Last night was a terrific musical extravaganza highlighted by the house band, Between the Banks, of First Church in Pittsfield MA along with it’s gospel choir and several invited guests, folk singers Bert Marshall and Linda Worster. Gathered from the applause I could hear over the headphones at the end the audience was pleased with what they heard. Also comments I overheard while picking up equipment were all positive. Unfortunately I won’t be able to tell myself as I was working the event and had to concentrate on the video cuts and attempting to follow my shooting script, made all the more difficult as it was a live performance led by a highly capable and very artistic individual who I always have to keep up with. Not only do I count him as a friend but he also happens to be the minister of my church. One of the main reasons I had hoped he would be our new minister (I was on the search committee that was to bring him to our Pittsfield church) was his enthusiasm, vitality, dedication and spontaneity. Then again as I strove to follow this spontaneity off my shooting script it was frustrating and exciting at the same time.
This was the first of what I hope will be more events at First Church designed to open our doors to the greater community. There are some great people at my church and they do some wonderful things in the community, supporting Habitat for Humanity, gifts and food for the less fortunate and many other things. However as I keep remarking, we hide our light under a bushel basket very well. This concert was presented to a packed audience. A great chance to bring people from the wider community into First Church and allow them to see who we are and meet some of our wonderful and friendly people. What is additionally enhancing is that the entire musical event (and the beautiful poetry that was read) were all recorded to be televised later during the holiday season. Not by your typical school parent with a home video camera but full three camera mobile studio van, professional production with a full crew of eight. Yes full camera and production truck crew, with professional sound production for both the audience and the recording. Given I was busy concentrating as did all the crew, almost none of us can actually say we saw or could enjoy the show. I guess in edit maybe I get to see some, since there is a few spots that need to be taken out, one error and a few fund raising comments that were not allowed by the community television bylaws.
So here along with the first two demonstration trials at recording sermons during church services are ways in which modern technology meets up with modern culture. This is just another way to bring the message that churches have guarded over the centuries to the modern wired culture. Not that it will reach everyone, as cable television only reaches its wired area, and placing it on YouTube does not reach those economically, socially and technically deprived. However it can allow it to be available to almost 85% of the chosen community, so it is better and more available than placing large advertisements in the local printed newspaper. Time will tell its value, so stay tuned.
