The Audio Visual Ministry

of The Chapel in North Canton

The Audio Visual Ministry of The Chapel in North Canton is an important function during worship services and other events held in the Main Sanctuary, Family Life Center and Youth Building. We are always looking for members or regular attenders willing to serve in this growing area of the church. The AV ministry is made up of three primary areas: sound, lighting/slides and video. "Professional" expertise is not necessary (but accepted!) in any area, but some familiarity with the basic technologies is desired. Primarily, a willingness to learn and a servant's heart are the most important assets to possess.

The area of sound can involve a wide variety of responsibilities to ensure that "God's Word is heard". These include setup and mix of an array of wired and cordless microphones, mixing and monitoring output levels for numerous monitors as well as house speakers, controlling pre-recorded accompaniment playback (both tape and CD), orchestra microphone setup and balance, mix and audio CD recording of services and events, and control and monitoring of assistive listening devices, to name just a few. A sound technician is also on-hand to support the mid-week evening choir rehearsal. The sound system is manned on a rotating basis for coverage of Sunday services, rehearsals and other events where use of the system is required. A background in music and/or experience with mixing/recording is preferred but not absolutely necessary.

A primary function of the lighting and slide technician is control of light settings throughout the worship service or other gathering. These programmable settings vary to enhance or highlight a particular portion of the Sunday service, and are coordinated in advance. The slide function involves control of the worship visuals, such as hymns, which run from a Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation through a video projection system, again in coordination with the order of the service or event. In addition to PowerPoint® slides, the projection system is used for display of video presentations, through DVD, VHS tape and the church's SkyAngel DBS satellite downlink. Prospective lighting/slide technicians must be "PC literate" and PowerPoint® experience is preferred.

This "fledgling" ministry is primarily for the video recording of Sunday services onto DVD, which, like audio CDs, are made available at the Media Table of the church's Welcome Center. This video is also distributed live throughout various areas within the church. The three cameras in the booth (two fixed and one movable) are connected through a 4-channel switching/mixing unit which also takes direct input from the primary sanctuary PowerPoint® projection system, the DVD player, and a second PowerPoint® system for the purpose of chromakey overlays, such as "lower thirds" and other on-screen graphics. As with the lighting/slide ministry, prospective video technicians must be "PC literate" and PowerPoint® experience is preferred.

If you are a member or regular attender of The Chapel and feel led to become involved with an area of Audio Visual Ministries, please contact the church main office at (330) 494-3419. We will be glad to get in touch with you!