What's Happening at First Universalist
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:
Upcoming Services
Sunday Service:
Prepare, Discern, Joy
12/8/24 at 10:30am
A service about how we prepare for and recognize God’s presence and how we discover joy that will not be robbed by current events. This service will lift up the work of REACH that First Universalist has so wonderfully supported.
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Speaker: Rev. Peter Peters
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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 Events
January 19, 2025
January Social Justice Plate Offering: Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU)
Our January Social Justice Plate Offering is designated for Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU).
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Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU). BLUU is committed to expanding the power and capacity of Black UUs within Unitarian Universalism; providing support, information, and resources for Black Unitarian Universalists; and justice-making and liberation for Black people through our faith.
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BLUU started as a small organizing collective that formed in 2015 in Cleveland during the Movement for Black Lives Convening. They are now a thriving spiritual community and justice-minded organization creating connection for Black people. BLUU is committed to Unitarian Universalism that is liberatory and life-giving for Black people. They manifest this dream by creating spiritual community, spiritual resources, and political education opportunities for Black Unitarian Universalists and other Black folks.
Please contribute as generously as you can to support this important work. For more info, visit their website https://blacklivesuu.org/.​
December 8, 2024
Book Group: James by Percival Everett
The Book Group will meet at noon in the Chalice Room to discuss “James” by Percival Everett.
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A discussion of National Book Award-winning Percival Everett's "James". The Huckleberry Finn adventure from the point of view of his companion, James. You need not have read the book to participate.
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You do not need to have read the book to participate. Questions? Contact bookgroup@uuroc.org.
December 14, 2024
Queer Community Event: Naming Ceremony!
​First Universalist will join with First Unitarian Church of Rochester and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua to host a public Naming Ceremony for transgender and gender non-conforming people in the greater Rochester area.
An LGBTQ+ resource fair will also be provided during the day.
The legal clinic portion of this event has been postponed until after the new year.
Areas for support:
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Provide food for a potluck lunch,
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Attending the ceremony at 4pm
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Please contact Rev. Lane-Mairead to participate at minister@uuroc.org.
This event will be hosted at First Unitarian Church.
Fall 2024
Eastman at Washington Square - Fall 2024
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 17
Fall Piano Extravaganza
Featuring pianists Jingning and Fenglei Wang from the studio of Professor Kobrin. Enjoy the music of Bach, Ravel, and Bartok.​
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October 24
Music for Clarinet and Piano
Victor Ni, clarinet, and Samuel Leung, piano, perform the music of Schumann, Widor, and Copland.
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October 31
Hallowing Musical Treats
A spooky selection of vocal repertoire from Classical Song, Opera, Musical Theatre, and Jazz presented by faculty, staff, and students from the Eastman Community Music School. ​
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November 7
ONYX Clarinet Quartet
The ONYX Clarinet Quartet, comprised of Terry Gerber, Laurie Dobmeier, Roxanne Woy, and Alan Woy, was formed in 2010. The program will feature a wide variety of musical styles including classical, pop, jazz, klezmer, and traditional American and Latin music.
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November 14
Early Music for the Lute Family
Pedro Teorba and friends present repertory for a few instruments from the lute family by underrepresented Latin-American Baroque composers alongside European Renaissance canonical works for the lute. This concert is presented in conjunction with the Rochester Early Music Festival.
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November 21
Autumn Serenade
Cecile Saine, soprano, and Howard Spindler, piano, with guests Susan Cotroneo, Jim Grab, and Mark Daniels, perform familiar Duets and Trios.
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December 5
Music from 100 Years Ago/Hits from 1924 Celebrating their 100th Birthday
Pianist Tony Caramia presents a sampling of wonderful popular songs from 1924, that have become standards. Guest performers include students from the studio of Sara Gazarek, Professor of Jazz Voice.
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December 12
Daphne Piano Trio
Graduate Eastman students violinist Chihiro Kakishima, cellist Hannah Sohn, and pianist Huiping Cai perform trio by Ravel.​
December 10, 2024
Drop-In Discussion:
Founding Fathers vs Christian Nationalism
Many “founding fathers” were deists and active in Unitarian churches in the Revolutionary era. They experienced the complexities of persecution from church and state enmeshment. Let's consider this issue from the viewpoint of historical figures who were there, and consider the confusing and manipulative statements that you might be hearing from the Christian Nationalist movement. Rev. Michelle will facilitate.​
January 5, 2025
In-Person Drop-In Discussion: Reasons for Hope?
Folklore reminds us that it is darkest before dawn. Given the climate challenges, the refugee crisis, the border crisis, the DEI challenges, threats to a liberal democracy, do we have reason(s) for hope? Is there good news out there we hear little about? Is there hope for tomorrow? Bill Elwell will lead a discussion of these questions.
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Drop-in discussions will continue on the first Sunday of the month through June, 2025.
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Postponed - Date TBA
Welcoming Neurodivergent Children: Video and Discussion Part II
Noon-1:15pm in the Sanctuary
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Please join us to view, consider and discuss the second part of "Welcoming Neurodivergent Children," a webinar from the UUA. You don't have to have attended Part I to participate. Rev. Michelle will facilitate.