A replica of the Shroud of Turin, thought by some to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, will be on public display Thursday in Jim Thorpe.

The Lutheran Church of St. John, 319 South Ave., located in the “Heights” section of the borough, is hosting “The Shroud Talks,” presented by Bill Wingard, who has done more than two decades of research and studying on the topic.

A public showing, which anyone can attend for free, begins at 4 p.m. and will last an hour. At 5 p.m., the church will host a Eucharist service, during which Wingard will make a 30-40 minute presentation on the Shroud. A dinner will follow at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are only needed for the dinner and can be made by calling 570-325-4255 by Sunday.

“My hope is that people who come see the Shroud replica and hear about it are renewed in a sense of holiness about what it represents, and that is the Passion of Jesus that exists in the world,” the Rev. Peter Muir, of the Lutheran Church of St. John, said. “I hope they have a deeper appreciation of the sacredness of life.”

The Shroud of Turin is a 14-foot linen cloth bearing an image of a crucified man and it first surfaced in 1354. Skeptics, however, have argued forensics show the bloodstains on the shroud couldn’t have come from Christ.

“It was tested extensively years ago, and the conclusion of those tests are up for interpretation,” Muir said. “However, the existence of it is in itself a presentation concerning the passion of Jesus.”

Wingard has taken the replica across the country and made presentations on its merits. St. John’s has been involved with a theme on the passion of Jesus throughout this Lenten season, and Muir called Thursday’s showing and service a culmination of that emphasis.

According to Wingard’s website, along with his illuminating PowerPoint, the audience also views full-size replicas of the shroud along with the “negatives” that started the shroud explosion.

The replica will be displayed across the front of the sanctuary during the public showing and during the church service. Near the end of the service, the church council strips the altar to prepare for Good Friday.

Muir said he learned of Wingard’s Shroud Talks through his prison ministry.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Muir said. “I think it is a topic of interest to a lot of people.”