Leading with Light: Four Ways to Use a Slide: Text

There are roughly four ways to use still imagery in worship: (1) Text, (2) Illustration, (3) Thematic Metaphor, and (4) Liturgical Sequence. There are also some video applications, like live video magnification, recorded segments, film excerpts, etc., but I'm talking about still images. In short, How do you use a PowerPoint slide in worship?

So let's take a look at using text to lead the act of worship.

Technically, text isn't an image, but typography can be used to convey more than the content of the words. The challenge is using the "non-verbals" of text to say more than the text itself does.

One simple way for the screen to help lead in liturgy is to vary the color, style, and position of simple text according to who is speaking.

If worship is a dialogue between God and his people, we can accentuate the exchange by having God’s words appear differently from the congregation’s words.

The Call to Worship, for instance, being God’s call to us to be gathered in his name, might appear in the upper left with white text. The song of praise that often follows is our joyful response to his invitation. That response might appear right-justified and in the lower corner, using yellow text.

It’s a subtle difference, but one that reinforces the very structure of worship and guides the congregation’s role in it. Other aspects—color, font, simple shapes—could be used to walk the congregation through liturgy as well.

Another example might be using colored backgrounds that match the liturgical season. They don't have to be bright colors, but they should be thoughtful colors. The whole point here is to use simple text tools to demonstrate what the congregation is doing in worship.

The limitation of plain text, however, is that it does not use the full visual potential of the screen. It seems a shame to have all the technology of a digital screen but project only text. A photocopier and overhead projector could achieve that much with much less cost and effort.

Even so, even plain text and solid backgrounds can be sophisitcated enough to lead the congregation in their act of worhip.

Stance

The “Stance” sequence shows how a single visual element changes as the worship service unfolds. The mannequin, representing our posture before God, changes positions as the congregation’s liturgical task changes. This sequence also intentionally leaves space for text, but can also serve as a plain banner. These images are courtesy of Jubilee Fellowship Christian Reformed Church in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Kids' Mosaics

The “Kids’ Mosaics” sequence is an example of found art. Children in the congregation had earlier created paintings and paper mosaics during Lent. Several of these were selected and organized to follow the liturgical pattern. They were photographed under even light and cropped. This sequence of photographs became a congregational favorite. These images are courtesy of Jubilee Fellowship Christian Reformed Church in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Globe & Cross

The “Globe and Cross” Liturgical Sequence is good example of a composite image that builds as the service progresses. Beginning with a nearly blank screen, elements are added to the image at each stage until reaching a final, full image. The images are either darkened or lightened when used as a background, allowing the overlay of white or black text.

Renewed on the Journey

This Liturgical Sequence was developed for the opening worship of a regional worship conference. The theme was "As people of faith on a journey, we come to be renewed in God's strength." The first four images were the basic backgrounds used. They were designed to follow the major movements of the service. The rest of the images show how the backgrounds were used with text overlaid. Note that the text varies in position and color, depending on whether the words were God's words to the congregation, or the congregation's words in response to God.

Kids' Paintings

The “Kids’ Paintings” sequence is an example of found art. Children in the congregation had earlier created paintings and paper mosaics during Lent. Several of these were selected and organized to follow the liturgical pattern. They were photographed under even light and cropped. These sequences of photographs became a congregational favorite. These images are courtesy of Jubilee Fellowship Christian Reformed Church in St. Catharines, Ontario.