World Aids Day Annual Celebration

World Aids Day: Success

On Wednesday, December 7, 2011, at the Mental Health Association, a World AIDS Day program took place. There were 25 people in attendance. It was a very inspirational program, and very touching. The theme this year was "Universal Access and Human Rights: Act Aware." The World AIDS Day Program promoted awareness, and recovery in every sense of the word. Reverend Rhodes was very inspiring, and brought with him a very uplifting message. The music played by Ms. Anoia was also very inspirational and uplifting. It really fit the theme of the program well. Between the guest speaker, Reverend Rhodes, and Ms. Anoia's beautiful music, the day was a great success!

~ Program Highlights ~

World Aids Day December 1, 2009 was celebrated in the Erie Community

On Friday, December 4, 2009 the Mental Health Association held a memorial service for World Aids Day including prayer by Reverend W. Owen Rhodes, music by Mrs. Anoia Rhodes-Hobson, and a guest speaker. An AIDS quilt provided by SCI Cambridge Springs was on display as well as the Tree of Hope. All in attendance were extremely moved by Reverend Rhodes' uplifting messages, Anoia's tremendous musical talents, and the guest speaker's personal story of acceptance and finding herself although HIV positive.

World Aids Day December 1, 2009 was celebrated in the Erie Community according to this schedule:

Nov 29 2009 Sunday: 10:00AM Abundant Life Ministries Worship Service) (ABLHO); 6:00PM Abundant Life Ministries Dinner & Concert (ABLHO)
Nov 30 2009 Monday: Noon Quilt Display & Pictures of the Past 1505 State; 8:00PM An Evening of Awareness at 1505 State
Dec 1 2009 Tuesday: All Day Right To Live Campaign; 8:30AM to 4:30PM (Thru Dec 4th)
    Mercyhurst College - Student Union
    (Table with statistics, red ribbons and facts)
    Carolyn Hermann Student Union
    501 E 38th St, Erie PA 16545
    Contact: Pertrina Marerro @ 824-2369; 6:00PM
    Tag-Team Ministry Presentation of World Aids Day 2009
    (Speakers and Quilt Display)
    New Revelation Full Gospen Baptist Church
    947 W 9th Street
    Contact: Claudette McAdory @459-4128; 8:00PM Club Craze Music Event (ABLHO)
Dec 3 2009 Thursday: 11:00AM ‘Speak Out”. An evening of Spoken Word at Club Craze (ABLHO); 7:00PM to 9:00PM
    Community United Church
    1011 W 38th St
    Contact: Mary Viglione @454-4530 X 290
Dec 4 2009 Friday: 1:15PM Mental Health Association
    (Memorial Service, Tree of Hope, Quilt display)
    1101 Peach St (Upstairs)
    Contact: Rita Wheeler @ 452-4452 X 103; 5:00PM Young Adult Forum at JFK Center; 6:00PM Community Celebration at St James AME Church
Dec 5 2009 Saturday: 11:00AM Community Celebration at Greater Calvary Church; 7:00PM ‘Raise the Praise' Dance (ABLHO)
Dec 9 2009 Wednesday: 11:30AM Mercyhurst College - Student Union
    (Lunch &Speaker) Open to Students
    Carolyn Hermann Student Union
    501 E 38th St, Erie PA 16546
    Contact: Pertrina Marrero @824-2369
Dec 12 2009 Saturday: 2:30PM Remembering the Spirit of Julia and Others
    (Quilt Display and Speaker)
    Mental Health Association
    1101 Peach St (Upstairs)
    Contact: Steve Simmelkjaer @ 459-4775

Organizations participating in this celebration are:

World Aids Day 2008 Celebration

World Aids Day 2008 was celebrated at the Mental Health Association on December 2, 2008. Participants from throughout the Erie community joined with Rev. W. Owen Rhodes and Music Minister Anoia Rhodes Hobson in remembering our loved ones who have been lost to AIDS. Event Photos

World Aids Day Observation a Moving Success

On December 4 2007, we observed World Aids Day with a memorable program of reflection and prayer. A wide selection of literature was available for participants and red ribbons were handed out.

An AIDS memorial quilt was on display courtesy of Erie County SCI Albion.

A moving personal testimony from an MHA member opened the event.

The Rev. W. Owen Rhodes of the New Jerusalem Lutheran Church then led a Prayer Service accompanied by the impressive talents of his daughter, Ms. Anoia Rhodes. Ms. Anoia played softly during the entire service, occasionally playing complete songs she knew by heart. Rev. Rhodes concluded the service with a "moment of healing" which found the 25 attending people standing in a circle and joining hands.

Attendees were invited to stay afterwards for fellowship and healthy refreshments.

Photos of the event.

World AIDS Day Memorial Celebration
"Save The Children, Keeping the Promise"

World AIDS Day is an annual remembrance of persons living with or affected by AIDS.

The Mental Health Association in conjunction with the Erie County Department of Health hosted its annual Eucharistic service and quilt display on December 1, 2006.

Please visit our Photo Display from this celebration.

"Save the Children, Keep the Promise" was the theme for World AIDS Day, December 1, 2006. The Mental Health Association acknowledged the day with a Tree of Hope, a quilt display and a Communion Service.

The Tree of Hope, an artificial evergreen was decorated in the lobby with red balloons, cutouts of children and red ribbons with people's names that had died from AIDS. These people were later remembered at the Communion Service. An AIDS quilt was displayed in the Arts and Culture Gallery for the day.

Reverend Randy Roda celebrated a Communion and Healing Service at the MHA on Friday, December 1 at 1:30PM. Song, Scripture and prayer were a part of the service. At the end of the service people were invited to come forward for a laying on of hands. Reverend Randy listened to each person's request for healing and offered a unique prayer and blessing on each person who came forward.

Information on prevention and testing was available. Light refreshments and fellowship were shared for the rest of the afternoon.

Comments from a participant

In one accord people came together because there is no refuge from their selves. People amazingly still do not accept that AIDS is not a one human sector disease. People come together in a common ground to plant roots to grow. In this ground we pray together, we fellowship together and we live/die together. But only through God's grace and mercy comes healing and blessings. Amen.