30 a.m. Bible study Wednesday 10 a.m.
Upcoming December events include: a one-day new member class will be offered Saturday December 10, 9 a.m., for those interested in knowing who we are and what we believe and those interested in joining our church family’ “Advent of Peace” carols and music of the season featuring the Lakeside Baptist Choir. Monday, December 12, 4 p.m. Free admission.; The Lake Chapala Community Orchestra will perform on December 16 and 27 at 3 pm. Check ticket availability 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..
LPC is at Calle San Jorge 250 in Riberas, (turn lakeside at Mom’s Restaurant).
The live English service streams each Sunday on Facebook/LPCChapala or at lpc-chapala.org.
If you need a ride, call 376-106-0853 before 4 p.m. on Thursday.
There is coffee and refreshments after the service in the Narthex.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
The Reverend Robbin Moore will celebrate and preach Sunday, December 4. Services begin 10 a.m.
In response to the recent anti-Semitic vandalism, there will be a candle-light vigil in support of the Jewish community on the corner of Paseo del Lago and the Carretera Saturday, December 3, 4:30 p.m. on. Please bring a sign or a candle, or just stand in witness at this celebration of love, life and peace.
Sunday, December 4, 3 p.m., Father James will perform his one-man show depicting St. Francis and the first Nativity. A reception will follow.
Service of Advent Lessons and Carols led by our choir, Saturday, December 10, 4 p.m., followed by a reception with appetizers and bar. Event is free; everyone welcome.
This month’s Taize service will be held December 14 at 5 p.m.,
Advent educational seminar on self-reflection and the Enneagram, led by The Reverend Michelle McKinnon-Young will be held Wednesdays through December 21, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., in the multi-purpose room.
Sunday, December 18, the boys from Mama Cleo’s will sing at the service.
Sunday services are streamed live and sermon highlights are available on Facebook/St Andrews Anglican Lake Chapala.
To become 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..
Little Chapel by the Lake
Sunday, December 4, We welcome our guest speaker, Clinton Howell who is a missionary here from Florida.
Please stay afterwards for a potluck and fellowship.
We are located on the Ajijic Chapala highway 10 in Chula Vista. Sunday service begins at 11 a.m.
Donations for our food mission in San Juan Tecomatlan are always gladly accepted via our big purple box in front of the Chapel. Thank you for continuing to contribute to this worthy cause. Our next distribution, on December 6, will include our Christmastime cookies, blankets, jackets, and holiday treats for the children. Any blankets, jackets, and other warm clothing items are greatly appreciated at this time of year. Meet at the Chapel at 3 p.m. to carpool.
We are also making gift bags for the children in conjunction with Mama Cleo’s boys to distribute on December 16.
Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., a small group meets at the Chapel for fellowship and prayer. Mary Keller will share with us about the Courts of Heaven
Mama Cleo’s Boys will hold car washes Friday and Saturday, December 2 and 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., fundraising for their many needs at their care facility.
Little Chapel telephone: 376-766-2538.
Christ Church Lakeside
Christ Church Lakeside, a parish of the Diocese of the West in the Anglican Church of Mexico, will observe the second Sunday of Advent, December 4, 10:30 a.m., in person and via Zoom at our location with the red door and windows next to The Smokehouse Restaurant. Rev. Linda Ramos will be the celebrant and give the message, ”An Advent Ministry.” The once-a-month Simple Supper Sunday Potluck will be held in the Church after the Service.
The Loaves and Fishes Food Distribution will be held Tuesday, December 6, 1 p.m. at Calle Jesus Garcia 11, San Antonio Tlayacapan. If you wish to give a much-needed monetary donation, or need more information, contact Al Ramos, 332-384-2343, or 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 held via Zoon Wednesday, December 7, 1:30 p.m.. All are invited to learn about the inspired contents of the Bible and share their insights with each other.
To receive the Zoom sign-in information for joining the Holy Eucharist service and/or the Bible study, contact Rev. Danny Borkowski at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 376-766-2495, or Rev. Jim Powers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 322-356-0382.
St. Mark’s EpiscopalGuadalajara
Saint Mark’s Anglican Episcopal Church is celebrating this week. Saturday, December 3, Isaias Martinez Valentin will be ordained as a deacon at 11 a.m.
Sunday, December 4, we welcome Pamela Hosey Long with a bilingual service at noon. She leaves the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and Todos Santos Iglesia Episcopal, both in Montgomery, Alabama, to lead us at Saint Mark’s.
Saint Mark’s Anglican-Episcopal Church in Guadalajara holds services in English at 10:30 a.m. and in Spanish at 12:30 a.m.
Chichimecas 836, corner of Aztecas diagonally across the street from the UAG ICB Campus, Colonia Monraz, 44670 Guadalajara.
Heart of Awareness
Activities at the Heart of Awareness are open to all.
Sunday, December 4, there are three consecutive hours of sitting and walking meditation between 9 a.m. and noon. Participate for 1, 2, or all 3 hours.
Wednesdays, the one-hour practice period starts at 4 p.m. and is followed by a dharma talk. On the first two Wednesdays in December, Marty Janowitz will offer teachings on the Three Marks (characteristics/truths) of Existence—a core teaching of the Buddha. These two Wednesday sessions will be extended to 6:30 p.m. to allow time for questions and discussion following the talks.
Over the decades Marty introduced and shared Buddhist practice and perspectives widely in North America and internationally, ultimately in the formal role of Acharya (Senior Teacher) until he retired in 2019. Marty and his wife Susanna live full-time in Ajijic from where he continues to actively teach and study.
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community and Practice Center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic.
Jewish Congregation
The Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation holds Friday services at 6 p.m. via Zoom. See lakechapalajewishcongregation.com for the URL.
Abundant Life Church
English Sunday service is at the church at 10:30 a.m., also at abundantlifechapala.com. Spanish language services are Sunday, 9 a.m. and noon. Carretera 140 in San Antonio Tlayacapan, just a block from SuperLake.
Grace Church Chapala
Join us for worship at the Bravo Theater, 441 Hidalgo, in Riberas, every Sunday, 10 a.m.
Grace Church is a group of believers with a more contemporary style of worship with a mix of praise songs and hymns.