Kindle saves the day at a funeral

I’m always a fan of using current technology in unique ways to the benefit of worship. Here is a report on someone using their Kindle to lead a funeral…

If you aren’t familiar with it, the Kindle’s screen uses e-ink. It is a technology that is reflective, meaning that unlike most screens which shine a light in your face, e-ink looks just like a piece of paper. Of course it also brings the usual digital advantages, like enlarging the text at the push of a button.

My usual process is to customize the service on the computer then print it out. In this case all I had to do was prep the service in Google Docs then hit the “Share” button to email everything wirelessly to my Kindle. At first there were some formatting problems, but a few easy tweaks and it worked like a charm. The liturgy was beautiful and easy to read.

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Essential Tools – Dropbox

This little thing has quickly improved the way I work and become organized. Instead of emailing myself documents to work on from home or print somewhere else, I drop them in my box, and have them everywhere. Laptop, desktop, iPhone, internet.

It can be helpful in ministry too. It is really easy to share recordings, song charts, and rotation schedules with your band/team.

Get a couple GB free, on me: https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTI3NjkwNTI5

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What can the church learn from Apple?

• Does your church take design seriously (architecture, worship, long range planning, etc.)?
• Does your church offer guest-friendly “try before you buy” environments?
• Is your church’s view of the world present in how you design worship?
• Does your church welcome the question “Why is it like that?” around the subject of worship?
• How much attention is paid to how people physically connect to your church?
• Can your church fulfill it’s mission in 1 step instead of 6?
• How much does your church talk about process (instead of product)?
• Is the hierarchy of importance easily discernable in your church?

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JD Walt on Twitter in Worship

JD Walt writes a blog that I’ve just subscribed to. He says twittering in worship services may help draw attention where it needs to be…

We have become so accustomed to worship being a “one or few to many” kind of event. We pay attention to and follow a person who is leading music or to a person who is preaching a sermon. Note how the seating is most often arranged (i.e. classroom style).

Social networking introduces us to a range of tools that enable a “many to many” kind of relational and communication dynamic. It seems that this would be good for worship– wouldn’t it?

I guess it depends on what people are tweeting about. Are they tweeting about where to eat lunch after. . . . . . or are they tweeting about flashes of insight occurring to them as a result of being together in worship. I would say the former example cultivates distraction while the latter cultivates attention. A more difficult distinction– are we using twitter to capture insights for later reflection or for present conversation? Latter seems better to me– but former may be ok too.

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To Print or Not to Print

From Tony Morgan…

Feel free to keep investing in print communications if your highest priority is keeping your “internal customers” happy. Just thought you should know that other organizations are using the web to reach the same people you’re probably trying to reach in your community.

So what else does your church do to keep “internal customers” happy, but misses reaching out to new people?

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The New Traditional Church’s Approach to Websites

From Tony Morgan…

Rather than looking at the Web through the eyes of a Facebook and YouTube and Twitter user, though, we’re still looking at the Web through the eyes of a Sunday bulletin reader. That approach works for the people who are already attending our churches. It completely ignores the people who we are trying to reach.

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Northern Sound and Light

Worship musicians need to buy a lot of gear. Northern Sound & Light is the latest place I’ve used for cheap prices.

Sennheiser e835 mic:

• @Musiciansfriend.com = $99.99
• @Sweetwater.com = $99.97
• @NorthernSound.net = $80.70

Aviom A-16II Personal 16 channel mixer:

• @Musiciansfriend.com = $620.00
• @Sweetwater.com = $620.00
• @NorthernSound.net = $430.56

Tell ’em Clayton sent ya.

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Tech Script Freebie

blank-tech-script.doc

You’re welcome!

Communication is everything. And this is a valuable little tool that I use to communicate to our technical voluteers (audio, video, lighting operators) the flow of a service. This group of volunteers needs to be aware of every aspect of the service. They need as much information as possible in order to do their job the best they can.

Feel free to morph this document to your own needs. The first column allows you to list the elements of the worship order, including song titles, speakers, etc. The second column allows you to list directions specific to the video operator (Easy Worship, PowerPoint, MediaShout, etc.). You can put the order of song lyrics (vs1 ch vs2 ch br ch ch) as well as the title of videos to be played here. The third column is to give the audio person a heads up for each service element. You can list which channels on the mixer should be up, or even which vocalist or instrument should be mixed differently for each element. The fourth column is for lighting notes. The final column if for general comments and reminders.

I’ve been using this format for Sunday worship for several years now, and all the techs that have used it find it informative and easy to follow.

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Graphic Converter for Apple

Many times, being a Worship Leader goes way beyond just picking out songs and playing a guitar.

You get to do things like graphic design, with or without any previous experience.

Graphic Converter is a free application for Apple that will get you started and lets you do basic photo editing on the cheap.

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Twitturgies

Discovered from Jonny Baker…twitturgies.

If hope at times is hard to hold, you are still God. If dreams are dashed and desires delayed, you are still God. Still me, God, to know you.

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