screens: little and big

In 1985 I designed Tulsa's Garnett Church of Christ Worship Center.  It was a large octagon shape where the seating filled 7 of the eight sections, not totally in the round but the balcony was.  The Building seats 3,500 people with no seat more than 70 feet from the speaker's stand.  The idea was to get Christians in large numbers to gather together in a group where we could see and share with each other.  It is a literal interpretation of "singing to one another".  This was before video screens changed everything.

The Worship Center where I now attend ( and also designed) has movable seating. So today 29 years later it was arranged in almost the same 7/8 s  section for a special Communion service.  The Video screens are set for all to face ONE direction. So though we faced each other, we did not make eye contact fore we were turning our heads to see the screens.

It was similar to those gatherings where we are all there but busy looking at our phones.  Together and separate at the same time.   The service was great but we are easily distracted "these days".

Hope we don't start sending the power points to our phones.  We will never see each other again.