Since the number of our Churches where video recordings are made of the services instead of or rather in addition to the  audio cassette system is increasing, I would like to share some of our local experiences with you.

            First of all, we should not have any hang-ups over whether the Video medium could be used. We do not quit taking family pictures because Playboy or any other scum magazine abuses the wonderful invention of photography. Or throw the radio out of the house because of the rock music stations. You really don't need a TV set to watch a video tape. There are sets available without a tuner and they are called monitors. And most VCR's (video tape recorders) do now have in- and output connectors that by-pass the tuner.

            In Ebenezer Church in Burlington, the video system was donated to us about 4 years ago. Our audio system is manned during the services to assure that the proper microphone is switched on during singing to avoid the minister becoming the soloist!  It may be a good idea to borrow a cassette to listen to this.  After all, a minister likes to sing too!   But we switch during to singing to another microphone that picks up the congregational singing and the organ.  And the operator, who controls the system inside (in the back of) the Church, can make the required level adjustments for the speaker system and the various recorders linked up to the amplifier/mixer. In addition we have live audio via a telephone line to the local 62 unit Maranatha Home.  The 4 volunteer operators are scheduled to assure that  everything functions properly. This should not be left up to one man, and never automatically given to the caretaker.

            So, when the video came in, this became not a very big deal for the operator. He is there anyway.  When our new Church was built after we lost our building in a fire, provisions for conduit were made for a sound- and video system, for speaker- and microphone locations. We have conduit running to the back wall and to one side wall to accommodate 2 video cameras, and started out with one camera on the rear wall (opposite the pulpit). It is mounted about 10 feet high, and is remote controlled by the operator. For the church services we use two positions: A wide angle one during the singing, and a telephoto for the pulpit and minister during the preaching, etc. We do not "pan", or swing the camera left or right. And the only members in the pew shown during the singing are the first 7 rows, and their backs only.  When the sermon starts, the operator does not have to "work" any more, and can listen to the sermon in a relaxed way.   Although we have provisions for a second camera, I do not really see the need of it for our church services.  After all, none of the church members move around during the service. They sit down, and see the congregation and the minister only from his or her pew. And a one camera system does exactly the same.   There is no need to make a "production" out of it. The key is to keep it simple, but of good quality.

            Over the last four yours we made some adjustments. Most importantly, there is the lighting of the pulpit area. I have been in churches, where the pulpit location is dark and drab. Mind you, the background is made of nice hardwood, but nobody wants to cover it with a coat of light paint!  So, you sit there and keep looking at a dark hole with a small spotlight trained on the minister.  But if we want to make a good video tape for our senior citizen homes, or nursing home, and most importantly for the sick and shut-ins in our own congregation, we must consider the quality aspect.  In Ebenezer, where we do have a light pulpit background, we installed an extra 2 narrow flood 75 watts halogen spotlights, and when that was not sufficient, we added some track with another 2 lights. These are now about 3 feet apart on a straight track. Our video recording has improved, it gives the minister a bit lighter on his papers, and the pulpit has become the "focal point" in the church auditorium, as it should be.

            We have a brother who looks after the distribution of video- and audio tapes during the first week to the sick and shut-ins, and then turns them over to our library where they are kept on file for a minimum of 6 months. The video tapes are borrowed extensively for various purposes.  Maranatha Homes uses our video sermons every Wednesday evening for every apartment, and at least half the residents watch regularly.

            A final note: All equipment needs regular service. The camera needs dusting, the lens cleaning. The recording heads must be kept clean. And please, don't use cheap tape from a department store. Buy brand names like Sony or Fuji, and you save your equipment on the long run.      And before you re-use a recycled cassette, use a high power tape eraser. You will get a better recording on a blank tape.  Bear in mind that the VHS mode is only used because of consumer acceptance. It has a very low resolution, so we need all the help we can get to enable our sick and shut-in members to feel that they áre part of  the congregation  when they view and listen to the tape.    I hope that I have been of some help to our readers, and if anyone has any questions about this subject, please contact me at 2212 Headon Rd., Burlington, ON  L7M 3W7