Technology and Worship

Increasingly technology and data projectors are being used in many forms of worship. For some this great, however for others it is threatening and confusing, and for some technology has no place in worship.

Pastor Andrew Brook from St Paul's Lutheran Church Box Hill and myself presented a workshop on Technology, Data Projectors and Worship at the Continuing Education Program of the Victorian District in June 2008. Pastor Paul Smith who is now the chaplain at Pacific Lutheran College Caloundra and at the time was pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Toowoomba has presented a similar workshop at Lutheran Worship Conference in 2004.

Both these presentations explored the reasons practical and theological for using technology in worship, some considerations and basic principles for implementing and using techology including data projector presentations, and resources and examples.

Following is a list of resources that may help you as you explore technology and data projectors for worship, many of these are from the presentations, plus a few more.

DATA PROJECTORS
Just Projectors: http://www.justprojectors.com.au/
they offer a buyers guide, details relating to screens and accessories, a variety of projectors, plus specials
Projectisle: http://www.projectisle.com.au/
offers a variety of brands, buyers guide, easy to understand suggestions
Projector Reviews: http://www.projectorreviews.com/
Has a mountain of information and reviews for all brands of data projectors
Article: Projector Connections: http://www.experiencingworship.com/articles/video/2003-10-Projector-Connections-.html
Highlights some of the basic things to consider when buying a projector.
Lutheran Church of Australia Information and technology Committee http://www.lca.org.au/media/ict.cfm information on discounts and purchasing agreements for software and hardware

SOFTWARE
Lutheran Church of Australia' Microsoft Select agreement http://www.lcansw.org.au/software.htm
Details of the discounted Microsoft software for LCA congregations, workers and volunteers.
Microsoft Powerpoint http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/powerpoint/default.aspx
Details of Microsoft's Powerpoint package.
OpenOffice http://www.openoffice.org/
Free software which is similar to Microsoft. Their presentation software is called Impress.
Google's free software http://pack.google.com/intl/en-gb/pack_installer.html?hl=en-gb&gl=au
Free software including StarOffice, which has a presentation software application
Ebibleteacher Worship Software reviews http://www.ebibleteacher.com/reviewworship.html
There is a multitude of software options available. Ebibleteacher has reveiws for over 50 software options. Some attach to other applications, some stand alone. Some free.....some sell for over $500. Worth a visit. At this stage unless a software package is not listed in this review I will not list it individually on this page.

IMAGES
Most of these are free resources.
If you are using a particular resource that is not listed, whether it is free or not and believe it would be helpful please email me so i can include it.
Google image search...http://images.google.com.au/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi
Search for images using Google or other search engines.
Flickr..http://www.flickr.com/
Mostly free images posted by average joe and jane blows
Scripture Pics www.scripturepics.org
Lectionary orientated contemporary pictures
Mustard Seeds http://seedstuff.blogspot.com
Lectionary based ideas for creative worship including pictures
Hermanoleon clipart http://cruzblanca.org./hermanoleon
Lectionary based pictures
Heartlight http://www.heartlight.org/art/
includes ecards, powerpoint slides, wallpaper and graphics
Sunday Graphx http://sundaygraphx.blogspot.com/
Lectionary based powerpoint slides
Textweek www.textweek.com
Lectionary based resources for worship
Churchpowerpoint www.churchpowerpoint.com
Pastor Lou Pfeiffer email: lou.pfeiffer@lca.org.au
Produces weekly slide(s) relating to the RCL readings email him for more details
Creative Worship Tour http://www.creativeworshiptour.com/
Offers free slides/images to those who sign up (also free)

VIDEO
YOUTUBE: http://youtube.com/
People are uploading short videos of all descriptions. Some of these maybe helpful for illustrations.
DVDvideosoft http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/
Free software that enables you to download and convert YOUTUBE files so they can be plaid without an internet connection
Work of the people http://www.workofthepeople.com/
Short video clips that relate to the lectionary readings. Fee based.
Family friendly churches video library http://www.familyfriendlychurches.org.uk/videos.htm
Videos that are lectionary based
Digistry http://www.digistry.org/
Lectionary orientated video clips fee based
Hollywood Jesus http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/
Looks at pop culture from a spiritual point of view....Using mainstream movies, books, shows, comics, etc to discuss spiritual issues
Damaris www.damaris.org.uk
Seeks to help Christians of all denominations to understand and apply the message of the Bible to the challenges raised by contemporary popular culture - and then to communicate this appropriately to those who do not share a Christian faith.
Movie Ministry http://www.movieministry.com/
provides resources, Sermon Illustrations, Bible Studies, FilmTalk Cards and more to assist Pastors, Youth and Lay Leaders in using the power of film to communicate and discuss our relationships with God.
Nooma movies http://www.nooma.com/
Rob Bell a pastor from an emerging church in the USA produces short topical videos
Christiancinema.com http://www.christiancinema.com/
Christian films for sale
Bible Society UK resources http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/l3.php?id=220
A variety of quality resources, including dvds for sale..
Visual Bible http://www.visualbible.co.uk/
Movies of the Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of John and Book of Acts presented using only the words of scripture.
Creative Worship Tour http://www.creativeworshiptour.com/
Offers free videos to those who sign up (also free)

BOOKS and ARTICLES

Data Projection guidelines for its use in public worship by Dr Adam Cooper

http://www.lca.org.au/resources/cow//GuidelinesDataprojectorsWorship.pdf

Design Matters by Jason Moore and Len Wilson

Digital Storytellers by Len Wilson and Jason Moore

The Emerging Church by Dan Kimball, especially chapter 17

High-Tech Worship by Quentin J Schultze

Preaching to a Postmodern world by Graham Johnston

Technology for worship magazinge http://www.tfwm.com/

The use of visual media technology in liturgical worship by Andrew Ruddell http://www.lca.org.au/resources/cow/VisualWorship2_AR.pdf

COPYRIGHT ISSUES
"You shall not steal"

CCLI for some songs and music: http://www.ccli.com/

Licensing for some songs and music http://www.licensingonline.org/

CVLI for some videos: http://cvli.com/

Copyright Council Australia: http://www.copyright.org.au/

APRA: http://www.apra.com.au/

Copyright USA: http://www.copyright.gov/

If you have any suggestions please send them so we can update this page....

thanks

Richard Schwedes

Pastor

North Tasmania Lutheran Parish

richard.schwedes@lca.org.au