When all of the other local churches were doing traditional passion plays during the Lenten season about 18 years ago, members of First Lutheran Church wanted something different.

Staff member Judy Wach went to Garden Grove, Calif. where a small church had a different way to tell the story of Jesus. Instead of a traditional narration, this church showed his life through famous works of art — with actors dressed to match the painting and posing painfully still.

“I was sold,” said Wach. “I thought it would be a way to tell the story. It’s not big Hollywood entertainment. It’s more spiritual.”

Wach brought the idea back to the church at 1515 N. Cascade Ave. and has been executive producer for the church’s “Gallery of Living Art” for the past 18 years. In that time, and the show has grown from a couple of scenes and a few actors and singers to a huge production with more than 150 volunteer actors, singers and stage hands putting together 13 scenes from the life of Jesus.

Sunday afternoon, the church had its last of four performances for the 2012 Lenten season.

Photo Gallery: Living Art Gallery

The church was filled to capacity as the actors posed to re-create the famous pieces like “The Last Supper”  and “Christ in Gethsemane” all while a 70-member choir belted out matching music that reverberated off of the church walls.

The actors were precise. The images they created were spot on from the famous works of art they represented – from the point of the toe of the floating angel from the piece “An Angel Announces Christ’s Birth” from the book “The Desire of Ages” by Ellen G. White.Actors painted entirely in white matched the marble finish of Michelangelo’s masterpiece statue “La Pieta.”

Actor Terry Flores played Jesus in the scene “Come Unto Me” by George Hinke where Jesus talks to several children. He was able to balance a smiling little girl on his knee while holding up his other hand with his fingers curled at an angle to exactly match the painting.

“Being Jesus is pretty inspiring,” said Flores who was in his fifth year volunteering for the show.

Also in the scene, 10-year-old Jimmy Sipe wore a yellow robe and posed with his hand under his chin while smiling at Jesus. At Saturday’s performance, he slipped and moved a bit ,he admitted.

“My hand fell asleep,” he said. “I couldn’t hold it.”

The massive production costs thousands of dollars each year, but the church never charges for the show.

“It’s our gift to the community,” Wach said. Each year, directors add new scenes or find new pieces of art to change things around. Still, Wach said, there’s only so much they can do and still remain true to the tale.

“We try to change it, but basically it stays the same because the story stays the same.”—Contact Maria St. Louis-Sanchez: 636-0274Twitter @mariastlouis Facebook Gazette Maria St. Louis-Sanchez