A Service of Remembrance for victims of the Rhoads Opera House Fire was held at St. John's Lutheran Church, Boyertown, at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008.

The service was opened by Rev. John Pearson, pastor of St. John's and president of the Boyertown Area Ministerial Association. The service seemed well attended-I'd estimate about 100 people, maybe a few more.

There was a nice bulletin handed out with interesting information on the last page. The Boyertown congregations held memorials for the fire victims on Feb. 1, 1908. Several hymns sung today were sung then (marked with * here).

First, Pastor Pearson told those gathered that the Boyertown Area Historical Society's opera house exhibit would be open at 4, about 20 minutes after the service concluded. Then, he asked for a show of hands of how many people gathered lost family in the fire. More than a dozen hands were raised (maybe more like 20?). Then he asked how many had relatives who were injured or escaped the fire. A half dozen hands were raised.

Sister Millicent of St. John's then read the Thanksgiving for Baptism and Greeting. There was a Prayer of the Day, a reading from Job 19:23-27, Psalm 130 was read responsively, a reading from Romans 8:31-27, and the choir performed an anthem "Abide with Me"

There was a reading from John 14:1-7 and the choir sang "Who Knows How Near My End May Be?*" Then Pastor Pearson gave the sermon "Remembered by Name." He shared some stories of victims of the fire and survivors of the fire. He spoke of how often in a tragedy people look to blame, and that happened with the opera house fire. He spoke of how people often blame God, but reminded us that God gave his only son to save us.

I was very touched when the pastors from the ministerium were participating all stood and took turns reading the names and ages of all 170 fire victims. And the church bell was tolled for each. It was nice to know that even people not attending the service would hear the bells as a memorial. I also thought that it might have been almost 100 years since some of these people's names were said aloud.

It's easy to talk about the fire and remember it and still lose sight of the 170 individuals killed.

Those gathered then sang "Nearer My God to Thee*", which by the way is not an easy song to sing (which is probably why they had to copy the words in the program-maybe hymn books no longer have it because the meter seems very strange--just my personal opinion.)

We said the Nicene Creed, heard prayers, said the Lord's Prayer, then read the 23rd Psalm. The service ended with a commendation and the group singing "Rock of Ages Cleft for Me."

There was a table at the church displaying items from church records at the time of the fire.

The St. John's Parish Register from that time showed 78 funerals for its members.

This old photo showed the inside of St. John's Church (I didn't see a year marked).

The Commendation: Let us commend all those who have died to the mercy of God, our maker and redeemer.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend those who died a century ago in the Opera House Fire. Acknowldege, we humbly beseech you, sheep of your own fold, lambs of your own flock, sinners of your own redeeming. Recieve them into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do God's will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in God's sight; thorugh Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.