Worship Planning Outline

February 8, 2003

 

Logistics (by Jim Giblin)

 

“Good plans shape good decisions. That's why good planning helps to make elusive dreams come true.”

Lester R. Bittel, The Nine Master Keys of Management

 

Every service requires preparation, management and clean-up, preferrably by one or more volunteers.  Below is a step-by-step list of set-up, sound-check, “during the service”, break down and closing procedures.  Before your service, BE PREPARED!  Know who your volunteers are, confirm their assistance, and thank them at the conclusion of the service.  Be aware of these procedures, and use the attached checklist to help you verify that everything is completed.

 

Set-Up (approximately 1 hour before service)

1.                  Upon entering the building, be sure that the front door is unlocked.  The door can be unlocked by sliding the bracket all the way towards the center of the door.

2.                  Enter the office (which should be unlocked upon your arrival), and obtain the master key set, located in the front of the second drawer of the file cabinet located next to the air conditioning unit.

3.                  On the long table across from the copier will be a basket with the Order of Service copies, the Joys and Concerns Journal and the Pastoral Care box.  Bring all of these into the Sanctuary.  Place the Order of Service basket on the far left hand side of the bookcase containing the hymnals.  Place the Joys and Concerns Journal and the Pastoral Care box on the long table in front of the kitchen.  Turn the journal to the first clean page and at the top write the date.  Be sure there is a pen in the Journal.

4.                  Unlock the Minister’s Office (the key is marked “Minister”).  Get the Chalice, which is located in the upper right side of the bookcase next to the window.  Bring the Chalice into the Sanctuary.

5.                  Turn on the lights to the entrance way to the Sanctuary.  The switch is located on the wall, above the book case, to the right.  Also, turn on the East lights, West lights, and stage lights.  These switches are located on the wall just to the right of the nametag wall.  Note that the East and West lights will take about 10 minutes to come on.

6.                  Unlock Harry’s Closet (located in the back of the Sanctuary to the right of the doors). From the second shelf, remove microphone number 4, the pair of scissors, the duct tape roll, and a blank audio tape.  From the third shelf, remove the basket containing the white candles (used for Joys and Concerns during the service), and the box of matches. Remove one cable set, which are hanging on the wall on the right side of the closet.

 

 

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7.                  Unlock the sound cabinet, immediately to the right of Harry’s Closet.  The key is a small gold key labelled “sound”. Replace the keys in the office.

8.                  Turn on the air conditioner.  The switch is located immediately to the right of the sound cabinet.

9.                  Be sure the candles are clean and free of loose wax.

10.              Be sure the Chalice has enough lamp oil (extra oil is located in the Minister’s Office, just above where the Chalice is kept).  The glass container where the oil is held should be about half full.  If it is not, fill the container to half full using the small plastic funnel, located in the white box stored in the Minister’s Office, directly next to where the Chalice is kept.  Clean off any stray candle wax or oil left on the Chalice.

11.              Unwrap the blank audio tape, and label it with the name of the service, the person doing the sermon, and the date.  Place the tape in the tape deck on the lower right of the sound system.

12.              Bring the Chalice, the basket of candles, the match box, the microphone and the cable to the front right portion of the platform.  Place the Chalice on the tall thin wooden platform.  Be sure the shorter wooden platform with the sand tray on it is directly in front of the taller platform.  Place the match box inside the tall thin wooden platform, and the candle basket to the left of the tall thin wooden platform.

13.              From behind the platform, on the right hand side, grab a microphone stand.  While on the side of the platform, flip the white switch on the wall.  This will turn on the Chalice stained glass window light.

14.              Place the microphone stand about 18” from the port labelled “#4” on the bottom right portion of the platform.  Place the microphone in the microphone stand holder. Wrap the cord a couple of times around the microphone stand, and then

15.              plug the female end of the cable into the back of the microphone, and the male end of the cable into the port labelled “#4”.  Place any extra cable slack onto the platform behind the fake potted plant.

16.              Tape down the balance of the cable to the carpet.  Cut the tape with the scissors.

17.              Using the matches, light the Chalice, making sure it does not sputter or smoke.  If it does, the wick may need to be trimmed or replaced.

18.              Check the podium, and be sure to remove any trash.

19.              Take the scissors and duct tape back to Harry’s Closet.  On the way, do a quick sweep of the rows of chairs, looking for any trash.  Replace the scissors and duct tape in Harry’s Closet.

 

Once you’ve completed set-up, it’s time for the sound check!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sound Check (approximately ½ hour before service)

1.                  Turn on the sound system.  The switch is located just below the sound cabinet.  The system is “on” when the red light is glowing.

2.                  A good sound check is usually done with two people, one on the microphones and one adjusting the sound system.  Chances are, however, you will be alone.  If so, simply speak into the podium microphone (labelled “#3) and the announcement microphone (labelled #4).  Note that the podium microphone is always on.  The announcement microphone needs to be turned on by flipping the switch on the top of the microphone.  The podium microphone is EXTREMELY SENSITIVE!  Keep your face at least six inches from this microphone.  Note how you sound (too loud or too soft).

3.                  At the sound cabinet, turn the white button under the microphone to be adjusted (also labelled as #3 or #4) to a more appropriate level.  There is also a MASTER level knob on the upper right of the sound system (labelled “MASTER”) that you can adjust if necessary.

4.                  Some services will require taped or CD music to be played.  Verify that the music given to you actually works by testing it.  Tapes to be played go into the middle right tape deck.  Press the “play” button on the middle right side of the deck to play the tape.  The CD player is on the left side of the tape deck.  Press the “play” button on the middle left side of the deck to play, or press the “>>” key to advance to the designated track.

5.                  Remind anyone participating in the service of the sensitivity of the podium microphone.

 

Take a breather before the service.  Use the bathroom BEFORE the service starts!

 

During the Service

1.                  Continually monitor sound levels, as different people will speak at different levels.  Particularly try to avoid the “popping p” syndrome!

2.                  At the point in the service where the sermon begins, press the “record” and “play” buttons at the same time on the tape deck where you placed the tape deck.  You are now recording the sermon!  Press “stop” at the end of the sermon, and then press “rewind”.  Remove the tape from the deck, and place it in the library in the wooden box near the door that holds tapes from previous services.

3.                  Remember to play any music given to you at the appropriate part of the service.  Follow directions under Sound Check, item #4, above.

 

At the end of the service, prepare to swing into action!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Break Down (immediately after service)

1.                  Immediately after the service, remove any tapes or CD’s from the sound system, and turn off the sound system.

2.                  Head to the platform, and unplug the cable from port #4 and from the microphone.  Discard the duct tape.  Wrap the cable and tie it with a twist tie.  Place the microphone stand behind the platform, and turn off the Chalice light switch.  Place the microphone next to the candle basket.

3.                  Place the white candles back into the basket, and put the match box on top of the candles.  Take the white candle basket, match box, microphone and Chalice to the back of the Sanctuary.  Place the white candle basket, match box and microphone back into their respective places in Harry’s Closet.  Return the Chalice to it’s place in the Minister’s Office.

4.                  Congregants will place Orders of Service back into the Order of Service basket for recycling.  Separate the Orders of Service from the blue covers and any inserts.  Blue covers are retained for the following week, along with any inserts that remain date relevant.

5.                  Bring the Joys and Concerns book, Pastoral Care box, and Order of Service basket with blue covers and any relevant inserts and replace them in the office.  Place the old Orders of Service in the box next to the copier.

6.                  Walk through the Sanctuary and pick up any hymnals, Orders of Service or trash.  Place hymnals back into the bookcase.  Return any materials on or behind the podium to their owner!

7.                  Obtain the master key set once again from the office, and lock Harry’s Closet and the sound cabinet.  Return the keys to the office.

 

Don’t forget to close up, if you are one of the last people out the door!

 

Closing (varies, approximately 1 ½ hours after service)

1.                  Most of time, closing will be done by someone who stays later.  However, there may be cases where you will need to secure the church.

2.                  Turn off all lights in the Sanctuary, as well as the air conditioning.

3.                  Be sure the sliding glass doors to the patio are closed and locked.

4.                  Close the office door.  Be sure it is locked.

5.                  Lock the front doors by sliding the bracket all the way to the outside of the door.  (Make sure you check both doors!)

6.                  Be sure the doors close behind you when you leave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:____________________________________

 

LOGISTICS CHECK LIST

 

 

Set-up

    Joys and Concerns Journal/Pastoral Care box out?

    Chalice , candles and match box in place?

    Announcement microphone in place?

 

Sound Check

    Any taped or CD music ready to be played?

    Sound levels adjusted?

 

During Service

    Sermon recorded?

 

Break Down

    Chalice, candles, match box, microphone returned?

    Joys and Concerns Journal/Pastoral Care box returned to office?

    Order of Service covers returned to office?

 

 

Closing

    All lights and air conditioner off?

    All doors locked?

 

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