Multimedia is the new stained glass window...

Lots of people see a screen and projector and think, "Oh, oh. That's not our style. We're not a mega-church."


What we have found is that there are a lot of good reasons to incorporate visuals and dispense with paper in a service:

Telling a story visually can be transformational

• Adding an image can allow people to bring their imagination to bear on what is being said or experienced musically. Obviously, it's possible to hit people over the head with a message, but, if done tastefully and with respect to the intelligence of the congregation, visuals can involve people on a more visceral level and bring art and symbolism to the discussion.

• Putting the words to hymns and responses on the screen is a powerful way to include elderly people and the young in participation. Bold words spoken together with heads up and facing forward is SO much different from words spoken into a bulletin or hymnal, heads down and elderly eyes searching for the appropriate reading. (We had a 100 year old church lady tell us this week that, "usually I come into church and fall asleep, but with your service, I can follow along more easily, singing and reading with everyone else!")

• Having the announcements run before and after the service on the screen means you don't have to intrude into the service time to let people know things. It can have a bigger impact than a printed announcement and teachers who may be leaving in the middle of the service, will see the announcements at the beginning.
• An opening loop of visuals and information can set the stage for the main body of the service. Setting the tone and introducing a theme can have a powerful effect on people's ability to absorb a message.