My brother's visiting and natually we got to reminiscing about the congregation back home. We recalled one of the most astonishing things that ever happened in our congregation(that's saying plenty, too!!!). Names have been changed.
An elder is called up to the podium, obviously about to make a judicial announcement. You know how that erie hush falls over the congregation. During the time it takes for the brother conducting the meeting to invite the elder to make his announcement and the time he gets to the podium, your mind is racing. "Who hasn't been attending meetings lately"? "Who's been hanging out with worldly people?" "I hope it's just a reproof, or maybe it's a re-instatement?" "Please don't let it be anyone I'm really close to".
This elder was relatively new to our congregation. He was super responsible and took everything very seriously. As he begins his announcement, "A judicial committee has met and makes the following announcement...". TOTAL SILENCE.....Bob Smith has been disfellowshipped. Brother Smith is about 15. His mothr lets out one of the strangest sounds I've ever heard. It was a little like a shriek, but also almost the kind of exhalation someone might make as they flop down on the couch after mowing the lawn in the sun for 2 hours. Her husband (an elder) imediately turns toward her and puts his arm around her. The brother at the podium pauses and looks a little confused for a moment and then says....I'M sorry, I meant to say BOB JONES. (Also a young person in the congregation).
The Mom is up like a flash and heading toward the back, followed by her husband. The elder making the announcement looked quite sheepish and couldn't seem to find enough ways to say "I'm sorry"!
The brother mistakenly announced as DFed was quite an exemplary young man( which didn't keep him from being reproved a few years later BTW). The brother actually DFed was pretty much a ne'er do well and it made a whole lot more sense to see him DFed. I wish I could tell you the congregation. Everyone should really have the chance to visit it someday. It's kinda like going to the zoo and I actually mean that in a rather affectionate way!