leading with light: worship media

Leading With Light:Using Video Projectors Wisely

Leading Worship with Light and LiturgySteven Koster

1Resources &

Training

*Find best tools

*Create educational resources

*Develop strategies

2Consulting &Mini Grants

*1-on-1 Planning

*Customized strategy

*Funding available for some outreach

projects

3Peer

Learning & Community

*Shared resources

*Best Practices

*Receive & share ideas nationwide

What goes on the screen? Why?

What are we trying to do? What are we trying to illustrate?

4

You have a screen. Now what?

WHAT IS THE

SCREEN LIKE?

How does it function?

What job does it do?

To what do you compare it?

5

Other screens• Book-on-wall (lyrics, music)• Bulletin (announcements, order, litany)• Business Meeting (talking points, graphs)• TV/Movie Theater (watch me!)

6

What is the Screen Like?

What else is visual in worship?• Architecture (focus)• Liturgical Furniture (tasks, shape)• Stained Glass (enduring stories)• Banners (seasonal, tone)• Leaders/performers/instruments

7


The Pipe Organ?!• A big lump of expensive technology• Installed in worship space• Requires expertise

◦ Technical (ability to use tools to create art?) ◦ Aesthetic (poor, competent or good art?)◦ Theological (a body and history of church art?)◦ Liturgical (how does art contribute to today?)

8


The screen is like a visual musical instrument• Requires the same kinds of preparation• Who will help plan its use for a service?• What will we do with it? What parameters?• When will decisions be made?• How will ideas turn to plans to products? • Where will preparation happen?• Why do we need this anyway?

9


Like music, visual media guides the congregation in their worship tasks

• Technology should fit worship, not the other way around

• Just as a music ministry leads with sound, a visual ministry Leads with Light

What are the tasks in worship? • What questions are being answered?

• What acts are the congregation called to do?

• How can the screen help them do it?

10

Goal: Leading Worship

FOUR USES FOR STILL IMAGERY • Increasing complexity

and use of the medium

• Increasing depth of Illustrating the core tasks of worship

11

FOUR USES FOR STILL IMAGERY

1. Just Text and Color

12

Examples: • Text of Scripture Reading or Song

13

Plain Text and Color

Psalm 47:6-9 (NSRV)

Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

For God is the king of all the earth;

sing praises with a psalm.

14

Examples: • Text of Scripture Reading or Song• Text and Music Notation

15


Examples: • Text of Scripture Reading or Song• Text and Music Notation• Sermon Outline (revealed line by line)

17


Who Calms the Storm?

Who Calms the Storm?

• Jesus sets the stage to reveal himself (v35-36)

• Disciples react in fear (vs. faith) (v37-38)• Jesus reveals himself as YHWH (v39)• Conclusion:

– They answer their own question!– The real question is our response to the

answer. • Jesus reveals himself to us as God of

creation, supremely powerful!

• Jesus sets the stage to reveal himself (v35-36)

• Disciples react in fear (vs. faith) (v37-38)• Jesus reveals himself as YHWH (v39)• Conclusion:

– They answer their own question!– The real question is our response to the

answer. • Jesus reveals himself to us as God of

creation, supremely powerful!

Examples: • Text of Scripture Reading or Song• Text and Music Notation• Sermon Outline• Artistic Rendering of Psalm 23

19


Psalm

A psalm of David.

23

is my

The LORD

shepherd,

I shallnot

be in want.

He makes

down in green pastures,

me lie

he leads

me besidequiet waters,

he restores my soul.


1. Plain Text and Color

2. Images as Illustration

26

Examples: • Photograph of text (Calligraphy)

Images as Illustrations

27

28Courtesy of Jan Roeda

Examples: • Photograph of text (Calligraphy)• Backgrounds


33

34

As the Deer Pants for Water (Psalm 42)As the Deer Pants for Water (Psalm 42)

35So Rich A Crown

36

PH #438: When Morning Gilds the Sky

PH #438: When Morning Gilds the Sky

37To the Hills I Lift My Eyes

Psalm 121

Examples: • Photograph of text (Calligraphy)• Backgrounds• Sermon Illustrations


42

43Tower of BabelTower of Babel

44

Genesis 11: Let us build a Tower and a City…

45

… a Tower that reaches the Heavens

46

Storm in GalileeStorm in Galilee

Examples: • Photograph of text (Calligraphy)• Backgrounds• Sermon Illustrations• Lord’s Prayer motions


49

50Arr. George Black; 1998 English Language Liturgical Consultation CCLI #2440198

“Our Father”

(Sing 196)

51Our Father in heaven

52

Hallowed be your name.Your kingdom come.

53

Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.

54Forgive us our sins

55

as we forgive those who sin against us.

56

Lead us not into temptationand deliver us from evil

Save us from the time of trial,and deliver us from evil.

57

For the kingdom, and the power, and the glory are yours,now and forever. Amen.

Both Text/Color and Illustrations point to a single event during the service• Text & Lyrics ‘visualize’ the song• Motions lead the prayer

Illustrate an event in worship

Illustrate an event in worship

• Limitations:– Limited use of the medium– Fragmented approach– Emphasizes the event, not worship flow– Can point to medium, not message

59




3. Thematic Metaphor

60

Thematic Metaphor

• A visual analogy for the spiritual concept of the day

61

62God the ArtistGod the Artist

Thematic Metaphor

• A visual analogy for a spiritual concept

• It’s like a single-panel editorial cartoon: the whole idea is in one image

63

Thematic Scripture & Metaphor

64

Thematic Metaphor

• A visual analogy for a spiritual concept

• It’s like a single-panel editorial cartoon

• Friendly to Pop-Culture references

69

Thematic Metaphor

• Strengths– Drives home the point for the day– Can effectively translate to contemporary

culture– Illustrates the entire service,

not just one event

• Limitations– It’s only one image– Encapsulates a single theme, but doesn’t

change from beginning to end

74




3. Thematic Metaphor

4. Liturgical Sequence

75

Liturgical Sequence

• First, some big questions:– What happens in Worship? How are we

different at the end? – What is Liturgy made of? – What tasks does our congregation walk

through during the whole service?

• It has Structure!

• It has Story!

76

Liturgical Sequence

• Dialogue (up – down)– God Speaks– We Respond

77

Liturgical Sequence: Dialogue

• Structure: Worship is dialogue– God calls (down arrow)– We respond (up arrow)

• Our Task: Respond to God’s Call

• How can we demonstrate dialogue?– Contrasts!– color, font, position, style

78

Psalm 47:6-9 (NSRV)





79

Psalm 47:6-9 (NSRV)





Psalm 47:6-9 (NSRV)





Liturgical Sequence

• Dialogue (up – down)

• Dramatic Movement – Gathering– Renewal

• Confession/Lament• Assurance

– Word / Nourishment– Sending

83

Dramatic Movements of Liturgy

Basic Theme Key idea Fitting visuals Not so fitting visuals Gathering: God calls us to gather as His

people and to worship him Who is God? Who are we as a called people?

Preparation, traveling, approaching Gathering, anticipation Needing Encounter with God Responding in praise Beginning of dialogue

-Thematic scripture -Psalm of ascent -Questions -Countdown -Components to be assembled -Logo? -Welcome screen?

Announcements Instructions

Confession and Assurance We acknowledge our brokenness in the fall, receive Christ’s redemptive work, and are summoned to a new life What is our brokenness? How are we renewed?

Contrast, of God’s glory and our brokenness, of sin and forgiveness, Intensive dialogue

-Contrast! light and dark high and low chaos and order hand down, hands up positions fonts colors

(don’t miss confession; can’t know God without it)

Service of the Word As the redeemed people of God we hear God’s Word What is God’s message for his renewed people?

God’s revelation He shows us his plan for all history Strong, personal eye contact

-Visual Aid (e.g. a map) -Diagram (e.g. structure or context of text) -Illustration (a metaphor) -Demonstration (movie clip) -Navigation (Where are we? -Where in this text, in this series, in redemptive history?) -Package, message, gift

Written outlines are easily abused

Sacrament

We are washed and nourished as the bride of Christ

Memory and Hope Physical participation God’s gifts Nourishment

-Lord’s Supper: Food, feast, party, body & blood -Baptism: Washing, water, birthing, drowning, -Sign & Seal -Gifts

Service of Response We actively respond in gratitude by offering our lives of service; We prepare to enter the world and enact the kingdom. How are we sent?

Offering ourselves Make general requests concrete Sending, commissioning

Announcements Service opportunities Specific ministries Missionaries Scripture on producing fruit Scripture on the Kingdom

Money Cash register

84

Handout


• Handout: Grid of liturgy ideas

• What are the basic tasks of Worship?• Liturgy has structure

– Acts in worship are not in random order– Structure varies from church to church

• Structure has purpose– Our acts in worship have a task or purpose– Purposes continue from week to week

• These on-going purposes suggest parameters for visual choices!

85

Example: Gathering

• We are called to Gather each week

• Basic Theme: – God calls us to come together as His people

and worship him

• Key ideas: – Gathering, preparing, traveling, anticipating,

entering, encountering God, responding, beginning a dialogue, setting the tone

86

Psalm of Ascent

Psalm 117Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord!

87

Thematic Scripture

88

Thematic Metaphor

89

Questions

90

Who Killed Christ?

Who Killed Christ?

Questions

`

91

Who Killed Christ?Why did he die?

What difference does it make?Why should I care?

Countdown

92

Mission Statement?

94

Corporate Logo?

95

Instructions?

96

Not Announcements

97

Example: The Response

• Basic theme: – We actively respond in gratitude by offering

our lives of service; – we prepare to enter the world and enact the

kingdom

• Basic ideas:– Offering ourselves, seek opportunities– Make the general concrete– Sending, commissioning

98

Announcements as Response

99

Announcements as Response

100

Discipleship Opportunities

101

Scripture on faith in action

From Timothy 6:11But as for you, people of God, pursue

righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

From Timothy 6:11But as for you, people of God, pursue

righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

102

Concrete Prayer Requests

103

President Obama and other leaders


• College Students and others away from us


• Missionaries We Support


• The Dramatic Movements are the basic actions of the “story” we enact in worship

• The Dramatic Movements should shape what happens on the screen

• Enact and Tell the Story with the screen!

106

Liturgical Sequence


• Dramatic Movements – Method 1: Generic Sequences

107

Method 1: Generic Sequences

• Build a library suitable for any week

• Grounded in your regular pattern

• Possible Basic elements– Gathering– Confession & Assurance – Word– Response – Sending

108

Example: Generic Sequence

• Building a composite

109

110

Gathering

111

Confession

112

Assurance

113

Word/Nourishment

114

Sending



• A developing metaphor

115

116

Our stance before God: Gathering

117

Our stance before God: Confession

118

Our stance before God: Assurance

119

Our stance before God: Word

120

Our stance before God: Sending

121

Stained Glass colors: Gathering

122

Stained Glass colors: Confession

123

Stained Glass colors: Assurance

124

Stained Glass colors: Word

125

Stained Glass colors: Sending



• A developing metaphor

• Found Art, in a consistent style

126

127

Gathering

128

Confession

129

Assurance

130

Word

131

Communion

132

Dismissal

133

Gathering

134

Confession

135

Assurance

136

Word (Empty Tomb)Word (Empty Tomb)

137

Response

138

Sending

Liturgical Sequence


• Dramatic Movements – Gathering

– Renewal

– Word

– Response

– Sending

• Method 1: Generic Sequences

• Method 2: Thematic Dramatic Sequences!

139

Method 2: Dramatic Thematic

• Dramatic movements have general structure that continues week-to-week

• But each week has a specific theme and/or metaphor

– From scripture text

– Church year

– Current events

– Sermon series

– Controlling metaphor

• Combines the ‘editorial cartoon’ with a sequence

• This is GOLD if you have the resources!

140

Method 2: Thematic DramaticService Date: Text: Main Theme: Imagery: Music: Questions: Theme Music options Spoken Visual Gathering:

Confession and Assurance

Service of the Word

Service of Response

Sacrament

141


• Handout: Blank Simple Grid

• Simple approach for a specific week

• First task: Fill in first column– Restate Dramatic purpose in light of this

week’s theme• What does each movement look like

in light of this theme?• How does theme change through the service?

142


Second task: Fill in the grid– Express the theme in song, word, and

visuals– Generate and Evaluate creative choices– Fill in other columns in light of each other

143

Example: Dramatic Thematic

• “Isaiah 60” themes: – Glory of God

– Global Church

• Parts– Gathering: Global church called in glory

– Confession: But we are not global

– Assurance: Our rifts are forgiven

– Word: We receive God’s glory in our diversity

– Response: We bring our diverse gifts

– Sending: We are sent to reflect God everywhere

144

145

GatheringGathering

146

Renewal: ConfessionRenewal: Confession

147

Renewal: AssuranceRenewal: Assurance

148

WordWord

149

ResponseResponse

150

SendingSending

Theme: Lament• Based on Psalm 130

Parts• Gathering (in the morning)• Confession (Out of the Depths I Cry)• Word & Assurance (I Wait)• Dismissal (For the Morning)

Example: Thematic Sequence

151

158

Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sinsas we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trialand deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and forever. Amen.

Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sinsas we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trialand deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and forever. Amen.

People on a Journey • Based on Phil 4• Note Dialogue

Parts:• Prelude: Theme of Journey• Gathering: Sojourners gathered• Word: Sojourners refreshed• Dismissal: Sojourners sent

Example: Dramatic Thematic

160

161

As people of faith on a As people of faith on a journey,journey, we come to be renewed we come to be renewed

in God's strength.in God's strength.

162

WE GATHER IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

163

The Call to WorshipThe Call to Worship

Let us worship God.Let us worship God.

The Lord is the everlasting God,The Lord is the everlasting God,The Creator of the ends of the The Creator of the ends of the

earth.earth.

164

GOD SPEAKS THROUGH PHILIPPIANS 4

165

O Spirit of God,you who have written this rich

fourth chapter of Philippians through your servant Paul,

now speak to usthrough these same words,

so that we may know your will,our hearts may be encouraged,

and our fellowship be strengthened.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Our Prayer for Illumination

166

The Reading of Philippians 4:4-9

The Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God!

167

WE DEPART WITH GOD'S BLESSING

168

*The Benediction

Congregational Amen!

Example: Thematic Sequence

• “Worship Arts Seminar” themes: – God the creator/artist– God’s children in His creative image

• Parts– Gathering (Prelude & Call to Worship)– Confession in Word – Assurance in Word– Response– Sending

170

171Gathering: PreludeGathering: Prelude

172Gathering: Call to WorshipGathering: Call to Worship

173Confession: Confession:

Genesis 1:26-28Genesis 1:26-28

174

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.


Thanks be to God.

Word: Made in the creator’s imageWord: Made in the creator’s image

175

Exodus 35:30–34:1Exodus 35:30–34:1


Thanks be to God.The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Word: Using creative gifts to build templeWord: Using creative gifts to build temple

176

1 Corinthians 3:10-171 Corinthians 3:10-17


Thanks be to God.The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Word: Christ as the one sound foundationWord: Christ as the one sound foundation

177Response: Our creative gifts offeredResponse: Our creative gifts offered

178Sending: Creative in the creator’s imageSending: Creative in the creator’s image

Conclusions: The Organ-Screen

• Think of the screen like a visual musical instrument– It has the role of a visual banner– With the control of a pipe organ

• The same questions raised in music are raised for the screen– What creative choices will lead worship?– Who is best qualified to make decisions?

179

Conclusions: Illustrate Liturgy

• Illustrate the congregation's task, not event• Visual planning is liturgy planning

– It should happen early

– It should be along side music and texts

• Visual planners need liturgy training more than technology training

180

Conclusions: A Visual Arts Team

• This is not an “AV” team

• Three skill sets needed:– Liturgist: what’s our goal?– Artist: what’s our vision? – Technologist: make it happen

• Like a Music Ministry Team, this is a Visual Ministry Team– Same questions, same goals

181

Workshop: Music-Word-ImageLearning to Follow Theme Music Spoken VisualGathering: God our Teacher calls us

as his disciples

Confession and Assurance

Though we are rebellious against his leadership, rejecting his teaching, he is patient and forgiving

Service of the Word

With our renewed ears and hearts we are instructed by God's Word.

Service of Response

As renewed disciples, we offer our learning and loyalty, we are sent to teach the world

Sacrament We are confirmed in our discipleship in the washing and eating that point to our Master.

183

Workshop: Generic templates

• Storyboard Exercise

• Givens:– a 4 x 3 space– Themes of generic liturgical sequence

• Sketch:– Any style: photographs, line art, pen & ink,

computer graphics, – Write in: colors, concepts, directions

184

leading with light: worship media

Spiritual

song text

song plain text

imagery plain text

text of scripture reading

line plain text

music notation plain

screen like

color images