To show worship lyrics in a church live stream, prepare the song slides in presentation software, route that output into the live video, and choose whether the words appear over the camera image or fill the screen. Before broadcasting, confirm that the church’s licenses cover both lyric projection and the online use of each song; permission to project lyrics does not automatically establish permission to stream them.
1. Confirm the rights for lyrics and livestreaming
Licensing depends on where your church is and which songs and materials you use. In the United States, CCLI distinguishes its Church Copyright License, which permits projection of lyrics from a computer or digital device, from its Streaming License, which covers livestreaming or uploading worship services with music under its terms. Check the current terms, the song repertoire, and whether your use includes a live broadcast, an archived service, or both. See CCLI’s US copyright licensing information and its US streaming-license guidance.
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For churches outside the United States, do not assume those US permissions or terms apply. Consult the rights organizations and license terms for your country. For example, Church of England guidance identifies CCLI, PRS, and One Licence as organizations churches may need to consult, and discusses CCLI streaming coverage in its stated YouTube and Facebook context: Church of England guidance on going live.
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Check recordings and video separately
A license for displaying lyrics is not a blanket license for every recording or video. CCLI describes Streaming Plus as extending coverage to specified authorized master recordings, backing tracks, and multitracks from authorized sources. Video content generally requires additional permission from the copyright owner, subject to specific terms and exceptions. Check the current license language for the particular audio and visual work you plan to use; do not assume that a song video is covered simply because it is available online. See CCLI’s streaming reporting information and its guidance on videos from video-sharing websites.
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2. Prepare the lyrics in presentation software
Enter or import the approved lyrics into the church’s worship presentation software, then divide them into slides that follow the song’s sections. ProPresenter is one documented example of software used to present church songs; its ProPresenter 7 User Guide explains song presentation and church copyright information. It is an example, not a requirement or a recommendation that it is best for every church.
- Check the lyrics against an authorized source and proofread spelling, punctuation, and line breaks.
- Keep each slide to a readable amount of text, with strong contrast against its background.
- Prepare the song order and slide changes before the service so the operator can follow the worship leader rather than edit text live.
- Make sure the presentation output you intend to broadcast is the one routed into the streaming setup.
3. Choose how lyrics appear in the stream
CCLI’s US streaming guidance allows lyrics to be embedded in the stream image or shown as the background. The right choice depends on the service’s visual style and how much screen space the words need.
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| Format | What viewers see | Practical trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Lyrics over the camera image | The camera remains visible, with text layered over the picture. | Preserves the live view, but the text must remain readable against changing camera backgrounds. |
| Full-screen lyric background | The lyrics occupy the screen, replacing or becoming the background behind the camera view. | Gives the words more screen area, but viewers see less of the live camera picture while lyrics are displayed. |
These are both valid display approaches, not a universal ranking. Check the result in the actual stream preview, including at a phone-sized player view. Rehearse changing from the camera to lyrics and back, and confirm slide timing with the worship leader.
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4. Route the presentation output into the live video
The exact routing depends on the church’s presentation and streaming setup. The essential check is that the stream receives the intended lyric output, whether as a clean presentation feed or as a composed image with camera and lyrics together. Confirm the routing in the stream preview before the service; the source guidance establishes the two lyric display forms, not one universal hardware configuration.
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- Open the worship presentation and select the intended song and lyric output.
- In the streaming setup, select or compose the presentation output so it appears in the program being broadcast.
- Preview both the lyric view and the camera view, checking legibility, layout, and transitions.
- Run a rehearsal to verify that the operator can advance slides at the right time and return to the camera view cleanly.
5. Add license details to the stream description
CCLI recommends including both the Church Copyright License number and the Streaming License number in the stream or upload description. Follow the relevant license terms for your territory and keep the numbers accurate for the church account. This description detail does not replace confirming that the songs and any recordings or video elements are covered.
6. Check any online lyric video before using it
A lyric video found on a video-sharing site is not automatically cleared for a church service or livestream. CCLI advises checking the source and rights; it identifies SongSelect Lyric Videos as material made for church use under the applicable terms. Its separate guidance also cautions that the visual element of song videos is not covered by the Church Copyright License and Streaming Plus as a general rule. Check the specific work and current terms, or obtain permission from the copyright owner where needed. See CCLI’s guidance on showing videos in church.
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