Park Ridge UMC
When the people of Park Ridge United Methodist church began an ambitious program to renovate and update their beautiful seventy-year-old sanctuary they knew that modern sound and video systems were necessary to reach out to non-believers as well as enhance the worship experiences of those already in their worshiping community.
The sanctuary, dating back to the 1930’s, presented a unique set of challenges; at the time of its construction audiovisual systems in churches were unheard of and therefore no infrastructure existed. Fortunately AV Church owner and lead systems designer Kevin Shaw was up to the task and after hours of meeting with church staff and volunteers came up with a solution that fit both the current and future needs of the church.
By using an RSS V-400 digital mixing system with built in digital snake Shaw was able to avoid running thousands of feet of copper wiring and the expensive infrastructure upgrades that it would entail. The RSS system also allows for future expansion as the church and its music programs continue to grow.
A pair of DaLite fixed frame screens were mounted in an unobtrusive “floating style”, one on each side at the front of the sanctuary, in order to preserve the view of the cross and altar area. These in combination with high-resolution Dukane projectors allow for lyrics, graphics, and video to be seen clearly from all corners of the room.
Furthermore, with the help of Shaw, the church was able to re-use some components of their old sound system in their fellowship hall while the renovations in the sanctuary were ongoing. This secondary system, in combination with a special portable wireless microphone setup from the sanctuary, can also now be used by the congregation for their annual outdoor worship service every summer.
The audiovisual renovations and upgrades been a resounding success amongst both the congregation and those involved in the music ministry. Continuing training sessions led by our expert staff help the audiovisual ministry bring new members onboard and keep those already a part of the ministry on top of their game. As the church continues to grow and reach out with the Gospel these systems are sure to serve Park Ridge United Methodist Church for years to come!
