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August 28, 2009

The 2010 Wish-List

Five purchases churches might budget for this fall to buy next year.

by Kent Morris


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Despite the lingering effects of the current economic maelstrom, next year’s church budget will soon become reality, and the need to disperse funds will be here.

Since a church budget should be assembled and managed wisely, it helps to know where trends are headed and how they affect resource effectiveness. For example, spending money on digital signs in the lobby may be a better investment than upgrading the paper quality of the bulletin, since many people have become acclimated to information video displays in airports and shopping malls and often prefer to receive data digitally.

Technology trends, then, give at least a general course directive on how to allocate funds and, while not a panacea, provide a useful tool in the service of worship when appropriately applied.

Here, then, are five current developments your church may find helpful as it considers purchases and next year’s budget:


1. Curved wide format video screens. The recent revival of 3-D movies is fueling the trend toward immersive video experiences. New computer control of stereo imagery, featuring improved depth perception and peripheral content, is behind the recent spate of 3-D film releases. In conjunction with steady stereo imagery, 3-D has benefited from improvements in screen aspect and materials. In place of the 4:3 ratio derived from analog television, the current video trend is to go wide format, (roughly 16:10 or greater) to better align with the human visual standard. To heighten the impact, such manufacturers as Da-Lite, Draper, and Stewart are introducing curved super-wide format screens in a bid to create an enveloping visual experience.

For churches, the best advice is to consider the viability of a wide format screen within the current stage layout. Look at potential impediments to sightlines across the seating area; also look to see if there is enough height above the platform to install the screen without interfering with the lighting, audio, and HVAC systems.

If the physical requirements are met, the next issue is content. Since a single projector cannot typically deliver the entire wide format image, multiple units are usually tied together seamlessly with edge-blending technology. For churches that can’t afford edge-blending technology yet, curved wide format screens still may be installed and used as the canvas for a montage of images. For instance, many churches are using a single wide screen to deliver the sermon notes, pertinent diagrams, comparative scripture versions, and the sermon series icon simultaneously to the congregation. Then, when the funds are available, the edge-blending tools can be bought and incorporated.

2. Worship planning software. In the past two years, software designed solely for orders of worship has filled the marketplace. From Worship Planning Online to Service Designer, ChurchAssist to ServiceBuilder, the newest versions of these programs are able to simplify and organize any type and size of music ministry.

Though not a substitute for prayerful planning or skillful execution, these software offerings do provide a means of corralling the diverse issues surrounding a service of worship into palatable segments. The programs also deliver a simple method of assigning people to tasks best suited to their abilities while allowing for quick substitutions when illness or circumstances arise. In the near future, worship planning software will integrate with lyrics display, visual sermon assistants, and media system protocols to provide a one-step approach to service logistics. Though they are similar in purpose, the available programs differ in complexity, thoroughness of detail, and payment method, with some bought outright, others licensed based on use, and still others offered SAS (Software As a Service) with every component done online.

3. Twitter and texting during the sermon. Though not instantly recognizable as a large-ticket budget item for 2010, Direct Interaction Devices (DID) soon may become near requirements in many congregations due to their ability to grant the congregation a real-time means of connecting to the pastor during the sermon.

If, for instance, the sermon is on marriage issues, a spouse who feels uncomfortable speaking with a church counselor can text a query to the pastor during the service. Or, if the minister brings out a trigger point, the congregation can respond anonymously and truthfully to a sensitive topic.

The best way to control the process and assure privacy is by purchasing a Go Phone or other expendable cell phone and a month’s worth of unlimited texting. During the sermon, the phone number is displayed on the video screen and attendees are encouraged to text in their questions and comments. A trusted ministerial staff member then monitors the phone and forwards appropriate content to the speaking pastor’s on-stage phone, where the questions can be answered live. Questions not addressed in the service can be answered during the week on the church’s blog. At the end of the series, the phone and its contents can be destroyed, ensuring privacy for everyone involved.

4. Roland V-Piano. Every once in a while, a game-changing instrument comes along to alter the course of church music. The V-Piano is one such instrument, since it possesses the heart and detail of the finest grand concert piano in the body of an affordable, portable enclosure. More than simply an updated digital piano, the V-Piano uses a “living core” to bring out the nuances of an acoustic while preserving the stability and changeable format of a digital. By avoiding sampling (short snippets of recorded information) the V-Piano is not limited to a predetermined set of sounds, and instead is able to create the unique character of dozens of instruments with unparalleled authenticity. The addition of Roland’s superb PHA-III keyboard action system and a stellar pedal arrangement combine to make the V-Piano a solid investment for any church looking to improve the tone of its keyboard department.

5. Auralex SonicPrint. The benefits of acoustic panels are well known: speech intelligibility goes up while noise and garbled music disappear. Unfortunately, the bland look of acoustic treatment dissuades many churches from pursuing the goal of improved sound. Now, however, Auralex has introduced sound control as art in the form of its SonicPrint line of panels. With a newly developed process, Auralex is able to print almost any image onto the panel without negatively affecting its sonic performance. For churches, the possibilities range from stained glass emulation to graphic impressions of highlights in local church history. The panels are available in sizes ranging from 24-inch by 24-inch to 24-foot by 48-foot, and are preceded by the company’s free Room Analysis Form to provide the best use of the panels in a given environment.

Kent Morris is a media systems designer and technology instructor based in Atlanta, and a contributing editor to Your Church.

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Posted by Matt Branaugh on August 28, 2009 12:02 PM

Related Tags: acoustics, audio, facility, projectors, screens, software, technology, texting, Twitter, video, visual, worship

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