Let There Be Light!
By: Stephen Arnold

What's the first thing we do when entering a dark room? We turn on a light.

It was the first step in God's creation (Genesis 1). Yet, lighting is one of the most overlooked and under-used facets of church worship. It's often the last item to be added to church budgets—be it for a production, the new building, or even maintenance—and the first to be cut. On paper, it seems superfluous, until the power goes out and everyone's scrambling for the bright red (and still-illuminated) exit sign.

How many times have you sat in a service and been able to hear the pastor, but it looks like he's standing in shadow? You can see the choir and soloist, but they all resemble Goth movie actors? Or it's your child's play, and you know he has a part, but where is that little guy?

Problems like these are easily solved. With the use of basic light fixtures and high-tech moving lights, no congregation needs to be left in the dark, especially given what is available today.

Tools of the Trade
Technology of any kind – especially if it's new to you – can be daunting. As a ministry professional, you need someone who understands both lighting technology and your ministerial needs.

Conventional fixtures are the basic units that are most commonly used for lighting. There are many different types of these, with many different uses and applications. It is important that the right fixture be used for the right application. A lighting systems designer, or integrator, can help you by specifying what fixture to use in each situation to give you the look you want, while avoiding distractions.

Dimming and control equipment is more than just the lighting board and dimmers. There are actually many important components that make up this part of a system. Whether it is DMX based, or a complex Ethernet system with many nodes, the path and placement of the data components is critical to smooth operation. The lighting console should be matched to the system, taking into account the system size, the skill levels of the staff operating it, and the future or special event needs of the church.

Intelligent, or moving, light fixtures are even more varied than conventional fixtures. It may seem easy to hang a number of moving lights over a stage area, but that doesn't guarantee you will get the effect you desire.

LED fixtures are relatively new, and they provide a tremendous number of color and effect options. However, they are very application specific. While one type will provide you with a beautiful wash of color, another can be used to highlight architectural elements.

Energy management systems are becoming more important with the rising costs of energy and the need to conserve. From occupancy sensors in restrooms that turn lights on and off when someone enters, to master control systems for classrooms and general areas, a building-wide energy management system is a great way to keep energy costs down.

Designing the control circuitry and coordinating the electrical install with the electrical contractor is a process that needs careful oversight and attention to detail. The heat load from the stage lights has to be taken into account, as it relates to your air conditioning system. Emergency battery backup for house lights may also need to be considered.

As a pastor or ministerial professional, you should not be expected to know and understand all of this. You have a church to lead, a ministry to plan and prepare, and that's where your time should be spent.

The best lighting integrator can make all that technology, from design to application, work for your ministry. Besides, with the pace that new equipment and technology are becoming available, you need a lighting professional who can understand your present needs, evaluate what you have, train your staff, and then work with you to enhance your ministry as it grows.

God's Design for the Worship Environment
When God established corporate worship with the construction of the Tabernacle (Exodus 36 – 39), He gave very specific parameters and instructions for the worship environment. Careful attention to detail was ordered by God and followed to the letter.

Color and texture were emphasized. Quality was paramount, and no expense was spared. Bronze, silver, fine linens, rare woods, and pure gold were used following guidelines given by God. He even anointed certain artisans and craftsmen to produce the specific items that were to be used. The lamp stand. Roof and wall curtains. Ceiling draperies. Dishes, spoons and bowls. Altars. Bases for wall support. The Holy of Holies, which held the Ark of the Covenant.

Over the centuries, the physical worship environment has changed, yet the goals remain the same: to enhance worship by creating the most perfect worship environment possible; to minimize distractions by focusing the worshipper on God, His holiness, and His plan. Lighting, when used effectively, can help do this and much more.

The Possibilities Are Endless
Proper lighting evokes an emotional response. Think candlelit dinners, unfamiliar dark hallways, and the first bright day of summer.

Add color and go a step further, like the ominous gray of storm clouds, the first hint of a rainbow, and moonlight.

Are you considering preaching a series on Heaven? Creative lighting can help you take the congregation there. The sapphire blue, emerald green, amethyst, and topaz gold around the throne in Revelation 21 can all be represented.

The best lighting is a conduit, a tool to help you take your congregation where you want them to go. It mimics the balance God designed in nature, and gives the audience an appreciation for it.

Are you planning a drama for a holiday or event? You can use lighting to frame where you want your audience to focus their attention, highlight sets, and create backgrounds. To help your congregation know where to look and for how long, then draw their eyes to the next important element of the presentation. Your audience shouldn't be searching for where they should focus. Show them.

Whether your goal is a dark and somber Good Friday service, a bright and happy Easter morning celebration, an ethereal and mysterious worship of God's attributes, or a quiet and intimate communion, your lighting objective is the same.

King David wrote, "For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness." (Psalm 18:28) Do you remember the spiritual impact, when God's light penetrated your personal darkness? You were never the same again. Once light, when used effectively, touches and enhances your ministry, it will never be the same either.

Customize It!
Lighting needs are universal. Everyone needs to see. Everyone, from the congregation to those on stage.

Every church facility has several venues. The main sanctuary has its own set of lighting needs. House lights, stage lights, back lights, options for theatrical or even concert lighting, and effects—all are critical.

Seeing the pulpit area is vital. If you can't see your pastor, or he looks unnatural, it can be a big distraction to the communication of the Word. And he's not the only one on stage. Your audience needs to see that entire area clearly, the choir, worship team, drama and solo areas.

Pastors want to connect with their congregations. Being unable to see his notes and the people he's speaking to is frustrating.

Access to the fixtures is a necessity. Limited access means limited flexibility and capability. If your technicians or volunteers can't reach them safely for both production and maintenance, then what you have can't be fully utilized.

Video screens are widely used to project both images and song lyrics, even Bible verses during the sermon. But, if there's too much light on the screen, the images are washed out and can't be seen clearly.

The children's church area has its own unique demands. Kids today expect more, and keeping their attention is vital. Twenty years ago, most children's ministry was limited to puppet stages, simple sets, or even flannel story boards. In today's children's worship environments, lighting needs to be colorful, energetic, and flexible. A properly designed, low-maintenance lighting system can be pre-programmed and operated by volunteers. That's one less thing on your children's pastor's to-do list.

Have you forgotten about your lobby area, prayer room or chapel? With the proper lighting, these sometimes overlooked areas can be better utilized for ministry.

Is a new building or expansion in your future? It is critical that your lighting needs not be an afterthought. Lighting design—from house lights to hallway lights, stage lights to spot lights—should be considered and discussed from the preliminary stages of building design.

Adding a system later may sound easy, but will the building support that additional weight? What about power? Sight lines? Is the ceiling too low, or will the ceiling design prohibit you from installing the fixtures you want later? An electrical contractor will install only what's on the plans. It's much easier and cost-effective to plan it right, build it right the first time, with the help of a lighting systems integrator.

Whether your sanctuary seats 200 or 2,000, investing the time to evaluate your current lighting system and your lighting needs will be time well spent. It can only benefit your ministry. And the return has eternal impact on the lives of those your ministry touches.

Stephen Arnold is a systems specialist with Candela Controls, Inc., www.candelacontrols.com, a lighting systems integrator in Winter Garden, Florida. He has more than 25 years of church and entertainment lighting experience.

Product Roundup

Technical Productions
Good lighting is no accident. It is unmistakable and intentional in every way. It allows any space to evoke feeling. Your venue is about delivering a message. Say it with good lighting design. It will be the some of the best money you spend, regardless of your budget. Technical Productions, Inc. offers the following advice to churches:
* Hire a company with experience in design and a proven track record for success
* Look at pictures of work they have done
* Check references
Well-designed lighting adds a powerful exclamation point to any message or ministry.
www.technicalproductions.com

Versa TUBE by Element Labs
Versa TUBE is a robust LED fixture that delivers limitless effects from vibrant patterns to subtle, organic color flows. It is a favorite among premier designers throughout the world who rely on Element Labs technology to illuminate:
* Media facades
* Film and television sets
* Touring stages
* Architectural treatments
Versa TUBE is available in two versions for interior applications: standard and HD. Element Labs, Inc. is an award-winning, global leader in innovative LED technology for entertainment, architectural and signage applications.
www.elementlabs.com

Alulite Stages and Choral Risers from Southern Aluminum
Alulite stages and choral risers have become a popular choice for churches across the country. Each stage deck is constructed of lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum, making it strong enough to hold more than 250 pounds per square foot. The lightweight feature allows each unit to easily be:
* Set up
* Taken down
* Moved among locations throughout the facilities
With an interchangeable leg system to adjust to various heights, the stage decks can accommodate various facilities and functions.
www.southernaluminum.com

Chauvet's COLORado 1
The COLORado 1, the latest addition to Chauvet's growing line of high-power LED illumination, features a sturdy die cast aluminum body with a total of 36 one-watt red, green and blue LEDs evenly distributed to create an 11.6-degree beam angle and a 24-degree field angle. The long expected life of the LEDs makes it ideal for permanent, hard-to-reach installations. The unit features:
* Light weight
* Compact profile
* Sturdy double yoke
* Portability
* Ease of setup and use
www.chauvetlighting.com

Ambia Collection by Manning
The Ambia Collection by Manning Lighting features six distinct new lighting product families featuring:
* Embedded textiles
* Papers
* Organic elements
* Other attractive elements
Manning Lighting has partnered with 3Form and Lumicor, manufacturers of high-performance resins, to create these new products. Each Ambia Collection product is available with any of 12 standard lens options, or a standard white, faux alabaster or white swirl acrylic.
www.manningltg.com

Road Hog Console by High End Systems
High End Systems is now shipping the newest member of the Wholehog family: the Road Hog, a new breed of lighting console designed for speed and affordability. Road Hog's simple and intuitive operations allow the following abilities related to lighting cues:
* Create
* Manage
* Edit
* Play back
Road Hog console 2048 DMX channels control, offering fast performance speed. Two internal touch screens display data and allow quick access to its many features.
www.highend.com

Choral Risers from StageRight
StageRight has made the easiest to set-up choral risers even easier—simply roll into place and unfold. The easy set-up of the FR-36 Choral Risers gives churches the flexibility to use them for practices and performances. The Alla Breve Music Shell is easy to handle and can be rolled into any room and quickly set-up to enhance sound. Sound is improved with better:
* Blend
* Mix
* Projection
Together, the FR-36 Choral Riser and Alla Breve Music Shell make performers and events look and sound better for performances of a lifetime.
www.stageright.com

Elation's COMPU1024EC Available at All Pro Sound
Elation Professional's new COMPU1024EC, now available from All Pro Sound, is the simple way to create spectacular lighting effects using a PC-based computer. The COMPU1024EC is a simple USB to DMX Interface that links a computer to the dimmer packs. The system features:
* CD-ROM bundled software for easy scene building like a pro
* Interfaces that control up to 512 DMX channels, with expandable option
* Easy access to colors and gobos, allowing creative onscreen effects
Additionally, the COMPU1024EC gives users a vivid display of scenes and shows, with the ability to name and rename all cues.
www.allprosound.com

Nexera by Wybron
Wybron's Nexera is a long-throw, tungsten source profile that is perfect for lighting and changing colors in church and house of worship applications. The Nexera offers rich colors and color temperature that works well with video taping. Color mixing is very smooth, extremely quiet and can be operated remotely. The Nexera provides the ability to change colors without the need for:
* Extra accessories
* Parts
* Multiple lamps
* Gel changers
www.wybron.com