Using Technology to Modernise Worship

[seeking_perfection]

I was wondering how different parishes/provinces have tried to enhance their liturgy and worship, especially in the recent years with the easy access to IT equipment etc. How have you been able to ‘enhance’ your services with new technology?

Also, do you find that these changes only impact the style of your worship or do you think it actually (either implicitly or explicity) changes the substance of what the congregation think or believe?

Are people to quick to embrace certain things without thinking how it could impact the theology or is modernisation always useful, when used correctly?

From personal experience, I can think of many useful changes (one obvious one being wireless microphones) and some that I’d rather not have happened (unfettered attempts to use powerpoint without the ability or any presentational skills).

What are your experiences and opinions?

 

[MKJ]

Well, when we got a new chandelier, we went for a modern one in a style "in keeping with the architecture" instead of a reproduction. And we are looking at switching to natural gas, which will halve our heating budget (one of our biggest expenses.)

But none of that Powerpoint stuff. I've been to parishes that do that, and think it is yucky. I got enough of that when I was in the army.

 

[ebia]

We've been embracing new technology since we started moving from papyrus scrolls to paper codices. We've been using multimedia since music was introduced, icons and paintings started to adorn our walls and stained glass our windows.

We have our liturgy on a sheet and everything else (hymns, readings and any accompanying sermon PowerPoint on a screen.

 

[ebia]

Well, when we got a new chandelier, we went for a modern one in a style "in keeping with the architecture" instead of a reproduction. And we are looking at switching to natural gas, which will halve our heating budget (one of our biggest expenses.)

But none of that Powerpoint stuff. I've been to parishes that do that, and think it is yucky. I got enough of that when I was in the army.

PowerPoint in the hands of someone who cannot present is a disaster, but if the preacher can preach its not a problem.

 

[TomUK]

I know of a few priests who are using ipads for sermons and as replacements for altar missals. As in the case of your wireless microphone example i think the best use of technology is when it manages to blend in without being noticed. Other basic examples are things like gas rather than wax candles.

 

[MKJ]

PowerPoint in the hands of someone who cannot present is a disaster, but if the preacher can preach its not a problem.

If the preacher can preach, he likely doesn't need PowerPoint. In general I can't think of a lot of liturgical texts that would need PowerPoint illustrations.

There is no good way to integrate it that I have seen, the screen has got to be huge and takes up too much room. The only thing I can imagine is a set up where it was mounted on the ceiling and actually went right back in when it was not being used. But often people want to use it to project the hymns and liturgical texs as well.

Now, I can see replacing physical prayer books with ipads or something and having the exact text of the day's liturgy, in the sense of not being too intrusive. But it would be expensive, require a lot of maintenance, and potentially lead to an even more text based liturgy.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

I was wondering how different parishes/provinces have tried to enhance their liturgy and worship, especially in the recent years with the easy access to IT equipment etc. How have you been able to ‘enhance’ your services with new technology?

We have a big screen at the front of the church where we project liturgy, songs, images, video clips etc. We use a package called Easy Worship that merges easily with other productivity software. We also have small screens on the pillars and in the balcony area so that everyone gets a view.

We have three TV cameras so that we can improve visibility and have closeups of what is going on at the front. This means we can also relay the service to the creche and parish centre. We can record parts of the service if we want to.

We stream our services live on the internet, so people can still listen in if they are housebound, away, catching the early service when they are on duty later. We also record all sermons/talks so that they can be podcast. We have internet access in church, so can use live websites.

We have a hearing loop for the deaf, and radio mikes.

Also, do you find that these changes only impact the style of your worship or do you think it actually (either implicitly or explicity) changes the substance of what the congregation think or believe?

They make the service more accessible for people - by enhancing visibility, audibility etc. They enable those who cannot come to church to take part. That can only be a good thing. I don't think it changes our beliefs - not sure how it can, really.

Are people to quick to embrace certain things without thinking how it could impact the theology or is modernisation always useful, when used correctly?

Nothing is quick in the Church of England. I think some of the older people can be skeptical, but are soon won over when they can see the benefits.

From personal experience, I can think of many useful changes (one obvious one being wireless microphones) and some that I’d rather not have happened (unfettered attempts to use powerpoint without the ability or any presentational skills).

They are tools, to be used properly. Those of us involved in the service are all trained in how to use the equipment, and we have a large tech team to ensure that everything runs smoothly and professionally. We do our best for Christ.

What are your experiences and opinions?

Love technology

 

[higgs2]

I would pay good money to see someone hand out ipads to the Ladies of the Church and tell them that they're replacing the hymnal and the prayer book.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

I would pay good money to see someone hand out ipads to the Ladies of the Church and tell them that they're replacing the hymnal and the prayer book.

Brilliant. If the service was particularly boring, they could do their grocery order.

 

[MKJ]

I would pay good money to see someone hand out ipads to the Ladies of the Church and tell them that they're replacing the hymnal and the prayer book.

Tee hee.

On another note, how does a hearing loop work? It must only be for the hard of hearing rather than for the deaf? Or does it translate to text?

 

[Naomi4Christ]

Tee hee.

On another note, how does a hearing loop work? It must only be for the hard of hearing rather than for the deaf? Or does it translate to text?

Good question - I must find out the answer. I think it amplifies to hearing aids. It is definitely sound based. It is also called an induction loop. I think it means that those using a hearing aid can sit in a particularly good reception spot and hear the sounds from the front, rather than turning up their hearing aids and being bombarded by gasping coughs and screaming children.

 

[TomUK]

I would pay good money to see someone hand out ipads to the Ladies of the Church and tell them that they're replacing the hymnal and the prayer book.

Lol, though i wouldn't be surprised if in 15 years or so that is the case. Let's use the example of hymnals:
You wouldn't have to carry a large heavy hymnal, of which the vast majority of the hymns would never be sung.
You wouldn't always have access to new hymns or conversely all the old hymns which have inexplicably been removed.
It could cater for those who like four part harmony, melody lines or nothing at all.
It would solve the problem of erecting giant screens which invariably ruin the interior of a church.

 

[MKJ]

Good question - I must find out the answer. I think it amplifies to hearing aids. It is definitely sound based. It is also called an induction loop. I think it means that those using a hearing aid can sit in a particularly good reception spot and hear the sounds from the front, rather than turning up their hearing aids and being bombarded by gasping coughs and screaming children.

Ah, that makes sense. We have a sign language interpreter, but no amplification.

 

[MKJ]

Lol, though i wouldn't be surprised if in 15 years or so that is the case. Let's use the example of hymnals:
You wouldn't have to carry a large heavy hymnal, of which the vast majority of the hymns would never be sung.
You wouldn't always have access to new hymns or conversely all the old hymns which have inexplicably been removed.
It could cater for those who like four part harmony, melody lines or nothing at all.
It would solve the problem of erecting giant screens which invariably ruin the interior of a church.

I think it makes a lot of sense for hymnals. An issue would be keeping up with the technology though. We still have hymnals from the 1930's, and maybe earlier, so they aren't so expensive from that POV. With computer stuff it is always being updated, and if you don't eventually the software won't work. And if one of your cyber-hymnals breaks, which it will, it will be more expensive and require an expert to fix it.

But I really hate the idea of a cyber-prayer book. Liturgy is meant to be in the memory, and the text should just be a prompt for those who need it. Moving to computer texts would be an invitation for those who would like 50 versions of the liturgy each with their own variations.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

It would solve the problem of erecting giant screens which invariably ruin the interior of a church.

Out giant screen (and it is truly massive) does not ruin the interior of our church.

It is raised out of sight behind a pelmet (part of the original church building) when not needed. When it is in use, it hides particularly ghastly artwork.

I don't think we would get a faculty for something that would be bad for the church, and the secular preservation authorities would be even stricter.

Our pillar screens have calico covers, which only are ever used when a wedding party (tourist bridezilla) is particularly fussy.

 

[higgs2]

Brilliant. If the service was particularly boring, they could do their grocery order.

hahaha

and they could make lists of things that the Young Mothers aren't doing right or aren't doing at all and email them to each other.

 

[higgs2]

I think it makes a lot of sense for hymnals. An issue would be keeping up with the technology though. We still have hymnals from the 1930's, and maybe earlier, so they aren't so expensive from that POV. With computer stuff it is always being updated, and if you don't eventually the software won't work. And if one of your cyber-hymnals breaks, which it will, it will be more expensive and require an expert to fix it.

But I really hate the idea of a cyber-prayer book. Liturgy is meant to be in the memory, and the text should just be a prompt for those who need it. Moving to computer texts would be an invitation for those who would like 50 versions of the liturgy each with their own variations.

Liturgy is made to be in the memory? I've never heard that. Plus our prayer book has 4 forms for the Eucharist and 6 for prayers of the people so that would be hard to memorize.

 

[wayseer]

Technology? What technology?

How about we use 21st century version of the Bible? How about we have teachings rather than preachings? (Do we still need to be told that is naughty to use your neighbour's lawnmower without asking?) How about we introduce Sunday Schoolers to the real story of Jesus and not fantasy? How about we develop a liturgy that means something to today's culture and not to a society some two thousand years ago? How about we give our creaking churches to the local National Trust and go 'shopfront'? How about we use the proceeds to do something really useful like sending on the of youth to study theology at university?

Relying on coloured lights, overheads screens, piped music, video cameras are symbols of the lost. Christianity is not packed entertainment.

 

[higgs2]

That's really interesting stuff. Have you experienced any of this or is this what you would like to see? The shopfront thing, a local nondenominational does that. How would a teaching differ from a preaching?

Technology? What technology?

How about we use 21st century version of the Bible? How about we have teachings rather than preachings? (Do we still need to be told that is naughty to use your neighbour's lawnmower without asking?) How about we introduce Sunday Schoolers to the real story of Jesus and not fantasy? How about we develop a liturgy that means something to today's culture and not to a society some two thousand years ago? How about we give our creaking churches to the local National Trust and go 'shopfront'? How about we use the proceeds to do something really useful like sending on the of youth to study theology at university?

Relying on coloured lights, overheads screens, piped music, video cameras are symbols of the lost. Christianity is not packed entertainment.

 

[ebia]

If the preacher can preach, he likely doesn't need PowerPoint. In general I can't think of a lot of liturgical texts that would need PowerPoint illustrations.

There is no good way to integrate it that I have seen, the screen has got to be huge and takes up too much room. The only thing I can imagine is a set up where it was mounted on the ceiling and actually went right back in when it was not being used. But often people want to use it to project the hymns and liturgical texs as well.

Now, I can see replacing physical prayer books with ipads or something and having the exact text of the day's liturgy, in the sense of not being too intrusive. But it would be expensive, require a lot of maintenance, and potentially lead to an even more text based liturgy.

A screen is only intrusive if you expect the church to look like something from a previous century; it's not really any more intrusive than having everybody's head buried in a selection of books they have to flick through. And a lot more user friendly for visitors.

We have recognized the value of illustration in our churches; that people aren't just aural leathers. There is no reason what so ever why a good sermon cannot be enhanced further by appropriate use of a screen if there is one.