Images have power. They can convey the equivalent of a thousand words. They can convey emotion, as in a picture of a young child looking lost. Then can convey love, as in the mother who has just found that lost child. They have this power because they evoke a response within us. That is perhaps why a great movie can bring us to tears. It can leave us with a powerful image of just about anything, if well crafted. How do we use this power of the image? In the Greek Orthodox tradition, images have 3 dimensions. They aren’t just paintings, but sculptures. They look like real life, and they thus have power. We may be limited to two dimensions – i.e. for the present – but we can still leverage the power of images to convey the Gospel in new ways. That means seeking out new images to show. It means trying different approaches. Some will be effective; others will not. But the Gospel message has always been known for breaking out. Remember the words of Jesus, “even the stones will cry out.”

How many screens do you use in your worship space? Can you have too many? Remember the reason for the screens or IMAG is to enable people to worship more effectively. For the person on the last row of the balcony, this may be the only way that they can get a clear view of the preacher. For the congregation, this may be the best way to present lyrics for the praise songs. One idea is to reflect the seating layout. You want everyone, no matter where they are sitting, to be able to see clearly. If this is not the case, then you need to add a screen so that it is. Some sanctuaries have a single big screen. Others have 3 or more screens placed strategically around the sanctuary worship space. Take a brief walk around the sanctuary. Can you see from every seat? You might be surprised at what you find! Your comments are welcome.

Which is better for the video projection of lyrics, a moving background or a beautiful color? There is a technical challenge with producing an image of the lyrics that has movement on the screen. While many video switchers have the capability to key an image over a specific color – e.g. dark blue – it can be difficult to put a moving image up. Some presentation software (see our review entitled “Presentation Software Review”) makes this a bit easier to generate. However, does movement add to the worship experience, or detract from it?

Some people find movement distracting – especially if the words blend into a background of the same color. Others find it easier to pay attention to the slides if there is movement behind the words. Feel free to share your comments on this question. It seems likely that larger Churches have an easier time generating moving images, and perhaps they also have more of a demand for this feature.