Houses of Worship Turn to Digital Signs

Digital signs have been playing an essential role in locations such as fast-food restaurants, retail stores, and medical offices during the pandemic and beyond, and now houses of worship are joining in this informative trend.

With church and synagogue services disrupted suddenly last year, along with a myriad of other activities that take place at houses of worship, religious organizations are getting creative with using digital signs to keep congregants and the community updated.

Some of the creative and helpful ways houses of worship are employing digital signs include:

1. Posting new rules and procedures for worship services: Digital message centers enable houses of worship to educate and remind congregants about expectations.
2. Communicating changes in service times and locations: A digital message center allows houses of worship to change service times and add new services quickly. Digital signs can also remind congregants about streaming services they can watch from home.
3. Announcing new events: As houses of worship explore new ways to meet, digital signs can help get the word out. This has been especially helpful as churches host bible studies, support groups, and other small group meetings online and in person. The signs also can be used to recruit volunteers between services.
4. Posting community service notices: Local communities often rely on houses of worship for more than just prayer services. A digital message center can help communicate changes in hours and procedures for related food bank services, daycare services, school news, as well as blood drives.
5. Acting as digital hymnals and prayer books: Some churches and synagogues have done away with printed hymnals and prayer books. Indoor video walls can act as digital hymnals. Houses of worship can place prayers and responses, as well as song lyrics on the signs to aid congregants.
6. Posting changes in service practices: Digital signs can provide a visual cue for congregants by color-coding pews for communion or dismissal. They also can provide reminders about necessary procedures, including distancing, mask-wearing, and hand-sanitizing.

Finally, outdoor message centers can help relieve the tension and stress related to the pandemic by conveying words of hope or humor.