Wesley United Methodist Church is using something a bit different to convey the message of Christ’s crucifixion for their Maundy Thursday program.
Pastor Trudy Anderson said volunteers have strung up a screen in front of the church’s stage, enabling it to be used as a shadow screen to cast silhouettes of actors. The actors will be posing in 14 different scenes to tell the biblical story. Anderson, along with Pastor Gene McIntosh from Calvary Methodist Church, will be narrating the program from two different viewpoints.
McIntosh’s portion represents a first-hand observation of Christ’s crucifixion, while Anderson gives a modern-day reflection of the events. She said the program has a very unique feeling to it, to which many people respond.
“The youth in particular have responded very favorably to it,” Anderson said.
The program switches every other year between Wesley United and Calvary Methodist churches. Anderson said there are nearly 40 people involved with the process, from the church choir, the actors, narrators and directors. Lori Cooper is the stage director.
Anderson said the art, and challenge, of the process is to have a clear image portrayed by the actors’ shadows, while not glaring too much light over the audience.
“It is a challenge,” she said. “It’s important to diffuse the light without diffusing the shadow.”
Anderson said she had the opportunity to participate in a program such as this one 20 years ago when she lived in North Carolina, and she used her experience to start a program in Iola.
In addition to the actors’ scenes, a joint choir from the two Methodist churches will be singing accompanied by music. Shelly Meadows will be singing a solo version of “Via Delorosa” during the program as well. A table will be set up for communion prior to the start of the presentation.
The program will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday. Anderson said she expects a good response from the community, as she has seen in previous years.
Program casts an unforgettable shadow
