Frank Lyons in La Paz!

I met Frank Lyons, Wheaton grad and Bishop of the Anglican Churches of Bolivia. He’s spending two months in La Paz, teaching our church here … well … how to be Anglican. The church kind of evolved (based on what the pastor, Ronny, has shared with me) and, more through affinity than actual understanding of Anglican piety, became associated with the Anglican Church. I think they started out Pentecostal. When you attend one of their services, this is not hard to contemplate.

Anyhoo, Bishop Lyons (who, as it turns out, is a very cool guy) has started a two-month stint, sharing with them about things that are very new to this congregation (one which, in the English service, may have cracked open their prayer books for the first time – ever? – that may be stretching it, but it was the first time I ever saw them used. Pastor Ronny even gave me one because, “It’s better that one be used than to collect dust in the bookcase.”). Some of the new concepts: the Christian calendar (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost), Communion, Worship.

Wow. I am so honored to see this! It’s not that all churches “Anglican” on the door ought to look the same on the inside (in fact, if they did, it’d be weird), but to see a church – almost like a child adopted at a later age – learn the heritage and the great tradition and teaching that it has been grafted into… that is a wonderful thing.

Now, we go to the exceedingly informal early English service (attendance there once topped twenty!), and – this is huge – Bishop Lyons may even find a way for us to celebrate the Eucharist through elements blessed by him (none of our pastors are fully ordained, which, in the Anglican tradition, is a big barrier for the sacraments)! How sweet would that be?

Anyway, most of his teaching will be in the Spanish service, but as I hear of what he shares, I will pass it on here.