Urban Church, Global City: Fray Bentos, Uruguay

10/3

Visiting Fray Bentos

Fray Bentos is the capital of Uruguay's Rio Negro Department at the northen end of the Rio Plate Estuary. Fray Bentos is also a long beloved brand of canned meat in the United  Kingdom. But, as is typical in the global economy, the brand is now owned by Campbell Soup and the meat is processed in Scotland. While a Brazilian enterprise (Brazilian companies turn up a lot in Uruguayan economic conversations) has recently  reopened the plant---with a greatly reduced number of employees--deindustrialization is part of the context of urban ministry in Fray Bentos. 

On the other hand, Fray  Bentos location on the river makes it a wonderful gateway to the nearby beach world of vacation, leisure and resorts. Pastor Dario Barolin takes me on a tour of the Canas beach  area because its related to the story of his church. Along the way we are greeted by horses, which as Dario puts it, are "free" not "wild."

The free horses greet us 

Looking south

There's always something about  beach resorts in the off season. You can almost hear the sound of laughter,of children, A sense of summer seasons past and ready to come. The closed food and ice creams stands. We stop in quiet coves looking out on the water.

Quiet cove

The congregation had come into possession of property here and it had become a very important project of the church. The pastor however, as the story goes, felt the beach property was taking up too much of the congregation's time and energy. So rights to the property were not renewed. The result was a painful split in the congregation with several long time families leaving. So a major part of Pastor Dario's ministry  here has been seeking to  heal the hurts of that division.

It's significant that some who had separated from the  church come to our gathering. And one woman states that she has decided to return. Dario will tell me how important this is. Of those who have come, there is a good diversity of professions including teachers, counselors, etc. And a small but lively group of teen aged girls.  And once again the importance of the summer camp to building relationships can be seen. 

La Iglesia Valdernse de Fray Bentos

We share conversation, food and music. There is a very real sense of moving beyond the division, the conflict. Possibilities of more reconciliation remain. But either way, the congregation is moving on. There is a sense of hope. WIth real possibilities for  ministry ahead. 

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After I share some songs, the teen age girls all want to come and pose for pictures. My friend and fellow musician Pat always says you have to know your audience. I will tell him I go over well with teen aged girls in small river cities in Uruguay. 

Urban Church, Global City: Buenos Aires Day One

10/1

Pastor Alvaro Michelin Salomon and Pastor Brashear

My old friend Dennis has come to meet me as I arrive in Buenos Aires. Thanks to landing at municipal airport, we've got just enough time to catch the end of the worship service at the Iglesia Evangelical Reformada de Buenos Aires, or IERBA. (Almost an ironic acronym.) 

La Iglesia IERBA

The soft natural light brings a feeling of comfort and warmth as the sun streams in though a wall with a very subtle cross.

Inside the sanctuary

There is a simplicity here I will come to know as typical Waldensian, reminiscent of the United Presbyterian Church of my childhood.  A simple pump organ supplies music to the hymns, and the pastor, dressed in a simple suit, has a tone that  matches that of the sanctuary.

It's an older crowd, except for Alfredo, who I remember from his visit  to New York, come over from the Flores community this morning. During prayer time, there is much concern expressed about the violent interventions by police in the Catalan independence vote. There are friends  and family ties to Cataluna and the news is disturbing. People are wondering  about that afternoon's Barcelona football game. We will later learn that after much controversy, the game was played behind closed doors in an empty stadium.

After sharing Eucharist, we gather around a table for the breaking of bread and conversation.

after worship conversation

It's very important to the community to share its three roots: not only Italian Waldensian  but reformed traditions from Switzerland and France,as well. Like bringing together Lutheran and historic reformed churches.

They share with their American counterparts the concerns of dwindling and aging congregations and fewer resources to sustain pastors....and buildings.  The challenge of part time pastorates. How and where new members might come from. Deep, deep pride in those roots....but the future?

Dennis and I will have a few hours to rest before taking the overnight bus to Bahia Blanca. We watch the other Catalan team, Espanyol, play the powerful Real Madrid. The Espanyol captain's arm band is the Catalan flag, a quiet statement of resistance.