32: That Was Easy... Worship
2008-11-16
Download MP3 For Geekons Episode 32
Pop-Up: EasyWorship 2007
- One of the more expensive apps we have reviewed: $399 at time of writing
- License is a SITE LICENSE! meaning volunteers can practice at home, run shows at your church retreats, and use in multiple sanctuaries!
- Great for displaying the lyrics to worship music, video clips, and photos.
- Supports streaming video backgrounds for computers that can handle it!
- over 100 real-time video transitions/cross fades
- preview of what is coming next and what is on screen
- quick find-as-you-type search for reacting to last-minute song changes
- incredibly easy to type in a new song or editing existing songs
- display notifications at the bottom of the screen
- 4 out of 5 stars, awesome product great for any size church with video enriched worship, but just a bit pricey.
Geek-Tweak: How to make your event look professional with a medium budget
- If you can afford it, buy a good wide-format printer that can consistently print large borderless signs without using way too much ink (sorry epson lovers, but canon wins on budget)
- I recommend a Canon Pixma Pro 9000, retails for $500, but you can pick up refurbished ones for around $300. A full set of ink is $90
- A 50 sheet pack of 13x19 photo paper (matte), less than $40 from CDW.
- Use free software, like Inkscape from inkscape.org to create a general design concept.
- Try to stick with a consistent background that can take on different shapes... patterns or random text work great
- add a few border elements, like a wavy or angled bar at the bottom with the event name
- put your ministry's logo or branding image somewhere visible, but not in the way
- settle on one or two core colors for the theme, check out http://kuler.adobe.com for ideas
- Take that general design concept and make 5 core templates
- Letter
- 13x19
- 4x3
- 6.5x7.5
- Use the letter template for table and door signs
- Use the 13x19 template for general info and signs to navigate/inform crowds
- Use the 4x3 template for name badges and put them in clear plastic clip-on sleeves. Avery 5392 badge paper works great for this. (Spring for simple thin lanyards if you can afford them)
- Use the 6.5x7.5 template to create "table tents"
- make one 6.5x7.5 sign
- copy it and rotate it 180 degrees
- put the new rotated copy on top of the original (so the top of the original touches the top of the rotated copy)
- copy that whole setup and put it next to the original
- center that on a 13x19" page and you've got 2 table tents ready to be cut and folded
- check the shownotes for a link to a free inkscape pattern for each of these!
- Definitely use an office-grade inkjet for the badges and letter signs, since printers like the HP OfficeJet Pro series usually cost less to print with than an old Laserjet 6.
- It sounds crazy complicated, but for around $200 you can print out some pro-quality signs, badges, and table-tents rather than paying a design company or local copy-shop much more.
- Looking like a professional event shows your attendees that you care, and adds a bit of authenticity.
- I've had a few people request badge re-prints on the last day of an event because they wanted a cleaner one to take home and keep for sentimental value.
- Looking professional doesn't mean paying for professionals, definitely look for good graphics designers and willing servants in your congregation!
View-Source: Breaking the Geeky Mold
- Work well with others!
- Psalm 133 is a description of how wonderful the Unity of the People of God is.
- Geeks are known for being loaners and anti-social, but God calls us to rely on each other!
- Find another geek, and start an accountability group.
- If you can't rely on someone to be there when you need them, common spiritual battles can become life-changing events (for the worse).
- It is okay to show emotions, they help those around us know what's going on inside.
- No matter who you have or don't have as a close friend you can rely on, God always has your back.
- God has fought the battle and won, we just need to join his side!
- In order to let God step in and help us in battle, we need a strong relationship with Him.
- We need to spend time daily with God in His word, praying throughout the day, and purposing to apply what he shares with us.
- John 15:9-17 tells us that we need to love each other if we claim to love Christ.
- God chose us, to have a relationship with us, and we need to respond in kind.
- We need to respond to God, and to those God loves (everyone!)
- Instead of behaving like a typical geek, hiding behind a monitor with a bottle of Bawls or Brain Toniq and some pinguin mints as our support system, we need to reach out to those around us, geek or non-geek, and share God's love and rely on each other.
- God clearly built us to be codependent in triune relationships containing God, ourselves, and others.
- Let's show the world how loving and Godly geeks can be!
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