A diverse group at a table, similar to Da Vinci's Last Supper

Setting a Place at the Table

Last week the United Church unveiled its “A Place at the Table” project. To mark the denomination’s centennial, they reimagined Da Vinci’s Last Supper as a diverse representation of the UCC faith community contextualized to our time. “Whoever you are, there is always a place for you here at the table.”

Participants came from various parts of Canada to take part in the photo shoot in the mountains of BC. Former CCS Principal Alan Lai was the photographer.

In and around the photography, CCS’s Alcris Limongi and UCC General Council’s Jennifer Janzen-Ball facilitated a process of conversation and reflection on the themes evoked by the picture – inclusion, discipleship, communion, belonging, etc. “We were thinking about what the church would be in the next hundred years,” says Alcris.

Jennifer and Alcris wanted to emphasize the importance of relationship and bonding among the participants, most of whom had never met prior to the shoot. “It was lots of fun,” Alcris says.

*Participants in the “Place at the Table” project,*
*including Alcris Limongi and Allison Abuloc in the back row.* (Photo credits: Alan Lai)

In the days leading up to the event, when one of the scheduled participants suddenly couldn’t make it, Alcris told UCC Director of Communications Ronda Parkes who was organizing the project, “I have the person!” One of Alcris’ students, Allison Abuloc, is a CCS Diaconal Ministry student from BC and a passionate advocate for neurodiversity. (Click HERE to learn more about Allison and her reflections on the power of having a place at the table.)

young woman wearing headphones — *Allison Abuloc*

Other participants included Ali Nindizhinikaaz, Catherine Faith MacLean, Deborah Richards, Franklyn James, Hoeun Lee, Jenni Leslie, King Julez (Julian Munro), Michiko Bown-Kai, Shakshi Paul, Sharon Ballantyne, and Stéphane Vermette.

Within the group there were deep conversations about representation, tokenism, authenticity, and what it means to break bread together and belong.

It is noteworthy that Jesus is not depicted at the table. Or rather, Jesus is everywhere at the table, in and among the “disciples” representing a variety of identities and backgrounds.

Check out this “behind the scenes” video about the project.

Setting a Place at the Table