Church live stream graphics: a simple setup volunteers can run

Graphics make online church feel like church

For people watching at home, the stream is the service. Graphics are how they follow along: who is speaking, which song is being sung, what passage is being read, and what is happening this week. Without them, an online viewer is just watching a wide shot of a stage.

The challenge is that most churches run their stream with volunteers who rotate week to week. The graphics setup has to be simple enough that someone can run it after a five-minute handover.

The graphics a service actually needs

Most services need the same handful of graphics every week:

• Countdown to the start. A “service starts in” screen so people joining early know they are in the right place.
• Lower thirds. Names for the pastor, worship leader, anyone giving a reading and anyone sharing announcements.
• Song lyrics. So people at home can sing along.
• Scripture references. The book, chapter and verse on screen during the reading and the sermon.
• Announcements and giving information. Events, small groups and how to give online, often with a QR code.
• A closing slide. A thank-you, next week’s service time and where to connect.

Setting it up in H2R Graphics

H2R Graphics is a free download for Mac, Windows, Linux and Raspberry Pi, and is used by churches from small community halls to Berlin Cathedral. It runs alongside your streaming software and sends all your graphics through one output.

Build the rundown once

Create a project and add the graphics for a typical Sunday to the rundown, in order:

1. A Message graphic for “Welcome” and a Time graphic counting down to the service start time.
2. Lower third graphics for the regular speakers. Most churches have the same few names each week, so these rarely change.
3. A Lyrics graphic for each song (Pro). Paste the lyrics in and each line becomes clickable, so the operator just clicks along with the band.
4. A Lower third or Message for each scripture reference.
5. A QR Code graphic linking to your online giving or connect card.
6. A closing Message with next week’s service time.

Next week, just update the names, songs and readings. The structure stays the same.

Plug it into your stream

Bring the H2R Graphics output into whatever you already use:

• OBS Studio: a single Browser Source with a transparent background. See the OBS guide.
• vMix: a Web Browser input on an overlay channel. See the vMix guide.
• ATEM Mini and other ATEM switchers: output from a computer into an ATEM input and key it. See the ATEM guide.
• NDI: enable the NDI output and pick it up anywhere on your network.

Let volunteers run it from anywhere

Volunteers do not have to sit at the streaming computer. Turn on local network control and anyone can run graphics from a laptop or iPad in the room. If your team already uses a Stream Deck, the Companion module puts every graphic on a button.

Tips for a volunteer-friendly setup

• Lock the rundown. Use the rundown lock so a stray click cannot delete or reorder the week’s graphics.
• Write a one-page cheat sheet. Which graphic goes when, in order. Tape it next to the computer.
• Use the same order every week. Familiar structure means volunteers learn it once.
• Keep lyrics to one or two lines. Large, readable text beats fitting a whole verse on screen.
• Check song licensing. Showing lyrics on a stream may need a streaming licence from your licensing provider. Check before you go live.
• Theme once. Set your church’s colours and fonts in the theme settings so every graphic matches without anyone thinking about it.

Plan the whole system

Graphics are one part of a church stream. If you are planning the cameras, audio and switcher too, our sister app H2R Gear has a full guide to live streaming a church service and a free church live stream diagram template.

Get started

Download H2R Graphics for free and have this Sunday’s graphics ready in an afternoon.