Join us for the grand re-opening of Room 21 on Sunday, 3/22/26 at 12pm (after service)!

We’ll be kicking off this opening with an art event for kids (and kids at heart).

Make a 6”x6” art piece to keep, or to donate to Rochester Contemporary Art Center for their 6x6x2026 festival (Learn more at roco6x6.org).

The Book Club is BACK!  We will be discussing the UUA Annual Read, "Social Change Now!". This book is available for rent in our library, or purchase at inSpirit: uuabookstore.org.

Even if you haven't read the book, you are welcome to attend and learn about this practical guide and the lessons within for us all. We hope you can join us: 3/29 at noon (after church service) in the Chalice Room (Rm. 23).

We invite you all to our newest gathering: Fellowship Club. 

No need to RSVP. No expectation to show up every time. No pressure to explain if you are late or leave early. You are always welcome. Come as you are. There is a place for you here.

Coffee will be provided, but feel free to bring other snacks or refreshments you would like. Show up, socialize, get to know one another, play a board game - or don't! You'll still be welcome next month. We hope to see you there: First Tuesdays, 12PM-1:30pm in the Library/ Clara Barton Lounge.

Our April Social Justice Plate Offering is designated for The Center for Teen Empowerment Rochester.

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Since 1992, The Center for Teen Empowerment has worked to transform communities, create safe spaces, and invest in the power of youth and adult partnerships to build stronger and more socially just communities.

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Please contribute to support this important work. For more info visit teenempowerment.org/.

The Homeless Outreach Team and First Universalist Church will be hosting a free breakfast for unhoused people (plus clothing and access to representatives from housing agencies, case management, etc.). 

See Bill Schubmehl or Elizabeth Osta if you would like to volunteer or for additional information. 

Note: Guests and volunteers are invited to stay for the Eastman at Washington Square concert at 12:15pm.

Join us to craft a service or just hone your worship skills!

If you love worship and have even one story that moves your heart, you can preach!

We’ll gather twice after worship, on Sundays 3/22 and 3/29, from noon-1:30, and we will all finish this short series with a ready-to-lead worship service (though you do not have to commit to leading worship to participate!).

TBA​

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​In-Person Drop-in Discussions meet at 9:15am in the Chalice Room, and will continue on the first Sunday of the month. All are welcome!

The LGBTQIA+ social justice circle is having its meeting once again!

Both queer and ally individuals alike are invited to attend our meeting, as we plan on collaborating to make our congregation and Rochester even more fabulous!

Since we heard the EcoJustice committee has something going on during coffee hour after services, we pushed our meeting back to noon to give everyone time to check that out first. 

Talk to Willow, or a committee member, if you want to help!

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Feel free to grab a snack from the coffee hour and head upstairs to the Gratitude Room (22)  after service at noon! We hope to see you there!

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Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85214334476?pwd=Kpx5oUaiCItabp0rO4HlYyhqaQasq7.1

Looking to have deeper conversations about our faith? Want to connect with other congregants about spirituality? Or maybe you want to discuss the sermons and seasonal themes in more depth?

Every third Sunday at noon (following church service), join us in the Chalice Room (2nd floor) for this new open group series on dedicated spiritual topics and themes.

Open to all, attend when you can!

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!

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February 26

“A Woman’s Hand”

Lynn McGrath performs a program that highlights charming works of the 20th century by women guitarist-composers María Luisa Anido, Ida Presti, and Louise Walker.

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March 5

The Sound of Low Brass

Enjoy the magnificent sound of ESM Trombone Choir directed by Larry Zalkind and Mark Kellogg.

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March 12

She Plucks Her Pen

Harpist Sunshine Quan presents solo harp works by female harpist-composers Pearl Chertok, Sophia Dussek, Caroline Lizotte, and Ekaterina Walter-Kuhne.

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March 19

Virtuoso Trumpet

Demian Spindler performs a preview of his solo program for the upcoming International Trumpet Guild’s 50th Anniversary Conference, which will take place this May at the Eastman School!

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March 26

In Slavic Spirit

Violinist Mikhail Kopelman, cellist Rosemary Elliott, and pianist Irina Lupines perform the Piano Trio “Dumky,” a brooding and introspective composition with cheerful sections interspersed throughout.

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April 2

Piano Extravaganza I

The students from the studio of Professors Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers will dazzle you with piano masterpieces.

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April 9

Piano Extravaganza II

The students from the studio of Professors Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers will dazzle you with more piano masterpieces.

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April 16

Woodwind Chamber Music

Come and enjoy fabulous music for woodwind ensemble performed by ESM students.

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April 23

All American

Soprano Tyler Cassidy-Heacock and composer/pianist Daniel Pesca will present a program of vocal music by American composers using texts from American writers. 

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April 30

Fulton Chamber Players

Violinist and ECMS alum Addison Teng and violist Amy Hess present works for violin and viola by Classical stalwart Anton Hoffmeister and little-known late-Romantic Emil Kreuz.

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May 7

Entre Tierra y Recuerdo (Between Homeland and Memory)

Tenor Pablo Bustos and pianist Priscilla Yuen will perform the program centered on themes of memory, love, and cultural storytelling, drawing on music from Argentina, Spain, and Chile.

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May 14

New Horizons Chorus

The New Horizons Chorus will journey through musical eras, sharing songs from medieval chant to Renaissance polyphony and a Bach chorale. They’ll also perform several contemporary pieces inspired by the classics. 

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May 21

Honors Finale

Enjoy the final concert of the season, featuring more amazing young high school graduates from the Honors Program at the Eastman Community Music School.

Learn a few tales from Homeless Outreach Team (H.O.T.) members Bill Schubmehl and Elizabeth Osta about their Thursday outreach with our neighbors who are unhoused. The initiative brings together agencies and faith workers to offer compassion and hope to the most vulnerable in our community. If time permits, we'll also discuss ongoing efforts to make H.O.T. more effective in assisting our unhoused neighbors.​​

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​Drop-in Discussions meet via Zoom Tuesday nights from 6:30-7:30pm.

Members of the Rochester Theater Organ Society will practice their favorite pieces on our Hope-Jones organ—just for fun! Usually performing on the Wurlitzer at the Rochester Museum & Science Center (currently under renovation), they’ll be playing at First Universalist instead.

Bring your family and friends! Drop in anytime to listen, chat with organists, and enjoy this free event.

Our monthly food ingathering for the Community Food Cupboard! Low-sodium non-perishable food, toiletries, paper products, and cash are always needed and deeply appreciated!

Bring yourself, family and friends to listen and watch members of the Rochester Theater Organ Society practice some of their favorite pieces on the pipe organ in our sanctuary.

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From 1:30-4:30pm on Sunday afternoon, March 1, community organists will sign up to play the Hope-Jones, just for fun. Usually they play on the Wurlitzer organ at the Rochester Museum and Science Center, but it is under renovation at this time. So, we invited them to come to First Universalist. Church members are welcome to come and go, walk up to the console and speak with the organists, and listen as well at this free event.

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They plan to return on May 17, so save the dates! Contact Charlie Courtsal with any questions.

First Universalist Men's Group meeting, all who identify as he/him or they/him are invited! We shall meet from 10am to noon in the Clara Barton Lounge at First Universalist. We hope to see you there!