Anglican Cathedral last night to remember their loved ones.

And at the first ecumenical service of its kind people from all walks of life were urged by Methodist minister the Rev. David Chisling not to let the community forget their loved ones.

With a sermon titled "Look What They've Done to My Name'', Rev. Chisling also stressed that the community must stop judging those who contract the deadly disease.

"If I were to pass away with cancer or tuberculosis and somebody came up to my wife and asked what did he die of, my wife could say cancer or tuberculosis,'' he said. "But if it was AIDS she couldn't say that.

"Who are we to have the audacity to lay anything on anyone?'' The Anglican Bishop of Bermuda, the Rt. Rev. William Down, opened the service by listing facts about AIDS that he said all must learn to face.

He said those who attended the service had chosen to deal with them.

The service included hymns, solos and readings from those who lost someone to AIDS, and one man who has lived with the disease for the past five years.

Those attending were asked to light 175 candles in memory of those who have died of AIDS in Bermuda.

While they made their way to the altar, the alarming statistics of AIDS deaths were read out.

From one death in 1982 the figures rose to 19 by 1985.

Between 1986 and 1988 another 58 people died from AIDS. In 1986, 15 more died; in 1987, 19 more; in 1988, 24.

In 1989, 26 people lost their lives to AIDS and in 1990 that figure increased to 27 more.

Last year the figure was about the same, another 27 people died of AIDS. And so far this year 18 people have died of it.

The service was one of several activities leading up to World AIDS Day tomorrow. An opera gala will be held tomorrow night to support the fight against AIDS.

Proceeds from the one-night concert will go to Sandys Rotary Club's AIDS education fund.

The idea for the concert, A Classical Response To AIDS , was sparked by Rev.

Chisling's wife Nancy, who is an acclaimed mezzo-soprano.

Mrs. Chisling will be singing alongside an international roster of opera stars from Bermuda, Canada, America, Britain and Austria.

It is hoped that 300 people will purchase the $100 tickets, which would enable the club to raise around $300,000, which organisers say is the minimum amount needed to establish it.

Governor Lord Waddington and Lady Waddington will host a reception at Government House, which will be followed by the concert at St. John's Church, Pembroke.

Tickets for the concert are available from Opus 1 on Reid Street or from Rev.

Chisling.

Rev. Chisling is involved in several other events organised by the Bermuda World AIDS Day Committee to mark December 1.

He took part in a seminar on pastoral care for people living with AIDS which was sponsored by the Sandys Rotary Club, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and the Women's Auxiliary.

Some 30 members of the public attended the seminar at Cathedral Hall which was conducted by the Rev. Phyllis Smythe and the Rev. Philip Joudrey from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal.

Rev. Smythe and Rev. Joudrey shared with the group their experiences on a specialist AIDS team in the Canadian hospital.

Rev. Joudrey, who heads that ministry, gave international statistics on the disease. And Rev. Smythe gave a modern day application of the biblical book of Job to show how the issue can be wrestled.

They also listened to the local clergy experiences.

A teen forum called "Who Says You Have To'' will be presented by the Health Department on today, tomorrow and Wednesday at Dr. E.F. Gordon Hall at BIU headquarters, beginning at 1.30 p.m.