| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
| |
Secrets of our new Sanctuary
|
|
Our new layout is a fresh start for us as we look to grow and have greater impact. Our aim is “Transforming Lives, Families and Communities Through Christ-Centred Relationships”. A modern, workable facility is a tool to assist us in that process.
One of the philosophies employed in planning for new things is the realisation that we do not have much professional experience in running top class events, such as event organisers would have. So, to help us get it right despite our limitations, we have sought to make getting it right “easy”. If we have the right tools at our disposal then the jobs become easier to do. In designing the new layout we did several things to make worship more effective and to make it easy for us to “get it right”. You may have noticed several of them, but if not, take a good look next time you are in the building. Here are a few of the “secrets” of our design.
Noise reduction.
One of our on-going problems is that of neighbours’ complaints regarding noise from our services. In the old layout we needed to amplify sound all the way from the front to the back. By turning the building around we only have to amplify the signal about half the distance, hence reducing noise levels. And notice too, the speakers are now facing west (toward the YWAM car-park) so sound from the Service is being sent away from our closest neighbours, not towards them.
A BIG white wall.
Rather than having expensive screens and high tech and costly fittings to the stage area we have opted for a large area of white wall. This wall, behind the preacher, becomes a huge projection screen. We can project images from our video projector, as well as lighting effects, to support the messages and the worship experience. The neutral colour means that we can change our décor every few months without having to repaint the wall each time.
Hidden fold-back speakers.
When those on stage eg. our song leaders, singers and preachers, use a microphone, they need to hear how they sound. This is called “fold-back” (feed-back is when a speaker box makes a squealing noise). Normally fold-back is achieved by having low speakers on the stage at the feet of the people singing or speaking, as we have had on our previous stage for many years. In designing our new stage we have placed these fold-back speakers under the platform, with open grills over them to allow the sound out. Now we have a fairly compact stage that is not cluttered with these fold-back speakers.The only down-side of this clever arrangement is that ladies with high heels will need to be careful when walking over the grills.
Using the BACK WALL.
To help our preachers, song leaders and singers do their job better, we now use the back wall, behind the sound desk, as a screen for the song words and the preacher’s power-point slides. This saves them having to turn around to read what the audience is seeing, be it song or preaching power points. And preachers can now use a hand-held remote control to change their power-point slides.
Themes.
To help us all remember what we are learning and keep track of what God is doing among us we are keeping to clearly defined themes for two months at a time. The interior décor and theme images on the screens and printed material are meant to help Pastor Roland and our other preachers to more effectively build an understanding and make an impact in our lives. By changing the theme every few months we bring a refreshing, but then by keeping to a theme for another two months we build a more solid foundation in people’s lives.
Vision Mixing.
Our old library room, tucked away in the north-west corner, near the northern exit, has been converted into a video control room. Here the images from our cameras are selected so the best image is projected to the screens. In the future we will be able to make DVD masters of our messages and thus expand the impact of our preachers and the ministry of our church.
Ushers with head-sets.
To make sure people can be comfortably accommodated our head ushers now have use of walkie-talkie head-sets. If someone needs help, if extra chairs need to be put out or if something has to be organised quickly, we are now able to do it with minimal disruption. We are also using head-sets for the camera operators, so they can be given instructions about what to film.
All of these work together to help us become better at what we do. We want to display a spirit of excellence. We also want the organisational things to be achieved easily so that the important matters of being touched by God, allowing for the moving of God’s Holy Spirit and being attentive to the needs of people can be done with the greatest efficiency and effectiveness. If you can see some way to improve what we are doing please let us know. If you are not sure who to approach, bring them up with your cell leaders and they will pass the word along. Meanwhile, we trust that you enjoy the effect of these design secrets. May your experience of worshipping with us be all the richer as we lift the bar and learn these new skills.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
