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
Candlelit Christmas Eve Service: Love Shows Up
12/24/25 at 7pm
Don't forget, there will be a musical prelude at 6:30pm before the service! Service begins at 7pm.
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When we say Love is at the center of our faith, what does that mean? Our faith has always claimed that Love shows up, in our ordinary lives, with extraordinary saving power. Tonight we tell stories of Love showing up even when it wasn't expected.
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Speaker: Rev. Eileen Casey-Campbell
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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.​
Sunday Service: Cleansing Fire - A New Year Fire Communion
12/28/25 at 10:30am
At this multigenerational New Year fire communion service, we will tell stories of light, hope, and belonging. Let us gather together to celebrate the risk and gift of beginning again in love.
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Speaker(s): Tom Williams (he/him) & Kitty Forbush (she/her)
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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.​
Sunday Service: Going Softly
1/4/26 at 10:30am
In case we have come barreling into the New Year, resolute with purpose, power, and productivity, let us take a moment to pause. To resolve to move more slowly. To be softer. And to hold on to the power of vulnerability.
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Speaker(s): Rev. Eileen Casey-Campbell (she/her)
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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
December 30, 2025
Drop-In Discussion: Our 2025 ‘Joys and Concerns’ Wrap-up
Let’s share joys and concerns we all experienced this year. This may help us be more prepared to embark on the coming year’s journey. John Lukes will lead. ​​
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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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​Foodlink has a 46-year history of mobilizing a diverse network of community partners to address both the symptoms and root causes of food insecurity throughout the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region of New York. They advocate for equity and creating healthy futures for every community we serve. In light of recent challenges with Federal funding, your generosity is needed now more than ever.
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Please contribute to support this important work. For more info, visit their website, foodlinkny.org/.
Fall 2025
Eastman at Washington Square - Spring 2026
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!
January 8
Spanish & French Renaissance Guitar Music
In a historically oriented performance played on a replica historical instrument presenting the earliest printed guitar music ever published, Pedro Sperb brings to modern audiences the first original Spanish and French Renaissance guitar music ever written specifically for the instrument.​​
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January 15
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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January 22
Janus Trio
The Janus Trio is named after the Roman God depicted with two faces – one looking backwards and one looking forwards. In that vein, Logan Wadley, tuba and serpent, Benjamin Kim, trumpet and baroque trumpet, and Ethan Pound, trombone and sackbut, will bring to life both archaic and new music for brass chamber ensemble.
January 29
Piano Extravaganza
The students from the studio of Professor Alan Chow will dazzle you with piano masterpieces.
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February 5
Korean and Taiwanese Art Song
Join us for a celebration of the Lunar New Year of 2026! We’ll be featuring beautiful Korean and Taiwanese art songs performed by soprano Joanna Hyunji Kim and Yu Jen Tsai, with Samuel Ka-Ming Leung at the piano.
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February 12
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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February 19
Music for Violin and Piano
David Bowlin, violin, and Tony Cho, piano, perform William Grant Still’s Pastorela and Sonata for Violin and Piano by Francis Poulenc.
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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.
January 6, 2026
Drop-In Discussion: UU Whale Coast Alaska Tours
Join MJ Curry, Jenny Cos, and some fellow travelers to hear about these amazing Alaska tours that are hosted by UU Alaskan congregations. Our presenters will describe their experiences on the tours from 2024 and 2025 and answer questions. These tours are fundraising projects for the Fairbanks, Anchorage, Juneau and Sitka UU congregations and are wonderful opportunities to get to know local Alaskans in their communities. All are welcome for this presentation! ​​
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​Drop-in Discussions meet via Zoom Tuesday nights from 6:30-7:30pm.
February 1, 2026
Save the Date: Annual Service Auction!
Do you have your 2026 calendar yet? And have you marked Sunday, February 1 as a special day?
Our Annual Service Auction will be held in the Clara Barton lounge after our worship service. Mark the date and be sure to participate! More info to come!
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.