TechArts
"Bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the wider community of Northern Michigan through our TV broadcast, "Traverse City's Message and Music".
We consider ourselves very fortunate here at First Congregational to have an active and competent technical arts program. It centers around the Elizabeth Morgan Media Center, and is responsible for our television production as well as technical support for all worship services. This includes sound reinforcement, audio and video recording, lighting, and more!
The vision of the Elizabeth Morgan Media Center
- To bring the Good News of the Gospel, expressed through our worship at First Congregational Church, to the home-bound, the un churched, and the curious of Northern Michigan through our weekly television broadcasts.
- To provide an opportunity for dedicated volunteers to participate in this ministry by operating video and sound equipment.
- To provide technical support for the worship services, and extend media center services to persons and groups using First Congregational Church.
Traverse City's Message and Music
8:00am Sunday on tctv2 (Cable Access ch 2)
10:30am Sunday on abc29&8
What makes our television broadcast, "Traverse City's Message and Music," unique?
- Our program is of LOCAL ORIGIN, encompassing local views and opinions.
- We DO NOT use air time for FUND RAISING.
- Our broadcast covers a LARGE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.
- Through congregational support, our use of volunteers, our new partnership with tctv2 and our long relationship with abc 29&8, we are able to provide A QUALITY PROGRAM AT A LOW COST.
How is "Traverse City's Message & Music" produced?
During each service, from September through June, we videotape our worship. During the week, the video is edited and opening and closing comments are added by Dr. Hogue. We typically use the message, the children's time, and a piece of music in each program. On Thursday or Friday a copy of the finished "Traverse City's Message and Music" is delivered to abc 29&8 and tctv2 for broadcast on following Sunday.
What can people do to help with our media ministry?
Camera Teams volunteer every other weekend, operating cameras, operating the video switcher (the first stage of editing), and helping with directing tasks.
Audio Teams volunteer every other weekend operating the audio mixers. (One for sanctuary sound, the other for our video production). These people can also learn to select and position microphones and set up speakers and amplifiers in portable sound systems.
Additional volunteers set up equipment, rehearse with the praise teams, and operate sound and lighting equipment during our contemporary worship services Saturday nights and Sunday Mornings.
The Video Presentation Team creates the slide shows that are the framework for multimedia in our contemporary services, and run the video presentations for those services. We are also looking for people interested in producing worship enhancement and announcement videos and slide shows, to make even better use of our media center.
PRAYER: We need the support of every one in the congregation and the community. We need your prayers! Pray that hearts are opened to the message we bring to the community and our congregation. Pray that we produce the highest quality program possible. Pray that each person involved in the technical arts ministry is ministered to as they minister to others. Pray that we accomplish our mission!
Special Media Center Services
Audio or VHS video cassette copies of "Traverse City's Message and Music" or portions of a recorded service are available for a very reasonable cost. There are order forms here at First Congregational, or you may call the church at (231) 947-6698, or email davidr@fcctc.org. If there is a specific part of a service you are interested in, please make a request in advance, or within one week of the service, just in case that portion of the service is not used in the broadcast. A copy of each broadcast is kept indefinitely, but the master tapes from any given service may be kept for only a week or two.
Audio or video taping of your special event in the sanctuary.
The Media Teams often video tape weddings or other special events that happen in the sanctuary of First Congregational. We also have the capability to produce fine audio recordings. Of course, we can edit and make multiple copies of these tapes too. Contact the Media Center Dir. David Russell, if you have questions or would like to schedule a recording time.
We are now producing CD's and DVD's as well as tape copies of our productions! These digital formats allow much better copies and have excellent archival qualities.
Fees charged for media center special services allow us to pay a stipend to our team members who work on these productions as a nice "team perk", and provide additional funds for media center maintenance and improvements.
Media Director, David Russell, (231) 947-6698, Fax (231) 947-0457.
email davidr@fcctc.org
