OBERLIN — The World AIDS Day service at Christ Episcopal Church Hall on Tuesday night was billed as a memorial service, but it was also a revival meeting.

Vince Morvatz drove all the way from Akron to attend the service, the only one he could find in Northeast Ohio.

“This was an individual call to action,” he said of the service. “Everyone can do something, even if it’s just talking about HIV and AIDS. If we keep fighting, we will someday live in a world free of AIDS.”

Morvatz also came to remember and reflect. He wore a sash with 115 different ribbons on it, one for each friend he has lost to AIDS. He also runs a Web site, www.rememberme.org, to commemorate those lost to AIDS.

James Marotta of Lorain, also came to the service. This time of year is hard on him. On Thanksgiving Day 2004, his partner of four years, Frank Aguirre, was admitted to Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., as he neared the end of his battle with AIDS. He died that Sunday at age 32. Aguirre’s birthday was Dec. 11.

“This time of year’s rough,” said Marotta, who moved back to Lorain in 2007. He remains HIV-negative.

Last night, however, wasn’t just about loss for him, Marotta said.

“There’s a sense of hope here,” Marotta said. “Amongst all the ignorance and stigma, there’s a very large group that cares and will reach out their hands.”

Marotta found support from the Lorain County AIDS Task Force, which helped organize the service, after he moved back and now serves as the organization’s secretary.

That simple message — “people care” — is one of the key reasons for having the service, said Christ Episcopal Church Pastor Brian K. Wilbert.

“I hope this gives people strength to carry on advocacy work,” he said.

The service was interfaith. In addition to the Rev. Wilbert, the Rev. David Hill of Oberlin’s First Church United Church of Christ led prayers during the service, and the Rev. Doug Horner of St. Paul’s Community United Church of Christ in Cleveland performed hymns with a three-piece band. The Rev. Max Rodas, pastor at Medina Church of the Nazarene and executive director of Nueva Luz (“New Light”) urban resource center in Cleveland, was in attendance. Nueva Luz’s program, Proyecto Luz (“Project Light”), is affiliated with the Lorain County AIDS Task Force.

“Righteous branch” — taken from the book of Jeremiah in the Bible — was a common theme of the service. The passage mentioning it was read. And a branch was passed around during the service.

At one point, attendees called out names of those they wished to remember. A prayer said, “I may be different from you, but I have a right to be safe. I may be dying, but I have a right to receive care and support.”

Wilbert said during his homily that it’s appropriate to hold the service at this time of year.

“We remember the 25 million children of God lost,” he said. “And we rededicate ourselves to a future without AIDS and HIV. This is the season of Advent, and a key theme of this season is hope.”

He called on attendees to fight the stigma that leaves so many HIV patients isolated and alienated when they need help the most.

The closing prayer of the service called on the branch of righteousness.

“Surprise the world with a goodness that is able to feed the hungry on a hillside, rather than the goodness which accuses others of not taking care and judging their misdeeds,” was one line.

The most recent available statistics available from the Ohio Department of Health said that as of 2007, about 220 people in Lorain County are HIV-positive or have AIDS. Three million people worldwide are infected with HIV each year.

Ricky Lanza, executive director of the Lorain County AIDS Task Force, said he fears for the younger generation. AIDS has become the top killer of young women worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

“They have this thing that it’s our problem, meaning older people — not theirs,” he said. “They’re not getting the facts and education they need.”

Contact Melissa Hebert at 329-7129 or mhebert@chroniclet.com.

---

Print this story
Report an inappropriate comment

---

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.

---