| While the use of computer projection systems | | | | adjust the lines of text so that they will fit on the |
| have increased the quality of many worship | | | | screen in a way that actually assists with the flow |
| services, these advancements are often | | | | of worship. Your text will automatically begin on |
| thwarted by simple errors made in the creation | | | | the next line in traditional fashion, when it runs out |
| of worship song lyric presentations. The method | | | | of room on the line above. Do not leave it this |
| described in this article will eliminate the room for | | | | way. You will want to read through the lyrics and |
| errors, provide an easy way to develop effective | | | | break the lines at natural pauses for gaps. If it is |
| slides for your worship lyrics, and assist with the | | | | hard for you to determine where appropriate |
| flow of the service. | | | | breaks should go, confer with your worship |
| After you open Microsoft Office’s | | | | leader, he/she will know how the song is sung. |
| PowerPoint program, it should start you out with | | | | Adjusting text this way will assist participants in |
| a basic slide with ready to use title and subtitle | | | | knowing where to pause, breath and sing. At this |
| boxes. The first and only thing you should do with | | | | step you will also need to adjust your text size |
| these two boxes: delete them. Next, right click on | | | | so that the text is as large as possible. To do this, |
| the slide and choose the ‘Format | | | | simply adjust the text size larger while watching |
| background’ option. Make the background | | | | the longest line of text. You will want to make it |
| color black and apply it to all slides. I will explain | | | | about the same distance from the right side as |
| the reason for using black as the background in a | | | | your text box is from the left side. |
| few minutes. | | | | While this set up process on the first slide may |
| Inserting the text into this first slide will be the | | | | seem like quite a bit of work, you are actually |
| cornerstone for your entire presentation and is | | | | almost done with your presentation. From here |
| essential for providing consistency throughout. | | | | there are only a few more steps. The first of |
| This is where you will establish your text color, | | | | these is to copy and paste this first slide. Make as |
| size and location. Now, insert a single text box | | | | many copies of this slide as you will need for all |
| near the top left of the slide leaving room at the | | | | the song lyrics. Now simply replace in the text into |
| top of the slide for the song title if you choose to | | | | each slide, typing over the text from the original |
| include it. I would also recommend that the song | | | | slide with the appropriate text in order. One |
| title is only placed on the first page or on its own | | | | additional trick would be to actually start with your |
| slide before the song. The recently added text | | | | chorus slide rather than the beginning of the song |
| box will only appear to be tall enough for one line | | | | like I said early on. This will eliminate unnecessary |
| of text but any previous user of PowerPoint | | | | typing since the chorus will repeat a number of |
| knows that it will expand as needed. I also | | | | times throughout the song. Also, some songs |
| frequently adjust the right side of the text box | | | | have similar verses and may only require you to |
| almost all the way out to the right border. | | | | change some of the lyrics, not the entire thing. If |
| Begin typing in the song lyrics into this first slide. | | | | this entire process is done correctly, then when |
| You will need to set your text color to white | | | | you move from slide to slide, your text will be |
| after typing at least a few letters. The reason for | | | | remain in the same location. If not, your text will |
| setting the text to white and the background to | | | | appear to jump or move when transitioning to a |
| black will be well understood once you see it in | | | | new slide. |
| action. The idea behind it though will help with the | | | | Here are a last few tips you will also want to be |
| attention of your congregation and the flow of | | | | sure to check out once your typing is complete. |
| the service. Many times PowerPoint users will | | | | Go through each slide to ensure that all of the |
| keep the default black text on white background. | | | | lines of text are on a single line. Adjust the font |
| However, once the last slide of lyrics is gone, you | | | | size down if necessary but be sure to do it on all |
| will be left with a large white box on your screen, | | | | slides equally. Also, it is always a good idea to |
| and your congregation will continue to stare at | | | | have someone else proof read your typing. |
| this light, assuming some more is to come. | | | | Nothing will distract worshipper’s more than |
| However, if you have white text on black | | | | misspelled words. Lastly, give it a test run and if |
| background, then when your songs are over, the | | | | at all possible, during a worship teams practice |
| big bright square will be gone, causing participants | | | | session. Hope these ideas help you develop good |
| to naturally direct their attention toward the next | | | | looking song lyrics that will improve your worship |
| element of the service. | | | | service. |
| Now back to the inserting of text. Let’s | | | | |