The minister was preoccupied with thoughts
of how he was going to, after the worship service, ask the congregation to come up with
more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. Therefore, he was
annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at
the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play.
"Here's a copy of the service,"
he said impatiently. "But you'll have to think of something to play after I make the
announcement about the finances."
During the service, the minister paused and
said, "Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice
as much as we expected, and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more,
please stand up."
At that moment, the substitute organist
played "The Star-Spangled Banner."
And that, is how the substitute became the
regular organist!
