iworship streamed live on an iphone and the U2Charist - What Next?
My colleague Neil MacLennan who heads up Sanctus Media the production company that has grown out of the ministry here in St Andrew's Bo'ness has worked his magic yet again and has figured out a way to allow our weekly streamed service to now be streamed on an iphone or an ipad. How cool is that? We recon we must be one of the first churches in the UK to be doing this perhaps in the world who knows?
Anyway we think it is another groundbreaking move that will allow people to follow worship live in nursing homes, public transport and even on the golf course and why not? When streaming live onto the iPad everything is available at the click of a button the golf course might be a bit far fetched but the bus and the nursing home is a real possibility
Recently we've been developing within our services the opportunity for worshippers to contribute to worship using the text facility on their phones. Its actually a fantastic way to let people contribute to the prayers of intercession. It is also an interesting way to engage with the congregation interactively through preaching from the text. Only the text is the text message that has appeared on the screen in the sanctuary.
I believe there is an interesting opportunity for ministers to begin to explore how we can best utilise technology. Changing worshippers from consumers to producers is what worship is all about. Its about thinking about what I bring to church not what I get from church. I'm sure we will have an intetresting debate on the issue. Some will think what I'm talking about is a gimmick, but its not its a real opportunity to empower the worshippers. Its about engaging liturgy into everyday life. Its actually very Orthodox to talk of liturgy in this way.
Neil tried out the technology last weekend, and he was able to sit in his car on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and watch the morning service live. This also means that if he had wanted he could have sent his contribution for prayer via the iphone and it would have appeared on the screen at the front of the church. He tells me to make it clear he was not drivng at the time.
For those of the congregation and friends who don't have iphones or ipads I believe Neil also plans to try streaming services live onto Blackberries, Google Androids and Nokia phones in the not too distant future so watch this space.
One other thing most of you guys know that I'm a bit of a U2 fan well I think its about time we had a U2charist here in Scotland. This is a Communion Service that uses U2 songs as part of the worship and praise. I believe these worship events have been taking place now for a few years all around the world but from what I can gather non in Scotland. So I thought we could develop a really cool service using U2 tunes using iphones and ipads then podcast it on itunes.
So what do you guys think. I've come across a web page worth looking at which gives all kinds of hints and ideas to help organise such an event. Have a look at U2charist resources I'd love to hear what some of you think. We could perhaps start our next Sanctuary First with a U2Charist or should we aim to put on a bigger event in one of the Cathedrals? I waiting on a text or an email but at least a comment
Posted By: michelle mcadoo On: 15 Jun 2010 At: 9:58pm
well now that bono has some time off with his bad back maybe he would be up for a live show! could offer prayer for healing, but seriously brilliant idea, saving for an ipad n now have extra motivation. boness really is a wee bit of heaven, a river of spirit in a dry land! well done folks for yet again inspiring and challenging the rest of us