The Messenger - August 12, 2007

Works in Progress (#3): Microphones

Have you noticed how much better you can hear young children sing during church musicals these days? That's because of some wonderful headset microphones that Lesley Sirianni borrows for our church three times per year. These microphones are great for singing, and they are also being used for preaching more and more these days. It takes a little effort to wear them (since they hang over the ears and around the back of the head), but they do work well. So, why don't we buy our own set and use them all the time?

The simple answer is that the "experts" we have asked to help us here do not agree. One knowledgeable consultant told us that the wireless projection system that we borrow now will be obsolete in just 2 years. This consultant said, "don't buy ANYTHING now." A second sound consultant agreed that wireless technology is changing, but he said that the current generation of headset mikes will negotiate this change with few problems. So, who do we believe?

These consultants also differed about the value of headset mikes for preaching. One consultant seemed to agree that headsets were the wave of the future, and you can see them on most TV preachers now. But another consultant said that headset mikes are no better than lavaliere mikes if the lavaliere is clipped properly--near the middle of the chest. So, what do I do now?

After learning that some of our senior citizens had trouble hearing parts of my sermons, I tried out a headset mike for 2 weeks in the month of July. It was uncomfortable (after a while), and one person said it looked like a huge, black pimple on my face, but some said they could hear better, so I was all set to use a headset every week. Then, the other consultant spoke (who still believes in lavalieres), so I went back to the lavaliere mike -- but I wore it 3 inches lower on my chest. Who's right? I don't know. But I hope that those of you who suffer hearing loss will tell me which choice works for you.

The long and short of it is that there is no "perfect" choice in microphones (just as there is no perfect choice in speakers). But a team of us are working hard to optimize the quality of our sanctuary's sound. We appreciate your patience, and we covet your prayers.

• Sermon: Hero of the Faith: Samson
• Scripture: selections from Judges 13-16
• Preacher: Rev. Neal Neuenschwander
• Special Music: Heather Larson, Celtic harp

• Pictures from VBS are now on First Presbyterian San Pedro On-line.

• Youth of our church are off on two adventures this week: 5th & 6th graders at Forest Home camp with two counselors  Middle & High Schoolers on a mission trip to Bishop, California

• You can sign up online for the new weekly church e-newsletter... or view the archives.

• Johannes Mueller-Stosch will be our new organist beginning September 2 
  

We can't wait!

This commission recruits, hires, and evaluates both full and part-time staff for the church. They maintain up-to-date job descriptions for each staff member. They evaluate each staff member at least biannually, they recommend salary changes, and they work to resolve significant performance problems that may occur. They also work to resolve any inter-personal problems or conflicts involving staff members.

Chairperson: Jim Waters

Did you know that . . . 

after the prophet Elisha died he was associated with one last miracle?  While some men were burying a body, other men they didn't know came at them and they were so scared they threw the body in Elisha's burial cave and ran.  After the dead man touched the bones of Elisha, he came back to life. WOW!

• And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulcher of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet. (2 Kings 13:21)

Inductive Bible Study or "Exegeses" is to draw out or extract what is in the text the way it was written. One attempts to find the true meaning and explain the passages of scripture from their context.  It is suggested that a translation that is close to litteral be used.