First Christian Church of Hoopeston is the home of the production, “The Living Lord’s Supper” since 2000. Rev. Herb Bottger compiled and wrote “The Living Lord’s Supper” in 1990 when he was the pastor of Oakwood Christian Church in Oakwood, Illinois. The production started at the First Christian Church of Hoopeston in 2000 while Rev. Bottger was pastor here.
The production is a living dramatization of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting of the Last Supper combined with the good news from the Gospel of John. In this drama, the twelve apostles speak their minds to themselves, to each other, and to the Lord in light of the tragic words which they have just heard him say, “One of you will betray me.”
The cast consists of members from various Christian congregations in the Hoopeston area. They gather together at the beginning of Lent to select characters and begin memorizing their roles. After the Palm Sunday Service, the chancel area is converted into a living re-enactment of da Vinci’s famous painting of the Last Supper in preparation for a performance on Wednesday and Maundy Thursday of that Holy Week.
Hundreds of people come to watch this performance each year. Jordan Crook, Editor of the Hoopeston’s Chronicle, features the Living Lord’s Supper the week before and after the performances. Shawon Wise, portraying Jesus, was quoted in the Chronicle (Vol. 147, Issue 16, Wednesday, April 17, 2019): “Hopefully, through our portrayal of Jesus and his disciples, we can touch someone and if we can touch someone through this play, then we’ve done what God’s called us to do.” The production can now be seen on U-tube.
We invite you to see a live performance of the Living Lord’s Supper on Wednesday and Maundy Thursday of Holy Week beginning 7:00 p.m. each day. Hope to see you soon.
The production is a living dramatization of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting of the Last Supper combined with the good news from the Gospel of John. In this drama, the twelve apostles speak their minds to themselves, to each other, and to the Lord in light of the tragic words which they have just heard him say, “One of you will betray me.”
The cast consists of members from various Christian congregations in the Hoopeston area. They gather together at the beginning of Lent to select characters and begin memorizing their roles. After the Palm Sunday Service, the chancel area is converted into a living re-enactment of da Vinci’s famous painting of the Last Supper in preparation for a performance on Wednesday and Maundy Thursday of that Holy Week.
Hundreds of people come to watch this performance each year. Jordan Crook, Editor of the Hoopeston’s Chronicle, features the Living Lord’s Supper the week before and after the performances. Shawon Wise, portraying Jesus, was quoted in the Chronicle (Vol. 147, Issue 16, Wednesday, April 17, 2019): “Hopefully, through our portrayal of Jesus and his disciples, we can touch someone and if we can touch someone through this play, then we’ve done what God’s called us to do.” The production can now be seen on U-tube.
We invite you to see a live performance of the Living Lord’s Supper on Wednesday and Maundy Thursday of Holy Week beginning 7:00 p.m. each day. Hope to see you soon.
'Living Lord’s Supper’
performance enters 20th year at local church
By Jordan Crook
Chronicle Editor
In what has become a local tradition, members of Hoopeston area churches come together to celebrate the Easter season with a re-enactment of the Lord’s Supper at the First Christian Church each year.
This year’s performances will take place at 7 p.m. April 17-18 at the First Christian Church, located at 502 E. Main St. in Hoopeston.
This will be the 20th year “The Living Lord’s Supper” has been performed in Hoopeston.
Shawon Wise, who has played Jesus in the play since it first started in Hoopeston, said the play was started by Pastor Herb Botteger.
Before coming to serve at the First Christian Church in Hoopeston, Botteger had previously served at a church in Oakwood and had wrote and presented the play for many years there.
Wise said Botteger discussed the idea presenting the play in Hoopeston and convinced Wise to play the role of Jesus.
He said the first cast was mostly made up of members of the First Christian Church’s congregation, but there were a few cast members from other churches.
“It’s never been just our church, it’s always been other churches working with us,” Wise said. “We’ve had numerous people, I wish we had a list of all the people who had been in it.”
Wise estimates that there have been probably more than 60 men from local churches who have performed in the play over the years.
Wise said the process of getting people involved with the play each year is similar to the story of one of the disciples featured in it.
“It’s kind of like Andrew the Bringer,” he said. “Whenever we say we need someone, someone, not me, but someone else brings someone to the group.”
Joey Cartwright, who has played Thaddeus in the play for many years, has brought many people into the performance over the years.
Cartwright joined the production after being asked by Eldon Hari, who was a part of one of the first productions of the play in Hoopeston.
Cartwright said he enjoys playing the role of Thaddeus and hopes to be able to help others through the play.
“Hopefully be able to touch someone, to help change one person’s life. That’s what our goal is,” he said.
Vince Gossett is one of the cast members Cartwright helped bring in to be a part of the cast and he’s been a part of it for 15 years.
At first, Gossett was unsure about performing in the play, but after that first year he was hooked and wanted to be part it from then on.
Gossett said the play allows people to see the story of Jesus and the impact he had on the world.
Joel Bird and Linda Bird Barten have helped with the production since the beginning. Bird as a cast member and Barten behind the scenes.
Bird’s grandfather actually built the set for the play. A woman from Oakwood painted the backdrop, which hasn’t had to be retouched or repainted for 20 years, Wise said.
Bird actually had the chance to share the stage with his grandfather and his father, Jerry, one year.
“It was very emotional,” Bird said. “That was the last year my grandpa did it.”
Bird played Andrew that year, while his father played Simon and his grandfather was Thaddeus.
Bird has performed in the play many times over the years, missing a few due to other commitments, but it’s always something he looks forward to doing.
Bird has played three different roles over the years, most notably playing Judas Iscariot.
“That’s a very humbling experience,” he said. “Everybody in the whole congregation, when he reveals he’s the traitor, everybody’s looking and the spotlights on you.”
Bill Lind, who has played Judas for several years, said playing the role is interesting because some of the younger audience members don’t differentiate between him and the actor.
One year, Lind said, a young girl he had known from his church actually got scared of him because of the performance and he had to tell her that he wasn’t actually Judas.
This year’s cast actually features the youngest member to take the stage as part of the production.
Will Lind, who is 14, is playing Nathaniel.
Lind said he’s been going to the play since his dad has been in it.
“It’s really cool to be able to be a part of it,” he said.
Asked to discuss the preparation for the play, Wise said many of the longtime cast members have their parts memorized by this point, so practicing for the production mainly focuses on bringing more emotion to the lines as they are performing.
He said they practice on Tuesday for four weeks and two dress rehearsals ahead of the performances.
Wise feels the play is important because Easter is the most important time of the year for Christians.
“This is the most important week of our life,” he said. “Hopefully, through our portrayal of Jesus and his disciples, we can touch someone and if we can touch someone through this play, then we’ve done what God’s called us to do.”
Chronicle Editor
In what has become a local tradition, members of Hoopeston area churches come together to celebrate the Easter season with a re-enactment of the Lord’s Supper at the First Christian Church each year.
This year’s performances will take place at 7 p.m. April 17-18 at the First Christian Church, located at 502 E. Main St. in Hoopeston.
This will be the 20th year “The Living Lord’s Supper” has been performed in Hoopeston.
Shawon Wise, who has played Jesus in the play since it first started in Hoopeston, said the play was started by Pastor Herb Botteger.
Before coming to serve at the First Christian Church in Hoopeston, Botteger had previously served at a church in Oakwood and had wrote and presented the play for many years there.
Wise said Botteger discussed the idea presenting the play in Hoopeston and convinced Wise to play the role of Jesus.
He said the first cast was mostly made up of members of the First Christian Church’s congregation, but there were a few cast members from other churches.
“It’s never been just our church, it’s always been other churches working with us,” Wise said. “We’ve had numerous people, I wish we had a list of all the people who had been in it.”
Wise estimates that there have been probably more than 60 men from local churches who have performed in the play over the years.
Wise said the process of getting people involved with the play each year is similar to the story of one of the disciples featured in it.
“It’s kind of like Andrew the Bringer,” he said. “Whenever we say we need someone, someone, not me, but someone else brings someone to the group.”
Joey Cartwright, who has played Thaddeus in the play for many years, has brought many people into the performance over the years.
Cartwright joined the production after being asked by Eldon Hari, who was a part of one of the first productions of the play in Hoopeston.
Cartwright said he enjoys playing the role of Thaddeus and hopes to be able to help others through the play.
“Hopefully be able to touch someone, to help change one person’s life. That’s what our goal is,” he said.
Vince Gossett is one of the cast members Cartwright helped bring in to be a part of the cast and he’s been a part of it for 15 years.
At first, Gossett was unsure about performing in the play, but after that first year he was hooked and wanted to be part it from then on.
Gossett said the play allows people to see the story of Jesus and the impact he had on the world.
Joel Bird and Linda Bird Barten have helped with the production since the beginning. Bird as a cast member and Barten behind the scenes.
Bird’s grandfather actually built the set for the play. A woman from Oakwood painted the backdrop, which hasn’t had to be retouched or repainted for 20 years, Wise said.
Bird actually had the chance to share the stage with his grandfather and his father, Jerry, one year.
“It was very emotional,” Bird said. “That was the last year my grandpa did it.”
Bird played Andrew that year, while his father played Simon and his grandfather was Thaddeus.
Bird has performed in the play many times over the years, missing a few due to other commitments, but it’s always something he looks forward to doing.
Bird has played three different roles over the years, most notably playing Judas Iscariot.
“That’s a very humbling experience,” he said. “Everybody in the whole congregation, when he reveals he’s the traitor, everybody’s looking and the spotlights on you.”
Bill Lind, who has played Judas for several years, said playing the role is interesting because some of the younger audience members don’t differentiate between him and the actor.
One year, Lind said, a young girl he had known from his church actually got scared of him because of the performance and he had to tell her that he wasn’t actually Judas.
This year’s cast actually features the youngest member to take the stage as part of the production.
Will Lind, who is 14, is playing Nathaniel.
Lind said he’s been going to the play since his dad has been in it.
“It’s really cool to be able to be a part of it,” he said.
Asked to discuss the preparation for the play, Wise said many of the longtime cast members have their parts memorized by this point, so practicing for the production mainly focuses on bringing more emotion to the lines as they are performing.
He said they practice on Tuesday for four weeks and two dress rehearsals ahead of the performances.
Wise feels the play is important because Easter is the most important time of the year for Christians.
“This is the most important week of our life,” he said. “Hopefully, through our portrayal of Jesus and his disciples, we can touch someone and if we can touch someone through this play, then we’ve done what God’s called us to do.”