Re: [Worship] Software?

[Steve Witwicki <swit4@netzero.net>]

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At 11:05 AM 9/8/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>As worship leaders, what software packages do you use for organizing, 
>scheduling, and song tracking?
>
>We absolutely do not need projection/presentation software, but I would 
>like to have something that can help me manage people and music.  Any 
>recommendataions?  What are you using?

Mike, I don't want this to sound like a commercial, but it'll end up that 
way. In my opinion, there's no better product for what you want and need 
than Integrity's Worship Software. It will definitely manage music and 
people. Unlike some of it's competition, it comes preloaded with tons of 
music in the form of songs and organized by collection (hymnal, songbook, 
etc.) with titles, keys, tempos, themes, first lines, scripture references; 
many with complete lyrics and some with full sheet music (notable the 
Integrity Hosanna series). You can search for music by any or a number of 
these elements to quickly find the music you need. It is extremely flexible 
and you can also catalog your own songs and collections like octavos, 
special arrangements and music for instrumentalists or handbells. They are 
a myriad of reports that can be generated and even the ability to format 
and customize your own for special uses. You'll also be able to track 
related resources (CD's, tapes, etc.) for individual pieces in your library.

You can keep track of people, equipment and resources as well. Individuals 
can be assigned to particular groups (and more than one group) so that 
scheduling can become a matter of selecting the entire group instead of 23 
individuals. The application can print out labels, postcards and, in the 
new version coming out soon, individual emails can be sent to the entire 
group telling them they're scheduled or reminding them of an upcoming date. 
Simple things such as a birthday list can really enhance your ministry and 
caring for the group. As expected, you can also print out attendance 
sheets, reports and even individual schedules for people showing their 
assignments in various groups, rehearsals or services coming up.

Service planning is made easier with event templates and allows you to 
print out results in various formats. There's a version designed for 
bulletins (order of service) that's flexible enough to ask you what you 
want to include, there's a version that includes special notes you may have 
indicated for musicians and vocalists (like segues, key changes, name of 
soloist, etc.), and, once again you have lots of flexibility with these 
features. If you need to track usage for CCLI, the program will basically 
format a report you can directly send in. Even if you don't need to do 
that, the application records usage for your own benefit and has a 
logarithm to track songs by familiarity (depending on how many times you've 
used in certain timeframes.

Sorry, I don't know what the exact purchase cost is these days but you can 
obtain more information from www.worshipsoftware.com directly. While I'm 
aware there are other applications out there that may be less expensive, 
they don't come with all the music that's already included in Worship 
Software. (At last count over 10,000 titles) They also don't have the 
flexibility or features that Worship Software has.

If you have more questions, you can either contact Integrity as I mentioned 
or write to me off list.


Peace and Blessings,
Steve Witwicki

“In the end, worship can never be a performance, something you’re 
pretending or putting on. It’s got to be an overflow of your heart….. 
Worship is about getting personal with God, drawing close to God.”
—MATT REDMAN