Countdown to VW2010

Happy New Year

Can't believe 2009 is coming to an end in just a few hours here in the Midwest.

It has been a full and interesting year for me, the family and work. Much of which has kept me so busy that I haven't taken the time to blog. There has been some low points, high points, some rough times and some great moments. All of which brought me closer to today.

And today, I hope for a happier new year. I look forward to see what God has for us in the next 365 days of 2010...the low points, high points, some rough times and many more great moments. All of which God is faithful to bring us through as He has some many years of past.

So, here is to another HAPPY New Year.

Visual Worship 2010

You ever get something in your head or heart and it won't let ya go? You do what you can to research and learn more about that topic…and you keep learning and discovering? That is what this whole 'Visual Worship' conversation is doing to me. I was captured many years ago and have explored and experimented in Visual Worship along my journey.

Recently, I've joined leaders like Stephen Proctor and Camron Ware in conversations on the topic. I think we keep discovering the more we learn the more we need to learn. More recently, while attending the Dirt Conference, the conversation continued with some great thinkers and doers in like Sally Morgenthaler, Camron, Stephen, Brad Weston and Daley Hake. But this is a larger discussion than forty five minutes will honor. I wanted to spend a few more hours in the conversation.

So, here is your invitation to enter the conversation @ Visual Worship 2010.

- When is it? // January 14th, 2010

- Where is it? // St. Louis, MO @ Windsor Crossing Community Church

- Does it cost anything? // Yes. And only $25.

- Where can I register & get more information? // VisualWorship2010.com

- What can I expect to get out of this event? // This is not a "conference", so it won't follow any format like one. Most of the day will be an open dialogue where all are invited to participate. There will be structure, but it will be informal and designed to flow freely. With a bunch of creative-techs in the room, I'm sure we'll cover topics on technology and gear. But this isn't a "tech" event…there aren't going to be any training sessions on software (though we might be using/demonstrating certain softwares throughout the day). We will definitely talk about ways that all of us have implemented technology throughout the year, such as VJ-ing, Environmental Projection, creating atmosphere, new content ideas, etc. But in the midst of touching on the "whats" & "hows", our priority will be on the "why". We hope to get into some deep & possibly controversial conversations on our philosophies of visual worship, theology, current Church culture, building stronger relationships, and ways to be more effective visual worship leaders. Hopefully through this experience we will draw closer to each other & to Jesus, to whom this is all for in the first place.

Some other questions you might ask:

- Q. I love a philosophical discussion just like the next guy, but I still have some questions about "gear". Will there be any time or place to have my questions answered? // A. Yes! While we don't claim to have all the answers, we most definitely want to help you along your journey. Since everyone's questions & situations are unique, we probably won't address these in the large group setting. But there will be time during the day for individual conversations, no matter the topic. And if that's not enough, then you'll leave with everyone's contact info.

- Q. Whoa! This event is just around the corner! I would love to come but it's too short of a notice. Will there be more gatherings like this in the future? // A. Yes. But we don't know when yet. Hopefully a few of these will take place in 2010, and not just in the St. Louis area either. Watch this blog & the Events page for upcoming Roundtables.

- Q. Will this be a large event? // A. My guess is no. And we're fine with that. In fact, a smaller, more intimate setting will allow for more voices to be heard and for more flexibility in our conversations. But the more, the merrier, too! Numbers aren't our focus…growing deeper in our understanding of visual worship IS. This will be an epic day, even if there are 8 of us (and there will be at least that many!)

Fenton ... finished

A panaramic view of the main room at the Windsor Crossing Fenton campus. This angle does not compliment the size or detail of the room but gives you an idea. Picture taken during service run through on November 8th. Great design, nice acoustics, good tech systems and great people... @wcrossingFenton.

Fenton Update

A panoramic view of the progress happening at the new Windsor Crossing Fenton campus. Peek real hard and you will see the loudspeakers hanging over the stage with plastic around them. The booth on the left side of the picture will be where Front of House is located.

form vs. function

I posted about this a few weeks ago, Authentic worship production...saying that it seems we are at the beginning of another shift in church technology. The cause of this shift stems for the desire in churches across the country to move from production focused to authenticity based experiences in their services. That doesn’t mean that the production aspect is less quality, it just becomes less showy or ‘ta-da’ and more solid in expressing that authenticity. In other words, we are moving away from form and back to function.

Ben Arment at his blog www.benarment.com blogged about Creative Revearsal.....atleast for a season. It is a thought provoking post along with some great comments from his readers.

It seems that this 'shift' I was blogging about earlier continues to move forward. We desire to move beyond the form of our worship and get to the basic function of our worship. Form will engage all of us at some level. Function will fill that void that all of us long for. Sometimes getting it all out of the way so you and God can commune is what you have to do......

Now, dont be fooled. I am a full time technical director for a local church. Technology and the weekend experience is what I get paid to do. Creating engaging enviorments through the use of tech and media that others can connect with God and others is a passion. I guess all I am saying is we can't be so tied to one form and realize that striping all the gear and video away is a form all it's own.

Can You Feel It

From the weekend services at Windsor Crossing...the team doing david crowder band's Can You Feel It



and as always...audio is just a board feed....not as good as the mix live!

Check out the handycam view that was in the room as well