What is our job?

I was talking to a fellow music minister last Friday and I got a chance to explain to him what I thought of our job as music ministers.  

My one metaphor is karaoke.    

We are doing our job well when we become invisible but audible enough to allow the congregation to sing out loud -- to pray out loud -- to sway with the music -- to connect with the prayer that is in their hearts.  In order to do our job well, we need enough practice so that the music we play does not distract. We need to pick music that the rest of the congregation can sing and be moved. Note that not all congregations are the same.  

So ask, 

make friends 

and be involved with your congregation 

so that you can pick music that resonates with them.