Good lighting is often taken for granted. Lighting sets the mood for a room, whether it's the bright sunshine of late spring or somber tones of early winter.

Church lighting should enhance the natural surroundings and make it easy for members of your church to easily read and follow along with services.

When you are investing in a lighting system, you need to examine your varying needs and what might be appropriate for each of them.

What types of events are held in your facility?
For daytime and nighttime events, remember that holding events at night often requires more lighting.

During the summertime and winter, consider how the natural light your church receives will vary over the course of the year.

For celebrations such as confirmations and weddings, special lighting may be needed for dramatic or romantic effects.

During memorial services, warm, muted, non-fluorescent lighting will give guests a sense of comfort.

When having events for younger members of the church, bright "party-style" lights may contribute to your youngsters' enthusiasm.

For job fairs or other community events, bright white light lends an atmosphere of professionalism.

When considering Sunday school and study classes, remember that, as with any classroom, proper lighting is essential for reading, writing, and attentive students.

To decorate for holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and Harvest festivals, strings of seasonal lights and lights in colors appropriate to holidays will help your congregation celebrate.

What are some other considerations?
Consider also the color of the lighting. White tones may convey a feeling of purity, gold suggests power, red may convey a sinful feeling, and blue may inspire reflection and calmness.

Also consider energy efficiency when you're purchasing lighting. Today it's possible to purchase compact fluorescent bulbs, which are twisted light bulbs that look like an ice cream cone. These have the lifespan of five or six regular light bulbs.

Since it can be difficult to reach high church ceilings, you may want to invest in these long-life bulbs, as they are often a cost-effective and time-efficient purchase.

What are some high-tech options?
If you have the budget, consider investing in a lighting system with a remote control that allows you to save settings for different kinds of services.

With a system of this kind, it's possible to create a Sunday morning service lighting arrangement, save it, and then switch easily to a different Saturday or Sunday evening service lighting scheme.

The lighting can also be changed on the fly during sermons, creating dramatic, inspirational effects for your congregation. This allows your church to provide a sophisticated experience like a theater.

What are other ways to use lighting with the church?
Use lighting in unexpected ways. The basis of the word "illuminate" is to bring light to a subject. How can you use lighting in your church to bring a new perspective on a topic being discussed?

Remember that lighting can be festive. And, it doesn't have to be expensive. Paper lanterns or fabric may change the color of light and mood of the room entirely.

During the holidays, you might provide a light show to music. You may choose to use candles, but be careful with fire hazards and don't give candles to children.

Remember to be mindful of fire safety! Always consult the usage guidelines for lanterns and other festive lighting products.

Also be sure to light to illuminate the signs or glass in your church. Is it easy to see your sign from the road, even on a rainy day or at night? Is it clear where to park, or how to exit in a power failure? In a pinch, portable inexpensive lights may be a good investment. Don't forget to stock flashlights, too, for unexpected power outages.

Diana Wynne is an author for FaithClipart.com, a Web site that provides Christian imagery and resources to the global Christian community.