June 2014 marks 11 months of using ProPresenter at Clayton. The original implementation was documented on the page Creative Technology – Church Presentation Software. Since then, use of both Apple iMac and ProPresenter have become second nature.
In April 2014, just prior to Easter, we added a Mac Mini to the suite of hardware available for use in the Chapel. However, as this article will detail more – these technologies are but one suite of tools to worshipping God.The Church Worship Technology series has been refreshed across the board to reflect various tweaks that have been adopted since the initial rollout in 2013.
ProPresenter has also been utilised to great effect in my cell group throughout 2013-2014. Replicating the effect of motion backgrounds with complete control over lyric display gives our humble group a sense of professionalism in the delivery of worship. However, I have also been mindful of not being too technology-focused at the cost of losing sight of the main reason for worship. To counter that potential, I have at times experimented with non-technology methods of delivery.
1) Once in cell group I attempted a creative drawing exercise, which some people misunderstood to be an ice-breaker exercise. I’m not 100% sure where I got the inspiration/idea from but it played out as follows. Each individual was armed with a blank sheet of paper and a whole lot of coloured pens. I explained that I would provide them with a single word, from which they could meditate on and draw whatever came to mind. During the time of meditation and drawing, I played a verse/chorus of a well known current worship song. I timed it to last about a minute, before pausing to provide the next thought/word. I repeated this pattern to cover the words of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” finishing with “yourself”. We then shared what each person had drawn with the group.
2) In a more recent (May) cell group session, I had a vocals-only worship session. The time was also a blend of prophetic/hearing from God, so I intentionally focused the worship in a praise oriented way whilst creating the space for someone to be inspired to sing a song. We began with Heart of Worship, appropriately focusing on the fact that we bring God more than a song, for a song in itself is NOT what He requires. After an initial time for God to move, and people had prayed/shared a Word, I directed people to praise God with the simple lyric of “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Our God reigns!” As part of the second time of listening and hearing from God someone picked Indescribable to play from their phone and we joined in.
I’m so grateful to God that Matt Redman managed to get this song/lyrics beyond the doors of his bedroom, as revealed in the Song Story:
When the music fades
and all is stripped away
and I simply come.
Longing just to bring
something that’s of worth
that will bless Your heart.
I’ll bring You more than a song,
for a song in itself
is not what You have required.
You search much deeper within,
through the way things appear,
Your looking into my heart.
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
and it’s all about You,It’s all about You, Jesus.
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
when it’s all about You,It’s all about You, Jesus.
King of endless worth,
no one could express
how much You deserve.
Though I’m weak and poor,
all I have is Yours,
every single breath!
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