A minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building.
He was really frustrated to find that the regular organist was sick, and a substitute organist had been brought in at the last minute.
The substitute organist wanted to know what to play during the coming service.
“Here’s a copy of the service,” the minister said impatiently. “But, you will 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 my friends is how the substitute organist became the regular organist!
Image used under a Collective Commons License from: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2772084