Power Point & Projection

Last year for the first time, the Thursday worship service became the home of SFTS very own praise band and we began hearing the familiar strains of what popular usage has called "contemporary music" even though that is something of a misnomer. For many people it was exactly what worship at SFTS had been missing. To others it was an unwanted intrusion into our comfortable routine. As is often the case in churches contemporary music, or praise music as some call it, became a divisive debate in this community about what worship should be like.

This year we are introducing another element often seen in churches that call their worship "contemporary" - the overhead projector screen. From now on, Thursdays will be bulletin -free. We will all be getting used to looking up at the screen for the prompts and the lyrics to the next portion of worship. For some this will be a long overdue addition to our worship program. For others this will be an uncomfortable change. Like the music it has the potential to generate controversy.

As a Chaplain's Assistant, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of one very fundamental fact about worship - it's not about us. It's not about our preferences. It's not about our comfort. It's about God. It would be impossible for any worship team to design a worship program that exactly met everyone's needs and desires in every single worship gathering. Instead, we have a diversity of worshipping styles here at SFTS so that hopefully you will find times in chapel when the liturgy and form of worship speaks to you. But should you find yourself in a worship gathering of a style that is uncomfortable for you we encourage you to set aside your expectations of what worship means and be there for God.

The use of Power Point and Overhead Projection in churches is gaining in popularity because many people find it a meaningful way of expressing their worship. It has the advantage of encouraging us to look up from our laps and unite our voices and thoughts on the front of the sanctuary where the Cross is present.

I look forward, this year, to worshipping with you all - because no matter how the style of our worship may change, the object remains constant.

Aric Clark