[Sundaycommunity] Fw: a bold photographic reimagining of The Last Supper

[Dave Snelgrove]

Thanks for the clarification.   This makes the picture more interesting!!
Community!!  rgs

On Thu, Apr 17, 2025 at 6:53 PM Dean Riley <riley234 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I too really appreciated this article Sylvia… The image is striking! Thank
> you for this!
>
> Rosemary - perhaps you missed the I include paragraph below… I was
> confused by the amount of people around the table as well… However, only
> the 12 disciples are featured in the work… Happily, it would appear that
> Judas is in fact present.
>
> “A defining feature of this reimagining is the absence of Christ in
> physical form. Instead, Christ’s presence is embodied through the gathered
> community, underscoring the belief that faith is expressed through justice,
> compassion, and service.”
>
> Thanks once again Sylvia! A blessed Holy Thursday to all!
>
> Dean.
>
> -::-::-::-
>
> On Apr 17, 2025, at 6:28 PM, Dave Snelgrove via Sundaycommunity <
> sundaycommunity at lists.integralshift.ca> wrote:
>
> 
> Thank you, Sylvia, for sending this.  My question however is, only 11
> disciples?.  Clearly Judas has been removed.  But doesn't a radical
> understanding of Christ's message require that Judas be regarded as
> forgiven for his betrayal - be considered as having repented.  "He said,
> 'I  have sinned by betraying innocent blood'" (Matthew27:4).  The *evolution
> *of Judas as damned is evident in the Gospels, with John taking the most
> extreme position (as he does regarding blaming the Jews).  I am not a
> Biblical scholar, so don't know if there is a final decision on whether
> Judas could be forgiven.  But at the Last Supper he was at the table.
> Doesn't he belong in that great photo??     Rosemary Gray-Snelgrove
>
> On Thu, Apr 17, 2025 at 2:21 PM sylvia skrepichuk via Sundaycommunity <
> sundaycommunity at lists.integralshift.ca> wrote:
>
>> fyi
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> *Subject:* a bold photographic reimagining of The Last Supper
>>
>>
>> A contemporary photographic interpretation celebrating diversity, faith
>> and bold belonging, where everyone has a place at the table
>> [image: A modern revisioning of DaVinci's the last Supper photo with
>> diverse people and objects in front of a forest]
>> *Credit: The United Church of Canada*
>> Published On: April 17, 2025
>>
>> Today, Holy Thursday, The United Church of Canada unveiled a bold
>> photographic reimagining of *The Last Supper*, marking a significant
>> moment in its centennial celebrations this year. Revealed for the first
>> time at Metropolitan United Church in Toronto, this reinterpretation
>> challenges traditional depictions of the iconic scene and affirms the
>> United Church’s belief in an all-encompassing love that embraces each
>> person as their authentic self.
>>
>> Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, commemorates Jesus’ act of
>> radical inclusion—sharing a meal with his followers, washing their feet and
>> urging them to love one another. Inspired by this powerful act, the
>> Church’s reimagining invites reflection on its core value: that God’s love
>> for all is limitless. Everyone, celebrating all backgrounds and identities,
>> has a place at the table.
>>
>> “This is not just a statement for all time, but for our time,” said Rev.
>> Michael Blair, General Secretary of The United Church of Canada. “This
>> reimagining calls us to rethink what it means to be a faith community—one
>> that evolves with the times, embraces diversity and actively fosters spaces
>> of bold belonging. It’s not enough to simply have a seat, one must have a
>> voice and the space to bring the fullness of all who gather.”
>>
>> As part of The United Church of Canada’s centennial theme, Deep
>> Spirituality, Bold Discipleship and Daring Justice, this photograph brings
>> together people from various walks of life, each representing the diverse
>> community they embrace. The image serves as a bold testament to the
>> Church’s vision—a table where differences are honoured, diversity is
>> celebrated, and faith is lived through shared commitment to equity and
>> belonging.
>>
>> A defining feature of this reimagining is the absence of Christ in
>> physical form. Instead, Christ’s presence is embodied through the gathered
>> community, underscoring the belief that faith is expressed through justice,
>> compassion, and service.
>>
>> “As a member of the United Church, I was honoured and inspired to
>> reimagine *The Last Supper* in a way that let each of the Disciples’
>> identities shine through,” said photographer Alan Lai. “I wanted the image
>> to honour who they each are and reflect the Church’s spirit of unity and
>> belonging, showing that Christ’s presence lives in all of us, in all our
>> diversity.”
>>
>> This reimagining also underscores The United Church of Canada’s ongoing
>> commitment to advocacy, including support for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights,
>> Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, Racial Equity, Disability Justice,
>> and engagement in struggles for peace and human rights, including those
>> around the globe. It affirms that true belonging requires more than just
>> tolerance—it requires action, dialogue and the intentional creation of
>> spaces where all are truly welcomed and valued.
>>
>> “I’ve experienced firsthand how life-giving it is to create spaces where
>> 2S and LGBTQIA+ people, and all those on the margins, are not only welcomed
>> but celebrated,” said King Julez, past chair of Affirm United/S’affirmer
>> Ensemble and one of the Disciples in the photograph. “As a trans person and
>> drag performer, I carry the legacy of queer resilience—of people who
>> fought, created chosen families and found joy even in struggle. This image
>> is about more than representation, it’s about transformation. It challenges
>> us to reflect on what it truly means to belong.”
>>
>> Throughout the Church’s centennial year, the photograph will be shared
>> across digital platforms, including on a new dedicated webpage
>> <https://united-church.ca/a-place-at-the-table>, sparking conversations
>> about faith, identity and community in the modern world. This art is a call
>> to action, encouraging the creation of spaces that embrace authenticity and
>> promote social justice.
>>
>> Bringing together individuals from coast to coast to coast, the project
>> reflects the diversity of today’s United Church of Canada—spanning cultural
>> backgrounds, generations, gender identities and spiritual perspectives.
>> Rather than assuming sameness, it celebrates differences while reinforcing
>> a shared vision of faith, hope and a bold future.
>> --
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