What's Happening at First Universalist Church
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:
2/6/26: The elevator in our building is currently out of service. We are hoping for a speedy repair, and will maintain updates here!
Upcoming Services
Sunday Service: Truth and Consequences - Pulpit Swap!
2/22/26 at 10:30am
In this muddy season of the world when truth is hard to discern, let’s consider those things that do ring true. And let’s remember that our search for truth and meaning is apt to lead us to some potentially surprising consequences along the way.​
Speaker(s): Rev. Cindy Terlazzo (she/her)
​​
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
February 22, 2026
Eastman Organ Community Concert
This 4pm concert is open to the public with a free-will offering to benefit the Eastman Organ Department student travel fund.
The concert is part of a series that features short organ recitals by Eastman students as part of the department’s ongoing initiative to bring organ music to the Rochester community.
Performances are held in various churches around the greater Rochester area. Since every pipe organ is unique, both performers and concert-goers enjoy the diverse soundscapes and colors of the variety of instruments showcased throughout the series.
​
From November to May, students will perform monthly concerts that facilitate a musical connection between organists and the community beyond weekly Sunday services.
February 26, 2026
Archives Reception at U of R, 4-6pm: RSVP by Fri, Feb. 20!
We invite you to a reception at the Dept. of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation to celebrate the acquisition of our archives! Over the past few years, with funding from the New York State Convention of Universalists, First Universalist hired a professional to catalog our church archives.
We have now transferred our archives to the the University of Rochester, where they have been processed and are available for use.
RSVP to MJ Curry by Friday, February 20!
If you need her email, contact office@uuroc.org. For detailed directions, see the church calendar event description!
We hope to see you there!
March 15, 2026
Monthly Open Connection Circle
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?
Starting Sunday, January 18, we will be launching a new drop-in connection circle. 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!
April 5, 2026
Rochester Theater Organ Open Listening Session
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.
February 24, 2026
Drop-In Discussion:
UU Acronyms, Jargon, & Other Terms
What is FIAC, COM, NomCom, UUA? Why do so many Unitarian Universalist churches start with the name “First?” What do our leaders mean by the words Polity, Covenant, Worship, and Faith in a UU setting? Join Rev. Michelle Yates to consider these and more. Bring your related questions and/or email her your questions ahead of time at edu@uuroc.org. ​​​​
​
​Drop-in Discussions meet via Zoom Tuesday nights from 6:30-7:30pm.
March 8, 2026
LGBTQIA+ Social Action Circle February Meeting
Our newly forming LGBTQIA+ social action circle is dedicated to serving the Rochester Queer community, and we would love for you to join us! Feel free to grab a snack from the coffee hour, and head upstairs to the Gratitude Room immediately after service!
March 8, 2026
Rochester Model Railroad Club: Open House!
The RMRRC is celebrating their annual Open House! Saturday’s hours are 10am-5pm, Sunday’s hours are 1-5pm; members of First Universalist can visit for free following the service. Their model railroad features a 2,400 sqft layout, with steam and diesel locomotives in the basement of First Universalist.
Note: Unfortunately their space is not accessible.
March 22 & 29, 2026
Preaching as Storytelling Workshops
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!).
May 28, 2026
Homeless Outreach Team: Free Breakfast Plus Services
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.
March 1, 2026
In-Person Drop-In Discussion: Margaret Sanger: Hero or Villain?
At the time of her death in 1966, Margaret Sanger was praised as the driving force behind giving women the right to birth control. Now some condemn her as a eugenicist. Phil Ebersole will do a presentation and lead a discussion about this complex figure. ​
​
​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!
March 8, 2026
Wanted: Bowlers and Donors...
.. to strike out homelessness at Family Promise's Bowl-a-thon. Every $500 we give shelters a family for two weeks!
​
To Bowl:
go to fpgroc.org/bowl and buy a ticket--$60 per bowler. Sign up as an individual bowler. On the "Leave a Message" screen, write "First Universalist" in the message space. On the payment page, Givebutter (the ticketing platform) automatically adds a 15% tip for GiveButter, which also charges a processing fee. To remove the tip, click one of the arrows, select “Other,” and enter 0% in the pop-up. After signing up, please email Chris DeGolyer at fpgroc@uuroc.org that you're planning to bowl.
To Donate:
Go to fpgroc.org/bowl and click on “Purchase Tickets Here”. On the next page, click on “Tix/Sponsor/Donate and “No thanks, I'd just like to donate”. Questions? Contact fpgroc@uuroc.org. Let's see how many weeks we can support!
March 15, 2026
March Social Justice Plate Offering: Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) & Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM)
Our March Social Justice Plate Offering is designated for Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) & Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM).
​​
Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism started as a small organizing collective 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 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.
Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries is the oldest and largest Unitarian Universalist People of Color ministry and anti-racist community organization based in North America. In 2018, the UUA and DRUUMM re-entered into a five year covenant, including direct financial support and mutual agreements to serve UU People of Color. Today, DRUUMM includes religious professionals, adults, youth, children, joined together to affirm, celebrate and strengthen the racially diverse communities within Unitarian Universalism.
Please contribute to support this important work. For more info on BLUU, visit blacklivesuu.org. For more info on DRUUMM, visit druumm.org.
March 29, 2026
Book Club is BACK!
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).
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!
​
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.​​
​
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.
​
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.
​
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 sopranos Joanna Hyunji Kim and Yu Jen Tsai, with Samuel Ka-Ming Leung at the piano.
​
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.
​
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.
​
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.
​
March 5
The Sound of Low Brass
Enjoy the magnificent sound of ESM Trombone Choir directed by Larry Zalkind and Mark Kellogg.