Darrin Williams, Kerrie Smith, John Plastow, Kevin Miller from Greeley Wesleyan Church in Greeley, CO brings us this Easter stage design with environmental projection as a key element.
Their stage design for Holy Week used Environmental Projection, lighting, and big 3D stage props to bring their vision for each service to life. For Palm Sunday, they had huge wood columns with Palms hanging between the screens, 3D Lettering saying “He Came To Save”, and light boxes built to match the coloring that they would use throughout the week. They used styrofoam letters with spray paint which was a trick to do without melting the materials. On Good Friday they added tons of linked chain over the stage, hanging from the ceiling connected to a big cross in front the of stage with the lettering changed to “He Broke Our Chains.” Then for Easter they hung a bird they made out of wood and fabric and projected 3D images and text on it apart from the Environmental Projection saying “We Are Set Free”.
Darrin Williams designed all the projection. Kerrie Smith, John Plastow, and Darrin Williams led a creative team to build the stage design. Kevin Miller did the lighting. They got the light-box idea from Benjamin Davis of Crowley TX. The rest of the ideas were thought of in-house.
Understanding Environmental Projection for Easter
Environmental projection transforms your entire worship space into an immersive canvas, allowing you to create atmosphere that extends far beyond traditional screens. This design demonstrates how projection mapping can tell the Easter story across walls, ceilings, and architectural elements, surrounding the congregation with visuals that reinforce the message.
The progression from Palm Sunday through Good Friday to Easter Sunday shows the power of thematic transformation. Rather than creating three separate sets, this team designed modular elements that could be reconfigured and enhanced with different projection content for each service. This approach saves resources while maintaining visual freshness throughout Holy Week.
The combination of physical props (wooden columns, chains, the bird sculpture) with digital projection creates layers of depth that engage viewers from every angle. When projection mapping is applied to 3D objects rather than flat screens, it creates illusions that captivate attention and make the message more memorable.
Pro Tips for Environmental Projection
Test Your Surface Colors: Different wall colors and materials affect how projection appears. Test your content on the actual surfaces before the service. Light-colored walls work best, but you can account for darker surfaces by adjusting brightness and contrast in your projection software.
Consider Viewing Angles: Environmental projection should enhance worship from every seat. Walk the room during setup to ensure content looks good from the front row, back row, and sides. Avoid text or critical visuals in areas where sight lines are blocked.
Coordinate with Lighting: Projection and stage lighting must work together. Dim house lights sufficiently for projection visibility while maintaining enough illumination for safe movement. Test both systems together to find the right balance.
Plan Content Transitions: Smooth transitions between songs and segments keep the atmosphere flowing. Prepare your projection content with fade effects and timing that matches your service flow. Abrupt changes can be jarring and break the immersive experience.
Related Designs
- Decorate Church for Easter: Step-by-Step – Comprehensive guide for Easter preparation
- Complete Guide to Easter Church Decorations – Budget-friendly decoration ideas
- Stunning Easter Decor Ideas – Recent inspiring church examples
- Easter Boxes – Modern geometric design with LED lighting
- Honeycomb Easter – Creative paper-based backdrop design
Related: Origami Doves Soar in Easter – Paper-based visual elements for Easter
Awesome story. I sing in their choir.
I love all the layers. what type of projector do you have?