What's Happening at First Universalist Church of Rochester, NY
Find out what's going on and join us for one of our upcoming events.
Weather & Emergency Updates on this week's service will be posted here:
We’re thrilled to share that the elevator in our building has been fully repaired and is now back in working order!
Upcoming Services
Sunday Service:
Seeds of Change - Risk & Gift Culture
11/30/25 at 10:30am
What do we risk as we practice collective care inside a market economy? If you've read Robin Wall Kimmerer’s words and hunger to weave this wisdom into your daily life, join us. With plants as our teachers, expect to laugh, cry, and come alive as we explore living in old and new ways! Bring a bag to bring home an abundance of seeds to sow more fruitful futures for all generations to come. Join us for deeper dialogue after coffee hour!
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After coffee hour: Embodied Gift Economics: Principles & Practices Weaving Interdependent Webs: Let's TALK! Bring your curiosities, questions, concerns & deep care for all beings. We don't pretend to have answers, and we do claim our hearts broken by the market economy can inspire humans re-membering gift culture. Learn, share, long, and practice with us, and sow more fruitful futures together.
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Speaker(s): Petra Page-Mann
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This will be a hybrid service, with the in-person portion being held in the sanctuary of First Universalist, and the virtual portion being held on Zoom.​
Other Upcoming Events
Starting November 23
Homemade Holiday
Holiday gift 'shopping' has never been more fun or easy!
Instead of shopping at the big box stores, shop homemade goods from your fellow congregants.
Step 1 - Make it:
Whether you knit it, carve it, print it, fold it, sew it, paint it, glue it, or a verb that hasn't been invented yet, bring it in! Starting Sunday, November 23, a table will be set up in the Clara Barton Lounge. Bring in your handmade crafts to donate by placing them on the designated table with a suggested donation value anytime between November 23 and December 21.
Step 2 - Shop it:
On Sundays starting November 30 through December 21, you can purchase any of the handmade items by making a thoughtful donation, which will be used to fund church social justice projects in the coming year.
Step 3 - Gift it:
Wrap your gifts and give them to those in your life who deserve something unique.
Fall 2025
Eastman at Washington Square - Fall 2025
The Eastman Community Music School is proud to present free weekly concerts featuring artists from the Eastman School of Music and ECMS. Faculty and Student Performances from both schools offer an excellent opportunity to hear some of the best musicians that Rochester has to offer and all performances are absolutely free!
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Concerts begin around 12:15pm, and run until 12:45 to 1pm. We hope to see you there!
October 16
Chronicles Narrated on 6 Strings
Gerardo Miranda, classical guitar, will present a repertoire that spans a variety of elements of guitar and its history over the centuries.​​
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October 23
Fall in Love
Join us for a delightful afternoon of vocal romance presented by Cecile Saine and Friends, featuring Howard Spindler at the piano.
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October 30
Eastman Harmonie
Enjoy the harmonious sounds of the Eastman Harmonie, wind chamber ensemble comprised of selected Eastman students, as they perform music by Mozart and Berger.
November 6
Piano Extravaganza I
Immerse yourself in the world of piano music with a captivating performance featuring students from the studio of Professor Alan Chow.
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November 13
Early Music
Travel back in time to the enchanting world of early music. This concert is presented in conjunction with Rochester Early music festival.
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November 20
The Stories of Animals I
Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of music and storytelling. Pianists Tony Cho, Soojin Kang, Irina Lupines, and Priscilla Yuen will perform Saint-Saens’ Carnival of Animals, narrated by Professor Kathryn Cowdrick.
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December 4
The Stories of Animals II
Embark on a journey through the enchanting world of Peter and the Wolf, presented by pianists Tony Chow and Soojin Kang, narrated by Professor Katherine Ciesinski.
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December 11
The Stories of Animals III
Join us for a heartwarming performance of the story of Babar, the little elephant, featuring Priscilla Yuen and Irina Lupines, narrated by Professor Sylvie Beaudette.
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December 18
Holiday Jazz
Get ready to be entertained by the soulful tunes of Bob Sneider and friends as they bring us the spirit of the holidays.
November 27
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27, at 11am, our minster, Rev. Eileen Casey-Campbell will be preaching at the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Day Service hosted by Asbury First!
This service is the longest running of its kind in the US, having begun in the post-Civil War years. Clergy from the Jewish, Muslim, Unitarian Universalist, and Baptist congregations met to plan this year's service.
A shofar will be blown, scripture from the Koran will be read, there will be prayer all in the spirit of gratitude for all of the blessings we have been given, and for the blessing of being able to worship as one, respecting each other and our varied and diverse traditions.
All are welcome!
December 2, 2025
Drop-In Discussion:
Close To Home for the Holidays
What can we do this holiday season to keep our community's resources from migrating to the pockets of the world's wealthiest? Let's talk about withholding support from extractive capitalism and increasing support for our neighbors. Led by Rev. Eileen Casey- Campbell. ​​
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​Drop-in Discussions meet via Zoom Tuesday nights from 6:30-7:30pm.
January 18, 2026
January Social Justice Plate Offering: Foodlink
Our January Social Justice Plate Offering is designated for Foodlink.
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"We believe that the fight against hunger and the fight against poverty are one and the same. We envision a future in which food is recognized as a human right and every person is able to feed themselves and their families in dignity."​
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Please contribute to support this important work. For more info, visit their website, foodlinkny.org/.
TBA
UU & You
Are you interested in learning more about our faith?
Our minister, Rev. Eileen, and our Congregational Life Coordinator, Justin Wilson, will be leading a UU & You session after the service on Sunday 10/19/25 in the Chalice Room.
This brief discussion is designed for visitors or newcomers who are looking for a general introduction to help decide if First Universalist Church would be a good match for them.