Thursday, April 14, Christians around the world will begin Holy Week with the celebration of Maundy Thursday services.

Bellville United Methodist Church (234 South Masonic) will mark this holy day with the presentation of The Living Last Supper. Performances will be at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the Methodist Activity Center (MAC) and are free to the public.

Dean Nelson serves as the coordinator of the event. According to Nelson, however, no one really knows how many years BUMC has been presenting this Holy Week live presentation.

“I think it’s safe to say at least twenty years ago we first offered this live presentation. Past presentations have had a huge impact on viewers, that’s why we continue to offer this moving presentation every two years, when possible,” Nelson said. “I have had people come up to me a month after the performance to tell me how much they enjoyed viewing the Last Supper come to life.”

Whether you belong to BUMC, are a Methodist or not, matters not! This is an ecumenical presentation with actors coming from St. John Lutheran Church, St. Mary’s Episcopal and First Baptist Bellville as well as Redeemer Church in Brenham and Community of Faith in Hockley.

Fourteen men and one woman will portray the people in the famous Leonardo da Vinci portrait of “The Last Supper.”

They are all well-known local business people who accept the call to rehearse for weeks, learn their lines and become the follower of Christ, blessed to sit beside Him at that fateful last supper in the upper room. In addition to the actors you will see on stage, there’s a crew of volunteers who assist in costumes, makeup, stage decorations, music, lighting/sound, publicity; even traffic control!

Seating will be limited. Holy Communion will be offered to all believers and the BUMC Chancel Choir will provide musical interludes.

“All are welcome,” according to BUMC Head Pastor John Reasons.