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Reviving a masterpiece at Warren’s Central Christian Church
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Members of Central Christian Church in Warren practice being “frozen” in place to echo the Leonardo da Vinci painting of the Last Supper. Eleven of the 12 apostles participated in a recent rehearsal for the “Living Last Supper,” which the church will present at 7 tonight for its observance of Maundy Thursday.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
warren
Pastor Steven Brown of Central Christian Church envisions the “Living Last Supper” as a powerful visual image for those attending tonight’s Maundy Thursday service at 7.
“We’re a very visual culture,” Pastor Brown said of the re-enactment of the “Last Supper” mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The original mural is in the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy, where da Vinci worked on it from 1495 to 1498.
Pastor Brown said the characters will be “frozen” in place, reflecting the painting, as people are seated for the service. Jesus and each of the 12 disciples will “come to life” as each offers a brief profile and his relationship to Jesus, the pastor said. The table will be on the elevated altar.
Jesus speaks first, relaying that one of the 12 will betray him and Peter will deny him. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John provide passages about the final meal that the group shared. The Gospels reveal what is known as “communion” or “the Lord’s Supper.” Each of the 12 apostles speaks and 11 end with the question repeated twice, “Is It I?” Judas, the betrayer and last to speak, ends with, “What would you do?” He makes the point that his betrayal sets events in motion.
This is the first attempt at this Disciples of Christ church to offer this service, but Pastor Brown is familiar with it. “The church I grew up in did this,” he said. The script, he added, probably has been around 20 years or so.
“There’s education in different services,” he said. “People will hear the range of emotions from the apostles and react.”
The pastor said it’s one thing to look at a “Last Supper” painting, but in the re-enactment “you hear their struggles.”
The painting by da Vinci depicts the apostles’ range of reactions — fear, surprise, shock and disbelief — when Jesus says one will betray him.
Pastor Brown said he hoped those attending the service will get a sense of “real human emotions” that the apostles experienced more than 2,000 years ago. “We want to live out the story and make it real to the people in the pews,” he said.
Travis Gysegem, 18, is in the role of Jesus. The Howland High School senior, who grew up in the church, admitted the idea of playing Jesus was a bit daunting but he’s getting accustomed to the task. He said he got involved to “support the church.”
Gysegem said he hopes the service will help the congregation “think about what happened and why.”
The cast includes two women: Lisa Bonk plays Matthew, and Cindy Shively portrays James, the brother of John.
I’m doing it to help the church,” Bonk said. “I hope it helps me grow spiritually ... to learn more about what happened and what it means to us.” Bonk said she thought the program would help people appreciate that “these were real people, not just a story.”
“I think this helps you understand who the apostles were,” Shively said.
Charlie Bates is in the role of Judas. “I think it will be powerful when the congregation sees this,” he said, adding it may help people “be more focused” in worship.
Jacob Huff, 13, is a seventh-grader at Lakeview Middle School. “It’s helping me learn more about the disciples,” he said of his participation as Thaddeus.
Joe Allen as Simon, the zealot, said he wanted “to do something special for the church” and this was an opportunity. Chris Gall, as Nathaniel, said he saw the “Living Last Supper” as a “way to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us.”