Live-stream Zoom call video and links

For those that made it to the live-stream tutorial and discussion, thank you. For those that missed it, below is the link to the video of the Zoom call and the script I was working from with all of the links to help you navigate what should work best in your congregation. If you have any calls please give me a call at the Presbytery office, 210-826-3296.

Ed Sackett

Here is the link to the video of the Zoom Call Tutorial on Live-streaming.

https://youtu.be/8B6wXwcCVsY

Streaming is as easy as connecting your device to a social media platform. That doesn’t mean that is all you have to do, but that is the first step. To use either FB or YouTube there is a signup required and you can create an account for your church. Make sure when you create an account that you write down the password, you can also have multiple administrators. Don’t be afraid to ask youth and young adults to help with any of this, most already know how to do this. Put their expertise to work.

There are multiple platforms where you can stream, including some that will charge for their services. Facebook and YouTube are free but work quite different. FB is the easier to use, but it has some drawbacks. Only those who have liked your page are going to be able to view your live stream, another issue with FB is that your stream/video is not searchable. What that means is that if someone is trying to find your worship service by searching the web, they will not be able to find it. On the other hand, YouTube is searchable so your worship service can be found. YouTube does take more work to create a channel, but it allows for more flexibility.

I will post links on FB and send them out via constant contact on how to create these accounts and how to set up and stream to these two sites.

creating accounts

https://www.wix.com/blog/2017/03/how-to-start-a-successful-youtube-channel-for-your-business/

https://blog.hootsuite.com/steps-to-create-a-facebook-business-page/

how to stream

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/facebook-live-guide

https://youtu.be/LFr_eGyqcFA

To stream all you need is a smartphone and a solid connection to the internet. It can be done with a strong cell phone connection, but it would be best if you have a dedicated wifi signal. For now, with our ability to worship being curtailed, and the requested number in a gathering being 10 or less there shouldn’t be a strain on a church wifi. But if you choose to continue streaming to reach out to the community after this time is over, it would be a good idea to have a dedicated signal.

If you have an old building and cannot run the cable inside for a router there are hot spots that can be purchased from the major cellphone services.

Another link I have for you will help you understand how to set up a smartphone to use with live streaming.

smartphone set up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUgesX4g-Ho

When shooting with a smartphone, please turn it horizontally so you are using all of the framing available. It’s great to use a vertical format for facetime and other things but not when you are broadcasting. Another tip, do not move the camera around rapidly, you can cause motion sickness for some viewers. To help stabilize the camera use a tripod with a mount that is for a smartphone or a tablet, if that is what you are using. There are many types of mounts and tripods, make sure what you are purchasing is stable.

There are a couple of links for both of those items. I’m not trying to promote any retailer or brand, just giving you some ideas of what to look for.

mount

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/joby-griptight-mount-pro-holder-for-smartphone/5120800.p?skuId=5120800

tripod

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/manfrotto-compact-action-smart-61-tripod-black/6244901.p?skuId=6244901

In case you want to go beyond a smartphone here is an interesting option. Mevo has a camera that will connect directly to the social media account you choose, and you can control the camera from a smart device. It allows you to adjust the camera angle and zoom in and out. The camera is $300 and they are saying they will have multi camera capabilities in a few months.

camera

https://mevo.com

The most important thing you can do is have good audio. At the presbytery we try and tap into the sound board. But if you are using a smartphone that probably isn’t going to work for you. There are many options, those include a lapel mic and even shotgun mics, each situation is different, and you will have to decide what works best for you.

Here are a couple of links that might give you some ideas about mics.

mics

https://www.micreviews.com/guides/top-10-best-smartphone-microphones

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-omnidirectional-lapel-microphone/4779600.p?skuId=477960

Granted, we are trying to get everyone up and operational with as little fuss and muss as possible so we can get through the restrictions we are all dealing with. If you decide this is an outreach your church would like to continue there are other options. The presbytery is using a sling studio which creates a multicamera live studio that allows us to take a direct feed from the sound board. There is also the ability to add graphics and slow-motion replay, for that baptism that went by too fast.

Some of you may be wondering what to do for Sunday School or confirmation class. Zoom might be a good answer. It is free if you are 40 minutes or less and have fewer than 100 participants.

As you start to stream, please make sure you have the appropriate license to use the music. Several of the copy right licensing groups are making exceptions at the present time, but you still need to register.

https://us.ccli.com/copyright-license/

https://christiancopyrightsolutions.com/blog/why-your-church-needs-a-streaming-license/

https://apps.christiancopyrightsolutions.com/docs/factsheets/FactSheet-Comparing-Church-Streaming-Licenses.pdf

Here is a link that will explain the capabilities of zoom.

zoom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8UwTwjpE6E

One last link that offers up some of what we have talked about and a few other practical tips on live streaming in a church.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/livestream-church-service-practical-guide/

Here is more information that has come from Louisville.

Virtual Worship

Depending on the needs and context of the community, pastors and other congregational leaders may consider worshiping virtually. The following is an excerpt from the Presbyterian News Service. The full article, which includes additional resources, can be read here.

Hybrid Gatherings . Many congregations will begin to experiment with live-streaming by providing a way for some people (particularly those who are home- or hospital-bound) to join an existing public gathering by viewing the video feed. In these cases, the order of worship may remain the same for those gathered in person (with the exception of new practices around passing the peace and communion). Leaders should find ways to acknowledge and connect with online participants before, during and after the service, so they don’t feel isolated from the community. Musical selections that will appear in the video should be in the public domain (see below) or must be omitted from the live-streaming portion of the service.

Daily Prayer. Services of daily prayer — such as those found in the “Book of Common Worship” (WJKP, 2018) or “Glory to God” (WJKP, 2013), or in the PC(USA) Daily Prayer app — are good options for the order of worship when a congregation is gathering primarily or only in virtual space. The primary ingredients of such services are psalms, other Scriptures, and prayers of thanksgiving and intercession. A sermon or meditation may be included after the reading of Scripture.

Platforms for Streaming . Commonly used and widely accessible platforms for video-conferencing and live-streaming include Facebook Live, Google Hangout, Periscope, Skype, YouTube and Zoom.

Copyright Permission . Be advised that a standard license for congregational songs from OneLicense or CCLI will not cover rights and permissions to live-stream the words or music of copyrighted hymns/songs; a special broadcast/streaming license must be purchased. Additionally, anthems, hymn arrangements, and other musical offerings under copyright are not covered by such licenses. These require further permission to broadcast. For this reason, leaders just beginning to explore live-streaming are advised to select hymns and songs in the public domain. For service music and anthems that will be live-streamed, consider using a hymn in the public domain. Rights and permissions for the Glory to God Hymnal and the Book of Common Worship can be found here .

Gratis streaming licenses are now available from OneLicense through April 15. This will cover a great deal of the copyrighted material in Glory to God. (You can search here to find out what is covered: https://www.onelicense.net)

Have questions about live-streaming and social media or need someone to brainstorm with? E-mail the social media strategist for the Presbyterian Mission Agency, Mari Graham Evans at [email protected] .

[Please note that the above guidelines are provided to assist pastors and other leaders in offering services of worship in a faithful and effective way. These suggestions are offered with temporary or emergency situations in mind, not for long-term use in live-streaming worship services. Also be aware that this document is not intended as medical or legal advice; consult a doctor or attorney as needed.]

[210-826-3296] [[email protected]]