Living Last Supper
A living dramatization the "Living Last Supper"
Each year during Easter Week, Messiah Lutheran members produce a special gift to our community. The living dramatization of Jesus last hours with His disciples at the last supper table.
Watch as each disciple ponders the words Jesus just spoke,
"Yes it is true... one of you will betray me". (John 13:12-21)
Who could it be?
Each disciple ask the same question of himself, "is it I"
Come join us on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
April 2nd, April 3ed, April 4th 2007 at 7:30 PM each evening.
(Same program each evening)
One Body In Christ
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this production is that everyone involved in it is a Messiah Lutheran Church member.
One Body in Christ.
Thirteen men, some as young as seventeen, some up to seventy plus years old, grow beards, and practice for the ten weeks leading up to Easter. A producer, narrator, light board operator, spot light operator, musicians, singers, make-up ladies, wardrobe and meals, all church volunteers. The ladies provide meals on performance evenings so we can be in costume and made up on time.
The set was designed, built and painted by church members. The costumes are hand made. The lighting is hand made. Our members decorate the church inside on performance nights. It requires more than forty people to produce this wonderful experience each year.
The Living Last Supper continues to evolve. The people you see on stage are not in the same part each year; we have several men who have portrayed almost every part. We have fathers and son's who are on stage at the same time. We ask for His continued blessings of the time and talents of His congregation at Messiah Lutheran Church. Thank you for your support.
Washing their feet.
...before supper that night, He washed their feet. (John 13:5)
LIVING LAST SUPPER, 22 YEARS
Some time in 1985, Al Wenzel shared a script of a production done in a Catholic Church in Wisconsin. It was for a Living Last Supper portrayal that he thought was interesting. From those beginnings the Living Last Supper presentation at Messiah has grown in to what it is today. This will be the 22nd year we have presented the Living Last Supper drama. During that time, many things have changed. When we put it together for the first time in 1986, Christ did not speak. Two performances were held on Wednesday with a special performance on Thursday for Lutherans and Communion served to all present. In 1987, it was decided that two performances on one night were too much, so we had performances on Tuesday and Wednesday for the general public and the performance on Thursday for the area Lutheran Congregations including Communion. The following two years we moved the Thursday service and had public performances on Tuesday and Wednesday. We added a public performance on Thursday in 1989, but found that was too difficult. After discussion, in 1990 we dropped the Communion service and had public performances on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. In 1991, due to people asking for a Sunday night performance, we held performances on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, but quickly went back to Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in 1992 where it has remained. Due to many problems in 1994, there were no performances, which enabled us to realize how many were affected by the presentation, and what it did for the congregation. The performance in 1996 was dedicated to the memory of Mary Lynn Mechalk after she lost her battle with breast cancer and was a difficult year for all involved. 1997 was traumatic, as on Saturday evening the director received a call that one of the cast was in the hospital and would be unable to continue, However the Lord has always been on our side and has provided a solution to every problem.
Perhaps one of the most common threads in the Living Last Supper continues to be that it is always changing and evolving. The people are not the same, the music changes, even the way the script is presented is changed, and yet it is always the same. If you read the surveys, you will find that everyone who sees this performance is moved by it in some way. We have had many ask if the actors are professional. The answer is always no. These are all members of this congregation and always have been. Only with the Lord’s help does this performance ever come up to expectations. We at Messiah see this as an opportunity to bring God’s word to the community, and to expand His kingdom. We ask that He continue to bless us with the people and talent to continue this production. Thank you for your continued support of this endeavor.
