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	July 2003
		Gear up for Worship by Paul Reader
			Inspired by the multimedia presentations and worship support during synod? I was! If so, support Chris Thiele's seminar in late July and, before rushing out to acquire all the bits and pieces, consider some of the following options. Hardware The data projector will be your most expensive and long lasting item. Determine any expected uses and operating conditions then get the best your budget will allow. Computer choice can be more flexible, depending on your choice of software. Even a pre-loved 166MHz Pentium, suitably configured, may suffice until the budget allows for more. Software 'Ubiquitous' and 'pervasive' are terms I often hear describing MS PowerPoint: serviceable business presentation software well suited to supporting sermons. If you already have a fully licensed copy for your 'in church' computer then stick with it: if not 'think twice'. Alternatives from Lotus, Corel, Kai or Harvard Graphics may suit you better. Open Office (PC only), available free, includes compatible presentation software. For spontaneous worship, as St Thomas's often is, all these packages lack flexibility. Requirements Try an internet search for the phrase 'worship software' and some interesting possibilities emerge. At least a dozen 'dedicated' packages exist to support flexible worship, ranging in cost from free (ZionWorx or Lyrics) to over $600US (Worship Him). Hardware requirements vary too, from the 166MHz Pentium (Lyrics, Snap Projection) to over 400MHz (ZionWorx or Worship Him) Common (but not universal) features include: comprehensive song lists; ability to run PowerPoint files; and Bible passage and liturgy retrieval. Most offer free evaluations you can use without needing a projector - try them out! Regardless of features, they all free you from the need for that second PowerPoint licence. More discussion For more discussion visit www.AusITHelp.com or search groups.yahoo.au for 'worship software'. As the subject is far broader than a short article allows, I have added references to resources on the internet. The AusITHelp web page has a small extension of discussion and links to a variety of other resources. I don't want to re-write what is already available. The Yahoo group is simply a convenient forum for sharing information. Paul Reader belongs to St Thomas', Howrah (worship@ausithelp.com)