Every once in a while I am asked to play the organ at church. This usually happens because our two regular organists John and my wife Claire are otherwise occupied. This week was Claire’s turn, but as she is on leave from work at he moment and heading to Scotland for some down time with her brother and sister, I was left to fill in for her as John had duties at another church. I am not a natural on the ivories, but I do take the job of leading congregational singing seriously as it plays a central role in the worship of the church and as such should be respected. I always have a touch of nerves too, because the pressure not to destroy the atmosphere with a howling wrong note is an ever present probability with me given the blunt instruments my fingers are at times. That said, Methodists are usually not reticent in song and any wayward digital transgressions are easily overlooked and not overheard. Perhaps this is the crux of the matter that makes accompanying in church different, IT IS NOT A PERFORMANCE! It isn’t about the musician. To say that the organist is irrelevant is a wonderful oxymoron. Without them religious music would be greatly diminished, yet they are not there to be noticed. Some of music’s most valuable work is done by people hiding in plain sight and, unlike the children of old, should be heard and not seen.