Increasing Your Offerings


          after the  worship service,  the pastor  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."