The Lyric Operator’s Checklist For Successful Services

The role of a lyric operator in worship services is extremely important. You are so much more than a button pusher – you lead people in worship visually.

Providing lyrics for your church not only enables regular attendees to worship more freely, but also allows newcomers to comfortably join in on the experience.

Here are a few ways that you can prepare during the week for this crucial role:

1. Add All Presentation Elements

Having to hunt for each song, video, and presentation in the moment creates entirely too much stress. Add each part of your service to your presentation playlist so that you can easily access them. Remember to include even the small details.

2. Arrange Lyrics As They’ll Be Sung

Ordering your lyrics in the exact way that they’ll be sung enables you to click to the next slide with confidence. Not having to worry about displaying the wrong words makes a big difference when you’re making an effort to display the next line before it’s sung.

3. Pick Backgrounds For Each Song

Determine which motion or still graphic you’ll use for each song ahead of time and add it to your presentation. This takes away the pressure of having to choose a background in the moment and removes the risk of selecting one that doesn’t match the tempo.

4. Check Spelling On Every Slide

Typos stick out like a sore thumb for audience members and distract for the entire duration of a song. Avoid the chuckles from your congregation by proofreading your slides ahead of time. The last thing you want to do is cause a distraction.

5. Listen To The Worship Set

This is an easy habit that everyone involved in worship and production should pick up. Create a playlist with your worship set for that weekend and listen to it throughout the week. By the time Sunday comes, you’ll already know the songs by heart.

6. Look Over The Sermon Notes

Another habit that is easy to add to your weekly routine is looking over the sermon notes a few times. This is particularly easy in that you’ll have to read through them at least once while creating your sermon slides. Familiarize yourself with the Scriptures and points so that you know where the speaker is going during service.

7. Touch Base With Other Leaders

An obvious sign of unprofessionalism is different areas of an organization not being on the same page. Take time during the week to briefly connect with your worship leader, speaking pastor, lighting tech, and sound engineer to ensure you’re all telling one unified story on Sunday. The more in-sync you are, the better.

8. Test Everything Before Service

There is potential for error in every area of your role. Take time before service starts to test each piece of media and presentation that will be used. When you’re confident that everything is in tip-top shape, you’ll move through each service element stress-free.

9. Pray For God To Move

Want to know how to give your production team an edge? Pray. Ask God to use you in the service to do more than simply project lyrics. Ask for Him to help you to create a distraction-free environment for life-change. Also, remember to seek God for yourself while you serve. Your life can be touched, too!

What Do You Think?

Do you currently use any of these tips? Leave a comment below and let us know.