Common GroundFellowship
Sunday January 12, Dr. Ted Rogers’ delves into our study of the book of Philippians. His sermon title is: “The Look of Love.”
We are at the beginning of this series that teaches us about having the mind of Christ that is full of love and results in a joy that supersedes our sometimes-difficult circumstances.
The overarching theme of the book of Philippians is that of joy in living the Christian life. In fact, he uses the Greek word “chara,” meaning ”joy” four times, one of those times in the first sixty words of the book. Then he uses the word “chairo”, meaning “rejoice” eight times. Finally the word for “glad” appears three times. So we know a joyful life for the believer is important to God just as love is.
We all feel a great sense of joy when we are in love or when we hold our grandchild, those are easy right? But how do love and joy work together for someone who follows Christ? Paul gives us a great descriptor of that relationship between love and joy within the first three paragraphs of this book.
It has been said that love is blind, but it isn’t, and Paul dispels that notion very quickly in this epistle. And yet, there is very little doubt that love and joy are married. Come and experience grace-oriented teaching among a community of believers who will always welcome you with a warm smile, an embrace, some cookies, and coffee, Sunday, at 11 a.m. at Common Ground Fellowship, located West of Ajijic, next to the Margaritaville sales office, mountainside of the Carretera, Jocotepec-Chapala 961, Ajijic.
St. Andrew’s AnglicanEpiscopal Church
Sunday, January 12, Reverend Sarah Shirley will preach and celebrate at 10 a.m..
We invite you to join us Sundays for our Anglican/Episcopal service. We are a welcoming, all-inclusive church community. St. Andrew’s live-streams Sunday services and sermon highlights and also publishes daily inspiration, parish news and events on its Facebook page: St. Andrew’s Anglican Lake Chapala.
Do you love to sing and be part of a worship service? We invite you to join our choir. Rehearsals are Wednesdays, at 3 p.m. All are welcome. For more information contact our music director, Ken Turner, 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..
Reverend Sarah will hold office hours by appointment. The office phone is 332-267-6643.
St. Andrew’s is at Calle San Lucas 19, in Riberas del Pilar.
Lakeside Presbyterian Church
Sunday, January 12, the sermon title is “The Baptism of Jesus” from Luke 3: 21-22.
In Pastor David Erickson’s sermon on January 12, he’ll discuss the question of WHO are you?
Sunday English-speaking worship service begins at 10 a.m. and every Sunday morning the espresso drinks from our Café are free!
Speaking of coffee; there’s a great new meeting place for an excellent cup of coffee, tea, and tasty treats. It’s called La Cafe Paloma. It’s located right in our church in the narthex. Service is great and so is the weekday parking. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday to Friday. So, bring a friend or a book and enjoy!
The English-speaking service also streams each Sunday at Facebook.com/LPCChapala.
If you need a ride, or more information, call 376-106-0853 before 4 p.m. on Thursday.
Lakeside Presbyterian is located at Calle San Jorge 250, in Riberas del Pilar, just down from Mom’s Restaurant towards the lake.
Koinonía Fellowship
New in Town or been here awhile? Discover Koinonía Fellowship. We are a nondenominational Christian community located in West Ajijic. We invite you to experience a truly cross-cultural community of expats and Mexicans.
Join us every Sunday at 11 a.m. for a fully bilingual worship service—from the preaching to the praise songs—where we celebrate God’s grace and love together.
No matter where you’re from, you’ll find a place to grow in faith and connect with others in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. We can’t wait to meet you!
Find us at Carretera Poniente 911-B, West Ajijic, just a few meters from Pancho’s West, just past the new Margaritaville development.
Koinonía Fellowship—A place where everyone belongs.
Facebook: ComunidadKoinoniaFellowship.
Christ Church Lakeside
Sunday, January 12, Christ Church Lakeside, a Parish of the Diocese of the West in the Anglican Church of Mexico, will observe the First Sunday after Epiphany, the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus at 10:30 a.m. at our normal location. Reverend Danny Borkowski will celebrate and give the sermon and Holy Communion. Bunch will be at Viva Mexico Restaurant, Porfirio Diaz 92 in San Juan Cosala, tel. 387-761-1058 at 12:30 p.m.
If you would like to help with the Loaves and Fishes community outreach food program with a much-needed monetary donation, contact Paula Rosas Garcia at cell: 333-368-6104 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..
Bible study with Rev. Danny is Wednesday, January 15, 1:30 p.m. via Zoom or in person at Javier Mina 62, in Ajijic. For Zoom sign-in information, contact Rev. Borkowski at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 376-766-2495.
The Lakeside Singers will meet Thursday, January 16, 4 p.m. at Alicia’s convalescent home La Paloma, Juan Alvarez 56 (the street just west of Plaza Bugambilias) in Ajijic.
Christian Science Group
You are invited to attend our Christian Science Testimony Meetings every first and third Wednesday of the month at noon at Cinco de Mayo 3, in Ajijic. The one-hour meeting begins with readings from the Bible and the Christian Science textbook by Mary Baker Eddy, followed by testimonies of spiritual healing that have resulted from the study and practice of Christian Science. For more information please call 331-155-4733.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Ted Fahy presents “Stories of our Lives” Sunday, January 12, noon at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Each of us has endless and endlessly different stories about ourselves. Sunday’s service is an exploration of how our personal narratives are formed and reinforced, although they may bear little resemblance to the realities we have lived. It requires effort, open eyes, resilience, and humility to discover our untruths and to rescue ourselves from our myths while preserving our essential selves.
Priscilla Tayolor is the service associate.
Sunday service is at noon, at the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship’s new location at San Luis 19 in Riberas del Pilar and online. See lakechapalauu.org for a Zoom link.
St. Mark’s Anglican Episcopal Church GDL
An international worship community offering the only English-language worship in metro Guadalajara. Sundays at 11 a.m. in English. Rev. Andrew Ramsay Krumbhaar officiates at the worship service Sunday, January, 12, 11 a.m..
Join the congregation for coffee and snacks in the parish hall after.
Sunday, January 26, a brief 30-minute annual general meeting will be held immediately after the service. Please make an effort to attend as a quorum is needed in order to conduct business. Refreshments will be offered afterward.
St. Mark’s is at Chichimecas 836, corner of Aztecas, Colonia Monraz, Guadalajara. Website: stmarksgdl.com/en; Facebook: stmark44670.
Lake ChapalaJewish Congregation
Rabbi Case and the Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation hope you join us every Friday, 6 p.m. (2nd and 4th Friday are potlucks). Every Saturday Torah service, 10 a.m. (live and via Zoom).
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; website: lakechapalajewishcongregation.com.
Eckankar
Everything revolves around love. It always does. No matter how much we rush about in this world and how harried, ambitious, or sorrowful we become, the world stays together for some reason. The reason is God’s love. It makes the whole work, even though sometimes it looks like nothing is working at all.
The two supreme laws are: God is love, and Soul exists because God loves it.
But how do you make this work out in everyday life? Whenever you’re in doubt about any action, ask yourself: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it Kind? You can also ask, What would love do?
Everyone has some experience with love—even a child who has a pet kitten or a dog. Soul is trying, to give back or respond to God’s love that’s coming through. (The above text is from Spiritual Wisdom on Relationships by Harold Klemp.)
Meet with other like-minded Souls for open non-denominational spiritual discussions Tuesdays, 2 to 3:15 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Society.
Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community offers the opportunity to meditate in a supportive environment at its Practice Center (Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic). Practice sessions are on Sundays and Wednesdays. Chairs and cushions are provided. All are welcome regardless of experience or affiliation. Donations appreciated.
This week’s Practice Center offerings:
Sunday, January 12, 9 to 10 a.m.: Join us for one hour of sitting and walking meditation.
Wednesday, January 15, 3:15 to 6:15 p.m.: The Practice Center opens at 3:15 p.m. to quietly unwind. Noble Silence is (3:45 to 4 p.m.) One hour of sitting and walking meditation (4 to 5 p.m.). Meditation will be followed by a video on Prajna (the highest form of wisdom or understanding)
Go to our website for the Zoom link: heartofawareness .org.
Afterward, all are invited for a “Social Time” dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Thursday, January 16, 1-2:30 p.m.: Thursday’s Book Study/Practice Group is now reading “Buddhism Without Beliefs” by Stephen Batchelor. Newcomers are welcome. Owning the book isn’t required; members take turns reading from one text.
Heritage Baptist Church
2024 is now old news. A new year lies before us, with opportunities for more holy living, more faith, more souls saved, more spiritual progress, more passion for Christ, and more fruit from our labors; keeping the ultimate goal of glory for Christ, who is altogether lovely.
We cannot tolerate contentment if we want these blessings. Let me burn for Christ, to God’s glory! Let me expect great things from God, and attempt great things for Him.
How to press on to a more sanctified life this year? Forget what lies behind and focus on moving forward. Don’t live in yesterday’s pain and mistakes; claim today’s peace instead. Reliving our sins is like sinning again. Be part of God’s plan and live in Him, first and always.
Let’s create a habit of seeing the hand of God in our lives. Each moment is dependent on God afresh. As stated so beautifully in Lamentations: The Lord’s goodness and blessings are new every morning, and His provision is for today.
Join us at the Chapala American Legion Sundays at 10:30 am. Visit us online at HBCmx.org or on Facebook under Heritage Baptist Chapala. Info: 331-437-7281 or 333-016-3743, Email: HeritageBaptistChurchMexico @gmail.com.
Little Chapel by the Lake
Sunday, January 12, Pastor Thomas will give a sermon.
Little Chapel is located on the Chapala/Ajijic highway (Hidalgo 10) in Chula Vista.
A Grace Meal will follow immediately after the 11 a.m. service..
Donations for our mission, San Juan Tecomatlan, are always gladly accepted via our big purple box in front of the Chapel.
The next Bible Study will meet Tuesday, January 14, 5:30 p.m. at El Parque 123 in Chula Vista.
Saturday’s carwash fundraiser is on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Chapel by the boys from Mama Cleo’s boys home, to meet their many financial needs.
Lake Chapala Baptist Church
English worship service is Sundays at 10:45 a.m. with Pastor Dan Klassen. English-language Bible study is Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday at 10 .am. Lake Chapala Baptist Church, Santa Margrita 147, Riberas del Pilar. Information: office: 376-765-2925; cell. +1-508 -838-9156.
Unity Ajijic
Join us for an exciting start to 2025! Visiting Ministers-in-Residence for January are the talented, inspiring and entertaining Reverends Richard and Paula Mekdeci.
Rev. Richard is an award-winning songwriter and musician, a 22 year veteran of the Nashville songwriting community, and ordained Unity Minister, currently serving Unity Renaissance in Chesapeake, Virginia. He is the president and co-founder of emPower Music & Arts, an organization dedicated to “Transforming Lives and Promoting Peace Through Music.” Rev. Paula, after a successful career in corporate communications, reinvigorated Unity Renaissance in Chesapeake, Virginia, where she served as Senior Minister from 2013 until her retirement in 2022.
Celebrations continue with: January 12, “Radical Purpose: How Your Life Matters”; January 19, “Hearts Wide Open.
Classes: Revs. Richard and Paula will hold classes Mondays, 10 a.m. Rev. Johannys Hartog will also offer classes on “Keys to the Kingdom” Wednesdays, 10 a.m. (January 8 to February 26).
Sunday Celebrations take place at noon and are available via Zoom at unityajijic.org.
All events take place at Namaste Village, Angel Flores 5, in Ajijic Centro. Tel. 332-818-4971.
Lakeside CommunityFellowship
Independencia 159, (next to Fenix Realty), San Antonio Tlayacapan. Sunday service, 10 a.m.; Ladies Bible study, Tuesday, 10 a.m.; Men’s Bible study, Thursday, 10 a.m. Information: 332-208-9263.
Abundant Life Church
Abundant Life is affiliated with the Assemblies of God of Mexico. Weekly Sunday worship services in English start at 10:30 a.m. and Bible studies on Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. The English services schedule is at abuntandtlifechapala.com. Carretera 140, San Antonio Tlayacapan.
San Andres Catholic Church
Marcos Castellanos 14, Centro, Ajijic. English Mass Sundays, 9 a.m. Information: Rose, +423-312-7468.
San Juan BautistaCatholic Church
English Mass, Sundays 9 a.m., Del Cardinal 25, San Juan Cosala.
Mezcala Christian Church
Pastor Lionel Sanchez and other area Christian pastors share and teach the love of Jesus every Saturday, 10 a.m. A delicious Grace meal is provided after every service. Transportation or carpooling at 9:15 a.m. from Walmart, Little Chapel by the Lake or Soriana parking lots available. Contact 970-219-5983 in advance via WhatsApp FaceTime or messenger. Calle Hidalgo 251 B, Mezcala (green building with burgundy cross).
Grace Church Chapala
Grace Church Chapala is now at Iglesia del Espiritu Santo, at Alvaro Obregon 119, Colonia Plaza de Toros in Chapala. We welcome you to worship Jesus Christ with us on Sunday’s at 9:30 a.m. Our praise music is a contemporary style. Information: Pastor Alan Pohl. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., tel. 33-399-1501. GraceChapalamx.church.