Rev Scott Bramley

Middle School ChaplainCarey Baptist Grammar School

2007

Why we use PowerPoint in

Chapel?

Australians under 45 have not been raised in a book-based culture. They have learned from screens and the internet. They keep in touch via my-space, listen to music and pod casting on I-pods and build community through virtual networks.

Our students have been raised on visual imagery, television, flashing impressions not leather bound volumes of classics. They have been exposed to most of the world’s religions and the classics through Xena: Warrior Princess, movies and television productions. To hand generation Y (those born between 1977-1994) a Prayer Book is very off-putting.

Skip the overhead projector and go straight to plasma screens and don’t load them with text, but image, image, image.

Remember the great continental cathedrals – and probably the English ones before Cromwell – used images in the windows to teach. Gutenberg ushered in the age of text. That age is passing.

Revd Prof Gary D Bouma, UNESCO Chair in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations

- 1 -- 1 -

Font Choices

Poor font choices can be hard to read

Poor colour choices can be hard to read

Make sure that you use an appropriate font size!

Good font choices enhance a presentation

Good colour choices enhance a presentation

Make sure you use a 24+ point size for type

- 2 - - 2 - Include graphics

The Parable of the Lost Son - Luke 15: 22-32"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' " 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

The Parable of the Lost Son

Luke 15: 22-32

- 3 -- 3 -Colour choices

Dazzling backgrounds can be very distracting

Pick a background colour and theme that is suitable for the topic

Cool coloured backgrounds are easier on the eye. White can tire the eye.

The smaller the text the greater the contrast between background and text colour needs to be.

- 4 -- 4 -Don’t let PowerPoint

steal the show

- Too much text -

- Reading from the slides -

- 5 -- 5 -

Animations

take attention away from what you are saying

leave the special effectsto Hollywood!

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Slide transitions

Too many different slide transitions and sounds

…

take attention away from what you are

saying.

It is far less distracting to use the same slide transition (if any) for the entire presentation.

Likewise, the use of sounds (if any) should be kept consistent.

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Templates

Some templates and backgrounds are too busy.

Sometimes a school identity is

appropriate.

Use the K.I.S.S. principle (keep it simple stupid) when creating your

visual presentation. Then you can be sure the audience gets the message

you intended and was not just dazzled - or worse - mystified by

what they saw on screen.

Chapel seating plan 2007

Who is one of the most famous members of the

Latvian Orthodox church?

Archbishop of RigaJanis (Ioann) Pommers

was born in 1876 in Praulien volost.

12 October 1934 brutally martyred in Mezhapark by Soviet secret agents.

Canonised as the first Latvian Saint on 17 July 2001 in Riga Orthodox Cathedral, the Nativity of

Christ.

George Costanza

Today’s first reading comes from Acts chapter 16 verses 20 to 40.

The officials of Philippi, which is a leading city in the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony said, ‘these Jews are upsetting our city, they are telling us to do things we Romans are not allowed to do.’ The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a whip. After they had been badly

beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully. The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood.

the jail at Philippi

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners. When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul shouted, ‘don't harm yourself! No one has escaped.’

Paul & Silas in Prisonby Washington Allston (American, 1779 - 1843)

The jailer asked for a torch and went into the jail. He was shaking all over as he knelt down in front of Paul and Silas. After he had led them out of the jail, he asked, ‘what must I do to be saved?’ They replied, ‘have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home.’ Then Paul and Silas told him and everyone else in his house about the Lord. While it was still night, the jailer took them to a place where he could wash their cuts and bruises. Then he and everyone in his home were baptized. They were very glad that they had put their faith in God. After this, the jailer took Paul and Silas to his home and gave them something to eat.

The next morning the officials sent some police with orders for the jailer to let Paul and Silas go. The jailer told Paul, ‘the officials have ordered me to set you free. Now you can leave in peace.’ But Paul told the police, ‘we are Roman citizens, and the Roman officials had us beaten in public without giving us a trial. They threw us into jail. Now do they think they can secretly send us away? No, they cannot! They will have to come here themselves and let us out.’ When the police told the officials that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, the officials were afraid. So they came and apologized. They led them out of the jail and asked them to please leave town.

For the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

Foundations of the octagonal church of Philippimid-5th century.

Today’s second reading comes from Act’s chapter 19 verses 11 to 20.

For three months Paul went to the Jewish meeting place and talked bravely with the people about God's kingdom. He tried to win them over, but some of them were stubborn and refused to believe. In front of everyone they said terrible things about God's way. Paul left and took the followers with him to the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

He spoke there every day for two years, until every Jew and Gentile in Asia had heard the Lord's message ... many who were followers now started telling everyone about the evil things they had been doing. Some who had been practicing magic even brought their books and burned them in public. These books were worth about fifty thousand silver coins. So the Lord's message spread and became even more powerful. For the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

sinner; who calls all to salvation through the promise of blessings to come: O Lord, in this hour receive our prayers, and direct our lives according to your commandments. Sanctify our souls, renew our bodies, correct our thoughts, cleanse our minds; deliver us from all tribulations, evil and distress. Surround us about with your holy angels, that guided and guarded by them, we may attain to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of your unapproachable glory, for you are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

Based on an Orthodox church prayer to Jesus Christ

Let us pray.You who at every season and every hour, in heaven and on earth, are worshipped and glorified; O Christ our God, you who are long-suffering, merciful and compassionate; who love the just and show mercy upon the

The William Carey chapel HymnAlmighty Father

Almighty Father of all things that be,our life, our work, we consecrate to thee,whose heavens declare thy glory from above,whose earth below is witness to thy love.

For well we know this weary, soiled earthis yet thine own by right of its new birth,since that great cross upreared on Calvaryredeemed it from its fault and shame to thee.

Thine still the changeful beauty of the hills,the purple valleys flecked with silver rills,the ocean glistening ‘neath the golden rays;they all are thine and voiceless speak thy praise.

Thou dost the strength to workman’s arm impart;from thee the skilled musician’s mystic art,the grace of poet’s pen or painter’s hand,to teach the loveliness of sea and land.

Then grant us, Lord, in all things thee to own,to dwell within the shadow of thy throne,to speak and work, to think, and live, and movereflecting thine own nature which is love.

That so, by Christ redeemed from sin and shame,and hallowed by thy Spirit’s cleansing flame,ourselves, our work, and all our powers may bea sacrifice acceptable to thee.

By Ernest Edward Dugmore

Through the example of those of the faith who have gone before us,

we also ask that you have mercy upon us

Lord Jesus Christ our God, and save us. Amen.

Based on an Orthodox benediction

vs

Dealing with disappointment

Possible Bible readingsPsalm 22

Luke chapter 24 verses 13 to 35.