Sermoncast

A podcast is a distribution of audio (or video) content for listening on mobile devices and personal computers. It is a broadcast (or a feed) using RSS (Really Simple Syndication) format. We've named Memorial's podcast, “Sermoncast.” This new feature on our web site gives you the ability to subscribe to Memorial Presbyterian's weekly sermons and (optionally) have them downloaded to your computer automatically (a broadband Internet connection is recommended). The software program used for this (e.g., iTunes or similar program) is commonly referred to as a "podcatcher." You will then be able to listen to the new files in a media player program on your computer or they may be copied to your portable digital music player. The sermons are provided in MP3 format.

A news reader is software designed to poll, on a regular basis, the RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds it has been subscribed to and to display new articles that have been posted on the subscribed site(s). You may already have the software to do this on your computer. Some email programs and web browsers can serve as a news reader, and there are also web-based news readers so that you can subscribe even if you need to use a public computer. A news reader's primary purpose is to gather these articles from the sites that you have subscribed to, and display them for you. Since there is some text associated with the Sermoncast, a news reader can be used to subscribe. And even though news readers may not have the ability to download the audio file(s) automatically, you can manually download the sermon(s) you want. They are in MP3 format.

Subscribing allows your computer to check the web site to see if the latest sermon has been posted. And in some cases, you can set it up to download the file automatically. Even if you are using a news reader for the text of the postings instead of a "podcatcher" for the audio files, subscribing will automatically bring that information to you when it's posted instead of having to keep checking back to see if it's been put on the site yet.

Actually, many podcast subscribers download a large number of audio files on a regular basis, and find it a convenience to have them downloaded to their computer automatically without having to browse to several web sites to see if files have been posted yet. This also helps them keep their downloads organized. And some people may even be able to have the audio file(s) sent directly to their MP3 player.

The podcasting that we are now doing is in addition to, and not a replacement for, the way we have been offering the sermons in the past on our web site. We will continue to make them available in that manner. There is no difference in the information presented, and the audio files in Sermoncast are the same ones available from our site (http://www.memorialopc.org/sermons.html). So not everyone will have a need to subscribe, but we provide Sermoncast as a service for those who may find it useful.

Fear not. You have not broken anything. Depending on what browser you are using and how it is set up, you may be seeing something like the source code of the page generated by the podcast link. You may be able to change settings in your browser and have it then render the page correctly. If you're using Internet Explorer, see the answer to: How do I change my settings in Internet Explorer to use it as my news reader? Or you can simply choose to ignore the "problem" and subscribe manually to Sermoncast. 

If you were attempting to subscribe to the iTunes link, check to ensure that you have iTunes® installed on your computer.  Try refreshing your browser window (reload the page). Right click on the link and select "copy shortcut" (or "copy link location"). Then open a new browser window, right-click in the empty address bar and select "paste." Then hit <Enter>. If still nothing happens, send an email to sermoncast@memorialopc.org with a copy of that shortcut pasted into the body of the message, along with a description of the problem, and what browser you're using.

Trouble? It's a Mac! Probably none. If you have iTunes, click the "Sermoncast for iTunes" icon. And feel free to read the rest of these questions if you want to see what the rest of us struggle with.

That pretty much depends on what you would like to do. You may already have all the software you need, and if you choose a web-based subscription you won't need any software at all.

And please keep in mind that Memorial Presbyterian Church does not recommend any particular software. We have no control over the production or distribution, nor any interest in, any of the software mentioned here or elsewhere on our site. We merely mention some things for you to consider when making decisions regarding your software.

If you want to subscribe to the MP3 audio files delivered to your computer, one option is to use iTunes for which of course you will need to install iTunes® software (available from http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/ ).
There is other software which can also deliver the files automatically. Search the Internet for software in the category of "podcatcher." "Podcatchers" are programs you install on your computer that enable you to automatically receive podcasts you've subscribed to, technically they are "media aggregators." One of these in addition to iTunes is called "Juice" (available from http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/).

If you want to subscribe to the text (and links) for the sermons, then you will want to subscribe in a news reader. Windows Internet Explorer (yes, the popular web browser) can serve as a your news reader (available from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx). Version 7 can also be set up to download the MP3 files automatically if you wish, thereby getting both the audio files and the text associated with them. You can also search the Internet for "newsreaders" or consider the list at http://email.about.com/od/rssreaderswin/tp/top_rss_windows.htm.

If you want to subscribe to the text and links in a web-based reader, you could choose to set up an account for Google Reader or at another similar web-based provider. No software is necessary for this type of subscription.

If you use a start page, or personal home page, such as my.msn.com , my.yahoo.com, my.aol.com or others, you may be able to add content to your home page and have the sermon postings show up in a module there on your page whenever you go to your home page. No software is necessary for this type of subscription, either.

We have not submitted our podcast for their consideration, though this might be a possibility in the future. You don't need to subscribe through the iTunes Store to subscribe to Sermoncast in iTunes. You can subscribe right from our site by clicking on the "Sermoncast for iTunes" icon .

Not at this time. We are not broadcasters on SermonAudio.com. Our Sermoncast originates from our site, and while broadcasting from SermonAudio might enable more people to become familiar with Pastor Judd's preaching, we have chosen not to use those services at this time.

Not necessarily. The audio file is the same whether it's linked to from the web page or from the Sermoncast posting, and there is no predetermined practice or specific protocol for publishing either one prior to the other. It also depends on how often your program is polling the feeds to which you've subscribed. We suggest that you set your software to poll daily.

Technically, yes, you can subscribe using a dial-up connection, but we recommend a broadband or DSL connection for best results. If you have a dial-up connection, you might consider subscribing in a newsreader and/or elect not to have the audio files downloaded automatically. You could also consider a web-based subscription. With a web based subscription, you could also access your reader on a public computer with a broadband connection (such as, perhaps, at your library).

Yes, you should be able to defeat the automatic download in most software including iTunes and Juice, and most news readers do not download the audio files automatically.

In your reader, you will see the title of the sermon, date preached, Scripture reference(s), and applicable series information (if any). Depending on the news reader you're using, and how it formats the postings...
    *You may be able to access an embedded player to hear the audio file immediately.
    *You may find a link to download the audio file.
    *You will probably be able to click on a link to direct your browser to the source posting of the podcast (this link is often the title of the posting itself, that you see in your news reader). When the source posting is in your browser, you will find an embedded player and a link to download the sermon. There is also a search box along with a list of the sermons that have been podcast in the past.

To subscribe manually, you should right click the RSS feed icon for Sermoncast, and then select "Copy Shortcut" or "Copy Link Location". Then when your software or browser requests the url of the feed to which you want to subscribe, right-click in the box and select "Paste". Or you can copy and paste or type this url into that box: http://www.memorialopc.org/sermoncast/feed/

1. In Internet Explorer, on the menu, click  "Tools" > "Internet Options"
2. Click on the “Content” tab, and in the “Feeds” section, click on the button for “Settings”
3. Ensure that “Turn on feed reading view” is checked.
4. Make other selections as desired and then click “OK”, and “OK” again.
5. Now on the menu, click "View" > "Explorer Bar" > "Feeds". This will open the sidebar showing tabs for your “Favorites - Feeds - History” with the “Feeds” tab selected.
6. See also the:  "Step-by-step instructions for manually subscribing to Sermoncast in: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7"

1. In IE7, ensure that "turn on feed reading view" is checked.  (See How do I change settings in Internet Explorer to use it as a news reader?)
2. In the address bar put the following url: http://www.memorialopc.org/sermoncast/feed/ and hit <Enter>. This should now show the Sermoncast postings in your browser window, along with a yellow box describing RSS feeds.
3. In the yellow box, click on “Subscribe to this feed.” Make any desired changes in the resulting dialog box and then click the “Subscribe” button. This will add Memorial Presbyterian (OPC) to your list of feeds. The Sermoncast postings will now show in the browser window when you select this feed in your sidebar.
4. The postings will be displayed in your browser’s Feed Reader window when they have been posted by Sermoncast. To update the posting list manually, click on the “refresh” icon on “Memorial Presbyterian (OPC)” in the Feed sidebar.
5. If desired, you can specify how often you want Internet Explorer to look for a new posting; you can decide whether you want the attached files downloaded automatically; and you can set some other options. Click the link to “View feed properties...” (This is on the right hand side of the page, below the box that has the search options and categories.) You can also set these properties by right-clicking the feed title, "Memorial Presbyterian (OPC)" in the sidebar and selecting “Properties” from the sub menu.

1. On the myPage tab (or another tab, such as What’s Hot) click on “Add Stuff”
2. Click on the “+Gadgets and Feeds” link.
3. This will open a box where your can put in the url for Sermoncast  http://www.memorialopc.org/sermoncast/feed/ 
4. Click on “Add to Page” and then “I’m Done”
5. Now you will find a module on your page that will show Sermoncast posting(s) for Memorial Presbyterian (OPC).

1. On the Main tab (or another tab, such as The Best of My Yahoo) click on “+Add Content”
2. Click on “Add RSS Feed”
3. This will open a box where you can put in the url for Sermoncast  http://www.memorialopc.org/sermoncast/feed/
4. Click “I’m Done”.
5. If you click on the gear shaped icon you can change “App Options” (e.g., to display “headline and short summaries”)

1. The left hand side of your myspace page has a section for “My Apps” (applications)
2. In that section, click on the “Apps Gallery” link. (If you've previously installed other applications, you can click on “Get Apps.”)
3. In the “Search Apps” box, type: “rss feed” and click the “search” button. 
4. Click on “RSS Reader” (or select the reader of your choice) and a new page opens. (“RSS Reader” appears to be popular, but the instructions should be pretty much the same for any of them).
5. Click on the button that says “Add this App”
6. In the “Add App” window choose your desired application options.
7. In the "Are you ready to rock?" window, 
   • "Enter your RSS feed URL:" http://www.memorialopc.org/sermoncast/feed/
   • “Enter the title for your RSS Reader:” Memorial Presbyterian (OPC) 
   • Click “Save Settings” 
8. Then, click “Home” on the menu near the upper left of the page to go to your myspace home page.
9. Now on your myspace home page,  you will find (probably on the right hand side), the module with Sermoncast posting(s) for Memorial Presbyterian (OPC)

1. At the bottom of the welcome page you will find the module, “RSS Feed Browser”. 
• If the little triangle (“twistee”) to the left of it is pointing at the words “RSS Feed Browser” click it to twist it and point down so that the “Category” and “Feed” columns are showing.
2. Click on the plus sign to the right of “Feed”.
3. This will open a dialog box where you can put in the url for Sermoncast:  http://www.memorialopc.org/sermoncast/feed/ . 
4. Select an appropriate category or create a new one and click on “Add Site”
5. Now when you select that category and Memorial Presbyterian (OPC), you will find the Sermoncast postings listed in the “Stories” column. 

1. After you log in, click on "Add Content" on the right hand side in the banner area at the top. On the left you will now see a sidebar with a list of categories of feeds.
   
2. Click on “Add RSS”
3. This will open a dialog box where you can put in the url for Sermoncast:  http://www.memorialopc.org/sermoncast/feed/
4. Then click "Add Feed"
   
5. When you see the message: "RSS module was added successfully", click on  "Back to My Page" (upper left)
6. Now you will find (probably on the left hand side) the module with Sermoncast posting(s) for Memorial Presbyterian (OPC)