Services and Meetings on Zoom
When we are unable to physically meet due to government restrictions, All Souls uses the Zoom cloud-based videoconferencing to share our church services and small groups (such as bible study) over the Internet. This allows everyone to interacts in a greater way compared to simply watching our livestream on YouTube. Zoom can be used on almost any device: Computers (PC or Mac), Smartphones (Apple or Android) or by dialing in from a phone (audio only).
Contents
It's a really good idea to download the client and test out your settings well before you attend your first Zoom event. There's usually a little bit of fiddling around required to make sure you can hear and see what's happening. Prior to joining any meeting, you are given the opportunity to check/test your video and audio settings.
Generally, it's much better to use headphones or a headset (with a microphone) if you're intending to contribute verbally to a Zoom meeting. If you don't wear headphones, other can often hear the sound from your speakers, which is very off-putting and can cause feedback.
Zoom is one of a number of tools we can use to stream events via the Internet (we could also use YouTube or Facebook). We're all very much feeling our way with these new technologies, so please bear with us if we're not that slick to begin with! If you need any help with Zoom, please contact the Church Office, and we will do our best to put you together with someone that can assist.
Contents
- Using Zoom on a Computer
- Using Zoom in a Web Browser
- Using Zoom via a Smartphone
- Using Zoom via a Regular Phone
It's a really good idea to download the client and test out your settings well before you attend your first Zoom event. There's usually a little bit of fiddling around required to make sure you can hear and see what's happening. Prior to joining any meeting, you are given the opportunity to check/test your video and audio settings.
Generally, it's much better to use headphones or a headset (with a microphone) if you're intending to contribute verbally to a Zoom meeting. If you don't wear headphones, other can often hear the sound from your speakers, which is very off-putting and can cause feedback.
Zoom is one of a number of tools we can use to stream events via the Internet (we could also use YouTube or Facebook). We're all very much feeling our way with these new technologies, so please bear with us if we're not that slick to begin with! If you need any help with Zoom, please contact the Church Office, and we will do our best to put you together with someone that can assist.
Download the Zoom Client for Meetings installer from:
https://zoom.us/download
Once downloaded, the installer has to be executed, and the approach to this varies depending on which browser you've used. If you're not familiar with how to install software on your computer, try Using Zoom via a Browser (below), or contact the Church Office, and we will do our best to put you together with someone that can assist.
There's a wealth of instructions, guides and tutorials on the Zoom website. Here's a couple of links that could help with your orientation:
Once in the meeting, various meeting controls are visible across the bottom of the screen. Always keep you microphone muted unless your invited to speak. Clicking on the [Chat] icon displays a side panel that can be used to ask questions or provide other non-verbal feedback (eg thumbs-up).
https://zoom.us/download
Once downloaded, the installer has to be executed, and the approach to this varies depending on which browser you've used. If you're not familiar with how to install software on your computer, try Using Zoom via a Browser (below), or contact the Church Office, and we will do our best to put you together with someone that can assist.
There's a wealth of instructions, guides and tutorials on the Zoom website. Here's a couple of links that could help with your orientation:
- Zoom Help Centre: Getting Started on Windows and Mac
- Zoom Help Centre: Starting the Zoom Desktop Client
- Once the Zoom Desktop Client is installed and running, you can click on [Join a Meeting].
- enter the Meeting ID (eg 428 104 674 for Sunday Worship). It's not necessary to Sign-in.
- If you have a webcam, you will presented with a video preview, and prompted to [Join with Video] or [Join without Video].
- Next, you will prompted to choose audio options. It's a good idea to [Test Speaker and Microphone] at this point, to make sure everything is working. You'll be taken through checks, and if both look good you can finally [Join with Computer Audio].
Once in the meeting, various meeting controls are visible across the bottom of the screen. Always keep you microphone muted unless your invited to speak. Clicking on the [Chat] icon displays a side panel that can be used to ask questions or provide other non-verbal feedback (eg thumbs-up).
To use Zoom on your home computer, it's best to use the Zoom Desktop Client, but this can be a little complicated to install so it's possible to access a meeting in a recent version of some web browsers (eg Chrome), though this does come with it's own complexities. Click on the link:
https://zoom.us/join
Once in the meeting, various meeting controls are visible across the bottom of the screen. Always keep you microphone muted unless your invited to speak. Clicking on the [Chat] icon displays a side panel that can be used to ask questions or provide other non-verbal feedback (eg thumbs-up).
https://zoom.us/join
- Enter the meeting ID (eg 428 104 674 for Sunday Worship) and click on the large [Join] button.
- Zoom will try quite hard to get you to download the client, but click [Cancel] on whatever window pops up, and instead click on the small [join from your browser] link.
- Enter your name to join the meeting, then click on [Join]
- Zoom may ask to access your audio and/or camera. Agree.
- Click on [Join Audio by Computer]
Once in the meeting, various meeting controls are visible across the bottom of the screen. Always keep you microphone muted unless your invited to speak. Clicking on the [Chat] icon displays a side panel that can be used to ask questions or provide other non-verbal feedback (eg thumbs-up).

To use Zoom on your Apple or Android phone the free app needs to be downloaded and installed from the App Store/Play Store. This is most easily found from this link, which will detect the type of device you are using: zoom.us/download
If you prefer, you can download directly, by searching for the app called "ZOOM Cloud Meetings", with the logo shown to the right. Note that there are many apps with similar names, though Zoom is very likely to be top of the list because of its current popularity.
Once downloaded and installed, the Zoom app can be opened by touching the tile on your smartphone screen. Note that you may have to swipe across to the right to see the app. You do not need to sign-up for an account to use use Zoom when joining someone else's meeting. Simply tap on the [Join a Meeting] button, enter the Meeting ID provided (eg 428-104-674 for Sunday Worship), then tap [Join Meeting]. See the home page of the All Souls website for the current week's events codes. If you haven't signed in, your name will default to the name of your smartphone, though you can overtype this, if you wish.
On first use, the Zoom app is likely to request access to various services of your phone (eg your camera). It's okay to allow this access.
Prior to actually joining a meeting, you will be presented with a Video Preview. Unless you're feeling particularly well manicured, you might want to [Join without Video].
There's a wealth of instructions, guides and tutorials on the Zoom website. Here's a couple of links that could help with orientation for your particular Smartphone:
Zoom Help Centre: Getting Started with iOS (Apple)
Zoom Help Centre: Getting Stated with Android
In the long term, it's worth signing up for your own zoom account, so your own name will appear by default, and you can schedule your own meetings.
Once in the meeting, various meeting controls are visible across the bottom of the screen. Always keep you microphone muted unless your invited to speak. Clicking on the [Chat] icon displays a side panel that can be used to ask questions or provide other non-verbal feedback (eg thumbs-up).
If you prefer, you can download directly, by searching for the app called "ZOOM Cloud Meetings", with the logo shown to the right. Note that there are many apps with similar names, though Zoom is very likely to be top of the list because of its current popularity.
Once downloaded and installed, the Zoom app can be opened by touching the tile on your smartphone screen. Note that you may have to swipe across to the right to see the app. You do not need to sign-up for an account to use use Zoom when joining someone else's meeting. Simply tap on the [Join a Meeting] button, enter the Meeting ID provided (eg 428-104-674 for Sunday Worship), then tap [Join Meeting]. See the home page of the All Souls website for the current week's events codes. If you haven't signed in, your name will default to the name of your smartphone, though you can overtype this, if you wish.
On first use, the Zoom app is likely to request access to various services of your phone (eg your camera). It's okay to allow this access.
Prior to actually joining a meeting, you will be presented with a Video Preview. Unless you're feeling particularly well manicured, you might want to [Join without Video].
There's a wealth of instructions, guides and tutorials on the Zoom website. Here's a couple of links that could help with orientation for your particular Smartphone:
Zoom Help Centre: Getting Started with iOS (Apple)
Zoom Help Centre: Getting Stated with Android
In the long term, it's worth signing up for your own zoom account, so your own name will appear by default, and you can schedule your own meetings.
Once in the meeting, various meeting controls are visible across the bottom of the screen. Always keep you microphone muted unless your invited to speak. Clicking on the [Chat] icon displays a side panel that can be used to ask questions or provide other non-verbal feedback (eg thumbs-up).
Using Zoom from a regular phone (either a landline or mobile) is very easy, but obviously you will not be able to see the streaming video, so only use this approach if no other option is available to you.
Dial 03 7018 2005
Meeting ID 428 104 674# for Sunday Worship
Participant ID #
There are only two controls available you dial-in participants the meetings:
Mute/Unmute *6 You will be muted automatically when you join, so you'll have to unmute for others to hear you.
The meeting organiser may mute again after you speak, so if nobody is responding to you later in the meeting,
you may need to unmute yourself again
Raise Hand *9 The meeting organiser will see an indicator saying you wish to speak. You might need this if the meeting organiser
doesn't allow individuals to unmute themselves.
Dial 03 7018 2005
Meeting ID 428 104 674# for Sunday Worship
Participant ID #
There are only two controls available you dial-in participants the meetings:
Mute/Unmute *6 You will be muted automatically when you join, so you'll have to unmute for others to hear you.
The meeting organiser may mute again after you speak, so if nobody is responding to you later in the meeting,
you may need to unmute yourself again
Raise Hand *9 The meeting organiser will see an indicator saying you wish to speak. You might need this if the meeting organiser
doesn't allow individuals to unmute themselves.