...but the Spirit only speaks to me on Saturday night.

[The MO Guys]

The stories have been told too many times to count. It's the last minute, and the pastor or music director comes in and says, "Here are my notes (or the song lyrics). Can you do something with them?" Of course there is no time to react or do anything creative. (We have identified some suggestions for getting around the pre-planning problem here.)

When this happens, what potential there is to use the screen to further tell the story has been sucked away by the vacuum of procrastination (or we could blame it on the Spirit too ).

How do you move from a last minute mentality, to a plan ahead mentality? That's a good question. We hope to use this forum to answer it, with success stories from people in the trenches. If you have a story to tell that would help another, create a new topic on the subject.

[GregB]

My pastorial team consists of (1) Senior Pastor...coming around to getting my notes to me earlier and earlier. My creating text for graphics in Photoshop vs. powerpoint has helped in creating a timeline for getting a finished product that looks much better than the powerpoint could ever look has gotten him enthusiastic about helping me out. (2) Associate Pastor #1...A gifted artist who insists on playing a role in the creative process of his own graphics/etc.. Always gives me plenty of time to work up video/music/graphics/logo's etc. perfectionist but challenges me to be the best I can be. Love working with him. (3) Associate Pastor #3...Youngest and newest grad from Seminary who will make last minute changes right up to service time but a wonderful joy to be around, quite creative as well. Hasn't quite bought in to the photoshop deadline thing.
I would love suggestions for convincing the entire staff of the need for creative planning team. Individually, all agree, but an unwilling worship leader has held up progress in establishing the team. What works?

Get a new worship leader. Anyone not willing to work with or on a team has no business in a leadership position in the church.

[Carl Godsoe]

Team?: I'm it!

Worship Leader: I get Sunday's program usually on Tuesday evening. He sometimes pushes it till later in the week, but not very often. But when he does, it throws my schedule all out of whack, but it's just something I have to live with.

Pastor: I get the info for the sermon notes Saturday night or Sunday early morning. By agreement with the pastor, all he wants is a simple outline with scripture references, so that has not been a problem, usually takes 15-20 minutes to prepare, and I allow for that.

[Keithwah1960]

Are we not Christian enough to forgive our Pastors and Music Leaders that procrastinate? Saying they have no business in a Church leadership position may be somewhat extreme. In the professional business world, I would tend to agree. But in the place where forgiveness is paramount to the operation, I think someone is being a bit too harsh.

Perhaps those individuals have plenty of other stregnths that make up for the inconveniences. Perhaps printing a copy of this thread out and leaving it on the offesnding Pastor/Music Leader's desk might be useful as well.

Carry on!

[SlideTech]

Good morning! This seems this is a good place to get a bit of sympathy (or at least vent).

You folks get a copy of the sermon? That has never happened. I'd be happy with the topic, scripture, and a few main points so I might have some ideas by the Thur night praise team practice. Too often, the challenge is simply to get the song lyrics to match what the guys end up singing that Sunday!

For the most part, I've been able to move away from simply matching images to songs by trying to figure out a unifying metaphor for the sermon topic, and building (okay - modifying) a base graphic. That requires brainstorming ideas and time. I firmly believe it is value added - if done with forethought. The pastor generally likes what I come up with but I am not a creative person. I would love to get folks to tie in other elements as was discussed in a creative worship DVD seminar, but the lack of worship planning is extremely frustrating. The pastor went to a creative worship conference in Orlando but I have doubts whether the orange will be made into juice .

We actually had a creative planning session hoping to begin a 5-6 week series (which initially the pastor wanted to begin in 10 days). The idea was to create a "buzz," get announcements in local shops, on facebook, the web site, etc so that we might get the non-church goers in the area interested. As the churches "devil's advocate," I cast doubt the wisdom of starting that soon. Now, it's 2 1/2 weeks later. I've suggested/produced/emailed out the draft graphics for posters/handbills/web site, and suggested elements for a promo video to the group. [insert sounds of crickets]

I've approached the pastor & the PT worship leader numerous times and nothing seems to change. I feel like I'm beating a dead horse.

So, how do you deal with that? Should I be a pain and start hounding the pastor beginning on Monday morning with lighthearted emails? Limit my efforts to simple song backgrounds and the bible reading which is what they did previously? Bear my cross (so to speak)? Quit? BTW, no one else has stepped forward to help & there is only me & a guy who sometimes runs Media Shout at one service.

As a retired military guy, this has been frustrating beyond belief. And worse, at times it seems to be impacting my desire to serve. Prayers, thoughts, & commisuration would be appreciated!

- Slide Tech

[Keithwah1960]

Slide,
I do understand the frustration level. I have employers that have done that sort of thing as well. I would have quit, but it was my livelihood.

In your case, as an unpaid volunteer, you have it much easier. I would let them know that if they don't allow you ample time to prepare, you will not run that last second presentation no matter how it affects the service. What are they going to do? Fire you? Replace you? It seems like they have no one else to do it but you. Doing so may let the congregation know that Pastor is not living up to his end of things by virtue of not running presentation video unless it fits into your personal schedule may be the way to shame the situation into correction. Remember, telling Pastor you will not inconvenience yourself further does not mean you are heading straight to H-E-Double Hockey Sticks. Your personal worship time is more important that being a techie for your Church. Do not let video overcome worship, that is not what video is meant for. I know easier said than done. I am a professional audio video designer/engineer, and I wouldn't tell the powers to be at my Church what I do for a living in a million years. I go to worship for my personal relationship with the Lord, not everyone elses. I have been taken advantage of by my personal Churches in the past which has caused me to look elsewhere to worship. I now keep my yap shut and enjoy my Sunday mornings so much more. And with the discpline that is certainly instilled in a retired military man, it is very difficult dealing with unorganized flighty people with no regard for your personal time investment.

And as I mentioned above, forgive your Pastors for being inconsiderate and let them know you prefer to not be involved with production work at your Church for the time being as the frustration they add to your personal worship creates an un-Christian atmosphere in your life.

Best of luck!

[[Admin] danroth]

I'm going to get myself in a LOT of trouble here, but I think there can be two ways of preparing - and you run into lots of trouble when you try to mix people who strongly prefer one way or the other.

One way of preparing is like a classical orchestra - everything laid out well in advance, and well-practiced. The other is like a jazz ensamble - having an idea and tons and tons of experience and resources, but doing a great deal of improvising as you go along.

Certain ways of using media in worship are more like that classical orchestra - advanced notice and organized preparation are essential. Others are more like that jazz ensemble - they require being ready to go on an extended improv.

Sometimes when you mix classical and jazz you get a train wreck. Sometimes you get something amazing and new. You have to discover whether your differences with your pastor lead to the former or the latter.

All of that said, this analogy must NEVER be an excuse for lack of preparation or for disorganization - which it too often is.

[SlideTech]

I think that much of the frustration I feel (& perhaps that of others) isn't the time crunch, it is the missed opportunity to add an element to the worship experience or to the understanding of the message. As a non-professional, it simply takes me longer on my own. Add in a non-artsy personality and no planning so that ideas can run up the flagpole/thrown against the wall for discussion or validation, then it seems like I'm fighting windmills (and mixing metaphors/literary reference in the same sentence).

danroth - You've hit upon one of those areas used by organizational behavorists. One's personality type characteristics impact how they perceive a situation or approach a problem, and how they communicate. I'm pretty sure that I am the polar opposite of my pastor, hence the conflict.

Hmm. Recognizing the problem is the first step....

Appreciate all the thoughts. - SlideTech

[dburke]

I call it the "wing it" mentality. My church is a wing-it culture. Slight wonder it's so small, other recent issues too... I do my best, well received, but it's kind of frustrating. It could be better if communication was better and preparation. That said last week was awesome with the worship leader wife out(sick). Husband(guitar) and keyboard only, I said go with the flow and it was awesome. He happens to be an awesome musician and can improvise spectacularly.

[[Admin] osborn4]

I know that knowing my craft as projectionist and having the right tools to "go with the flow" really does help in the pinch and I'm glad I can do it. Worship can really work well that way.

But for the sermon, I really like to be able to develop a graphic set and graphic illustrations to help drive points home. But not chart the talk so tightly that it restricts the speaker. If I have a title slide, I can always dump to that.

[pdc]

I have done all of it, working three quarters out, night before and day of.

The production suffers with the day before and day of stuff, because there is less time for customization. People see that lame garbage and wonder why they are paying someone for what they see in meetings at work.

I used to have libraires of templates to build from. There were many services that I was typing ahead of the pastor and sometimes on the fly in SSP v2. What a train wreck that was.