From time to time I look at the uses of tablet computers and think that it might be nice to have one. Both of our children have iPads and use them for a wide variety of things, including Skype conversations with us. We have friends who use tablet computers to read books, check their e-mail, communicate with loved ones and a host of other chores.

I have several colleagues who use the devices to read their notes during worship. Recently, I attended a funeral officiated at by one of my chaplain colleagues and he used his iPad exclusively, reading the scripture from it, and checking it for his notes during the sermon. It was very unobtrusive and his speaking was fluid and powerful. The small gestures needed to scroll through the device’s pages were completely natural and did not detract from the worship in any way. After the experience, I checked with other colleagues. The devices are being used in Episcopal, Methodist, Assembly of God and Lutheran congregations in our town.

Still, I haven’t taken the plunge and bought the device yet. I’m reluctant to have yet another device. I can remember when I carried a digital assistant (Palm Pilot) as well as a cell phone and how happy I was when the functions of the two devices could be combined into a single device. If I were to purchase a tablet computer, I fear I would still be carrying my notebook computer with me everywhere that I go. The software that I use for my web site is not available for tablet computers and I am completely addicted to the keyboard for writing. In fact the notebook computer that belongs to the church that is being replaced by a new one is on its third keyboard. I literally wore out the keys by using them more than the average computer user.

I do, however, admit to liking various electronic devices. And I have invested significant amounts of money in them over the years. So I remain intrigued.

And yesterday I read a little blurb that peaked my interest. It seems that Pope Francis somehow decided that he didn’t need his iPad any longer. It was personalized with “Su Santidad FRANCISCO” (His Holiness Francis) laser etched into the back. Laser etching is permanent and can’t be removed. So Francis gave the iPad to an Uruguayan priest as a gift. He even had the Vatican draw up a certificate of authenticity to go with the gift.

I couldn’t find out if the Pope used the device to read the Bible or if he ever used it to organize his sermon notes. Anyway, the Uruguayan priest who received the iPad ended up giving it away as well. Maybe iPads lack a certain ceremonial flair for occasions when Roman clerics kiss the scriptures or hold them high in processions. For whatever reasons, the iPad was donated to a local school for a fund-raising auction.

I don’t know which model of iPad the Pope had, but the price range of iPads runs from about $250 to $825 or so. At the auction for the school, the Pope’s iPad sold for $30,500 to an undisclosed buyer who placed a bid over the telephone at the auction house Castells of Montevideo.

That’s a pretty good margin.

I think I’ve got to come up with just the right thing to have engraved on the back of an IPad and I could raise some serious money for our church’s capital funds drive. Can’t go with “Su Santidad Francisco.” That’s already been done.

Something tells me “Rev Ted” might bring a lower price.

On a pretty regular basis I use my computer to organize all of the notes and information I need for a worship service into a single document. Hymns are scanned and placed inside of the document, the parts that the liturgist will read are included so that I can follow along. Prayers and other liturgical elements are all put in their right place. Then I use the church’s printer to make a booklet on 11X17 paper with a single fold in the middle. This fits easily into a black cover that I use and I’m all organized for worship. Because I do this regular and because I use the “cut and paste” method to do my layout I have made some interesting mistakes. Last Sunday, I had the regular call to worship in my notes followed by the call to worship from the previous week. I had forgotten to cut the previous call when I pasted in the new one. This resulted in momentary confusion, but I soon discerned which was correct and crossed out the extra one.

At our Great Easter Vigil service, however, my notes had a different problem. I had left out three or four lines of the liturgy that were printed for the congregation to use. When I read the line, it took the congregation a while to figure out where I was in the liturgy. They did, however, and we all skipped a few lines and continued without our worship. They are kind and forgiving people and there was no fuss as a result of the mistake.

I suppose that if I had an iPad, which would allow me to adapt, edit, cut and paste during the service, I could really mess things up with a keystroke or a misplaced gesture. I’ve been known to make an entire document disappear on a computer in the past.

So, for now, I’ll leave the tablet computers to my colleagues. They are intriguing devices that may have some usefulness in the church. And I do admire Pope Francis’ generosity and the long-term good for the school children that came from the gift that kept on giving. That ended up being a pretty good choice for the Pope and for the priest who received the gift and in turn donated it.

I can’t seem to come up with the words to have engraved on an iPad if I did purchase one. After all the engraving is free. A very tempting offer.

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