Blog

“Display Options” Update Makes Scheduling People Easier

Display OptionsThanks to feedback from a few larger churches using WP, we have an enhancement to the People Scheduling page that will make it easier to use.  The redesigned Display Options menu now allows you to select which teams you’d like displayed.  Before this update, your choices were to display all teams or only the teams that you lead.

The other change we made to this page is how these display options are saved.  We were using your browser cookies to save these settings.  This worked great in theory, but not so well in practice.  Our update now saves those display settings to your WP account so that you’ll see them if you change browsers or computers (notice the button at the bottom of the menu).

WorshipPlanning.com Mobile

WP Mobile

The wait will soon be over, smartphone fans.  In just a few weeks, we expect to roll out a version of WorshipPlanning.com that is designed to run in the mobile browser of most fairly-current smartphones on the market.  The initial functionality will be similar to the current iPhone app, but  more responsive and polished.  Here are some reasons we are really excited about this mobile web version:

  • Android owners will finally have mobile access to their WorshipPlanning.com data, with the ability to respond to assignments, view service and song details, access contact info, and listen to audio.
  • iOS owners will be able see an improved audio player, be able to open PDFs, and submit notes with their assignment responses.
  • We will be able to develop and deploy more functionality much more easily (read “a lot quicker”) than before.  If you, the user community, like how the mobile web version works, we should be able to easily leverage what we’ve done to make device-specific apps (including tablet apps!).
So, keep an eye on our blog, tweets, and facebook updates!

WorshipPlanning.com 3.9.5 Update

WorshipPlanning.com version 3.9.5
Early this morning, we updated WorshipPlanning.com to version 3.9.5.  It has been a little while since our last update, but that doesn’t meant we haven’t been busy!  As a general policy, we intentionally avoid applying non-critical updates to the site in the weeks leading up to Easter.

Version 3.9.5 is a mostly-transparent update, but something we wanted to at least make you aware of.  Plus, the enhancements for this update are needed for some great enhancements coming soon.  Here is what’s in 3.9.5.

Improved Notifications Architecture
This was a big update that I wish I could easily convey the level of effort we put in to.  In the short-term, this change will allow us to handle the continued growth in users, especially with how many notifications WP is sending (thousands a day).  Down the road, you’ll be able to view a list of “sent” messages, as well as see exactly what messages your team members have received (originating from WP).

Bug Fixes
3.9.5 also fixes a few small bugs, one of which is a problem where linked services can’t be easily edited (as far as people-scheduling goes) if the master service is in the past and the linked services are still in the future.  The fix allows you to schedule people for all services, up to several hours after the service has passed.

We are continuing to work hard to bring you features that will really help you in your ministry.  Thanks to everyone that has provided comments, suggestions, and feedback!

A Little April 1st Fun

Our hope is that you won’t be disappointed that our Garment Conflict Management feature is not a real enhancement (yet).  We had fun planning this “way outside the box” idea.

While this feature isn’t currently on our radar, we are busy working on several enhancements due out soon.  And in the next few weeks, we plan on opening up a forum discussion where you can read about and suggest enhancements that you, the user community, would like to see.  Keep an eye out on our new Support Center (http://support.worshipplanning.com) for that discussion.

 

New, Highly-Requested Feature – Coming This Spring

We are very excited to introduce a new feature in WorshipPlanning.com that has become our most-requested enhancement:

Garment Conflict Management

As a musician performing in front of a worshiping congregation, being dressed like a fellow band member can not only be embarrassing, but also a major distraction.  Even if you serve in a ministry where you aren’t performing on stage, wearing the same outfit as another team member can lead to general distrust, and even identity theft.

Enter Garment Conflict Management (GCM). This new feature is design to help you avoid the awkward, and potentially hazardous, situation of wearing an outfit that looks just like a fellow team member’s.  GCM is very easy and fun to use.  And the best part is, it’s included with every subscription level, for both Planners and Helpers.

Create your Virtual Closet

Using Facebook integration, you can direct WorshipPlanning.com to analyze your Facebook photos for the types of clothes that you wear.  WP will then create a Virtual Closet of clothes, specifically for you.  And you can always add more garments by uploading picture from your cell phone.

Real-time Conflict Management

Once your virtual closet is complete, WorshipPlanning.com is ready to protect you from ever being asked “Oh, are you two twins?” (not that there is anything wrong with actually being twins).  When you respond to an assignment in MyWP, you’ll see a new “Garment Selection” option.  Simply select the garment you plan to wear, and click “Submit Response”.

Now that WP knows what you plan to wear, it will be on the lookout for another team member who may pick a similar garment.  Should that team member make such a selection, he or she will be warned of the impending doom if they proceed with their pick.  If the person ignores the warning, you will be notified immediately (thus giving you time to make any outfit adjustments).

Future plans for this feature include:

  • “Garment Suggest” – WP picks your outfit based on a complex algorithm that considers the set lighting, weather forecast, and last time the outfit was worn.
  • “Color Coordinate” – Use when your band wants their outfits to go well together – without looking like the Partridge Family.
  • “Fashion Police” – Warns you when your clothes are out of style, and suggests new clothes to buy, based on your age, the instruments you play, the songs you have performed, and the number of Facebook Friends you have.
  • “Onstage Conflict Correction” – Uses WorshipPlanning’s Virtual Stage and a projector to make your conflicting garment appear a different color or pattern while you are performing.

We have invested significant resources into helping you reduce the stresses involved with serving at worship services.  This new feature now helps you reduce the awkwardness.

Jared Anderson’s Free Tune School

Jared Anderson (Desperation Band/New Life Worship) recently started producing free piano tutorial videos on youtube. He shows you how to play many of the New Life Worship songs as well as his original songs. Here’s one of the videos – “Counting On God”. For more videos, check out his youtube channel.

It’s a great resource for piano/keyboard players. Check it out!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3c6bStlgMk&w=640&h=390]

New (and free) Webinar: Team Leading in WP

Webinars

With the powerful people-scheduling and team management tools built in to WorshipPlanning.com, it’s no wonder many ministries outside of the Worship Team want to use WP.  Plus, there are lots fo benefits for your volunteers to be on a single, centralized system where they can view serving details, access team info, and select their serving availability/preferences.

So, we are starting a new webinar called Team Leading.  It is about 30 minutes, and we cover the following:

  • Setting up and managing your team
  • Scheduling your team members to serve
  • Seeing how team members access the site

To see a schedule of this webinar, visit http://worshipplanning.com/webinars.  To register you must have a valid account in WorshipPlanning.com.  If you can’t attend the webinar, you can watch a recording of it on our new Support Center. To access the video, you must be logged in to the Support Center (use your WP login info).

A Huge Worship Resource Giveaway!

We are excited to partner with an amazing giveaway for church leaders.

Proclaim Church Presentation Software is breaking all the rules with the Great Worship Resource Giveaway. To celebrate its coming launch into the church presentation market, Proclaim has partnered with today’s top worship resource companies to give away over $25,000 in prizes to more than 100 winners.

WorshipPlanning.com is proud to announce that we are partnering in this giveaway by giving away 10, 1-year subscriptions of our Bronze plan.

“We put together a giveaway that will help worship leaders everywhere,” said New Media Executive Director Matt Peterson. “Proclaim is all about creating better worship services. Shouldn’t the giveaway do the same thing?” 

The prizes all center around one thing—creating powerful worship services. To enter watch the video at proclaimonline.com and at the end there is a list of ways to enter the giveaway. There are several one-time ways to enter and a couple ways to enter every day!

Good luck!