How to pick the right songs....

One of the many questions I receive as the Worship and Music Catalyst is how should one pick songs for congregational singing?   It's a great question and almost always I give this quick and easy answer.
Pick songs that are familiar.  People love to sing what they know.   I often ask someone, how long does it take for the average person in your congregation to learn a song well enough to sing it "by heart".   We all know when a song is so deep in our heart, that we almost don't have to think about it as we offer it in worship to the Lord.    
I read a book one time that mentioned people have to hear a song "17" times before they actually know it well enough to communicate it.   When I am planning worship, I often try to think of songs I know the congregation can sing to the Lord because it comes from the depth of their hearts.   A song they know well.
It's exciting to attend a sporting event, and a popular song starts playing from over 30 years ago.  People stand and instantly engage themselves because of familiarity.   I think it should be the same in church.  Make sure that the majority of your congregational songs are familiar to those who attend on a regular basis.   Help new songs become familiar by repeating and teaching them over and over. 
We love to sing what we know, so do all we can to help as a leader of worship.