Pastor & Wife's Anniversary Service

[blessedone]

This past Sunday it was my Pastor and Wife's 33rd anniversary services.  It was about over and the pastor came up to do his closing remarks. The pastor begin to sing, the musician from the other church begin playing for him.  I think I did the right thing in not coming up to play for my pastor because the guy was already playing. There were two members of the church pushing me in the back telling me, "Please go play because  this guy cannot pick him up". I didn't want to embarrass the poor guy. By the time I would have made it up there, the pastor would have been finished singing anyway.  What do you think? Do you think I made the right decision?
My other two sisters were there too and they didn't go up to play either. I think we all made the right decision not to go up to play.

[lilcool78]

I believe anytime your a musician and a guest is there it is appropriate for the musician of the pastor/minister/singer who is up or gracing the floor to have his or her musician play you did well by not embarrasing the guest and interrupting the service.

[BBoy]

I must agree with lilcool78. Unless your pastor had requested that you play for him, it would have been embarassing just to shoo the guy off the instrument. In this case, his feelings and love for the brother who was doing the best he could should have taken priority over what others said that you do . . . even though I'm sure they were all very well intentioned.

It might be good sometimes to have an agreement between a singer and an accompanist. Like, it should be understood that every time someone comes to sing, their chosen accompanist should just come to the instrument. There's no shame in this . . . just like some speakers want certain people reading Scripture for them when they preach or certain people working in the prayer line with them when they give an altar call.  But we have to follow our peace . . . but I agree you your decision and the decision of your sisters . . . the guy might have been embarassed, and that wouldn't have been right. Be Blessed . . . BBoy

[4hisglory]

I agree also, it seem like you did the right thing.

[aljeres]

if it's cool for my opinion; i believe you did right, under normal circumstances, you are the musician for your pastor, but it was benediction, and the other musician was there already....it would have been embarrassing for both of you!!!!! because you are right, your pastor probably would 've been done by the time you got there, plus the poor fella was probably already feeling like he knows you would 've had no problem picking it up.........and dont let it be a song that basically any musician or most musicians would've gotten.......oh my go!!!! i know that feeling.....he would've been feeling like those commercials.." going anywhere"...lol feeling like he in the wrong place at the wrong time......but your decision changed all of that.....flesh and blood didnt reveal it to ya! lol...... it was the spirit.......anyhoo , keep letting god use ya!!!!!gieres!!!!!

[blessedone]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

This has happened to me before on other occasions. I don't like embarassing anyone and I don't want anyone embarassing me.  If I can't play something, I just don't play. What was funny was the two church members were saying things like, "PLEASE GO PLAY" and saying, "What does he think he is doing?" Another person said, "He sounds horrible". After church, my sisters were saying, "Why didn't you go up there and help him?" I said, "You can play as well as I can, you should have played". We made the right decision and just sit there with our heads down.