Join us next Sunday

November 8, 2026

10:30am Sunday Service: Cult-Status

So many of us came to Unitarian Universalism from more high-control religious groups. (In spite of our love of a great UU cult joke, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more low-control religious group than ours!) And when we see loved ones, neighbors, a whole society even, stumble farther down a path toward high-control groups, it’s hard to know what to do. Can you love someone out of a cult?


Speaker(s): Rev. Eileen Casey-Campbell (she/her)


Each Sunday, we will have several large-print copies of the order of service available. If you would like one, please ask an usher.

Connecting:

Via Zoom:

Via phone:
Dial 1-646-558-8656,
and enter the
Meeting ID: 131-764-422

Worship Service Video: 11/1/26

Letting Go: Service of Remembrance

with Rev. Eileen Casey-Campbell (she/her)

Upcoming Events &
Additional Announcements

Tuesday, Nov. 3 | Drop-In Discussion: Why I Love Being A Worship Associate

“There’s a lot of things in my life that I love, and being a Worship Associate at First Universalist is right up at the top!” Join with Kitty Forbush as she shares how she came to join the Worship Associate team and the value she gets from helping lead Sunday services. We meet via Zoom on Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30pm. Look on the First Universalist homepage for details and a link, or click the Zoom meeting link in this blurb title!


Thursday, Nov. 5 | Eastman at Washington Square: Art of the String Quartet I: Borodin

Held in our sanctuary on Thursdays, 12:15-12:45pm. These concerts highlight the living tradition of chamber music mentorship as legendary violinist and Eastman professor Mikhail Kopelman shares the stage with Eastman students. Admission is free!

 

Sunday, Nov. 8 | Monthly Food Ingathering!

Our monthly food collection for the Community Food Cupboard! We always need low-sodium non-perishable food, toiletries, paper products, and cash to help our community.


Sunday, Nov. 8 | LGBTQIA+ Social Action Circle Meeting

The LGBTQIA+ Social Action 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! 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! Talk to Willow, or a committee member, if you want to help!


Upcoming Coffee Hours

November 8 is a theme Sunday. The theme is Thanksgiving. Please bring any dish you would like to share. The November 15 Coffee Hour will be sponsored by our EcoJustice group! November 22 will be a potluck Coffee Hour. Please bring any dish you’d like to share!


New Online Evening Connection Circle Opportunity

Interested in connecting with others at church on a deeper level, but need something you can do online from home in the evening? This new group would meet monthly through June on third Thursdays once we have 6-8 people signed up. Reach out to Rev. Michelle, who will facilitate, at edu@uuroc.org.


Month of November | Social Justice Plate Offering: Staff Holiday Bonus!

Our November Social Justice Plate Offering is designated for our annual Staff Holiday Bonus. Staff at First Universalist is as hardworking and dedicated as they come! Once a year, church members and friends have the opportunity to show our appreciation in a special way: a Holiday Bonus. This year’s Holiday Bonus collection will take place during the month of November. One-quarter of the month’s cash donations will go to the Holiday Bonus. All checks and online contributions designated for the Holiday Bonus will be added to the 1/4 cash donations. Checks and online donations earmarked for pledges will be so designated. You are welcome to donate in the offering basket, online, or by sending a check to the church. If you send a check or donate online, please indicate that the donation is for the Holiday Bonus in the memo line (check) or in the dropdown menu (online). The board will distribute the collection among our 11 wonderful staff members. -Brian Mumey, Treasurer


Winter Jackets Needed!

Rochester's Refugee Resettlement Services has asked for winter jackets and winter outerwear for the refugees they serve. Refugee children especially need winter jackets. Many refugee families live in fear of being deported and limit their trips outside of their homes. Let's show them we care; please bring new or gently used jackets to the collection box in the Clara Barton Lounge anytime from now until Sunday, November 22. The Immigrant Justice group will deliver the jackets to Refugee Resettlement Services for distribution. For further information, contact immigrantjustice@uuroc.org.


To submit an item for 'This Week' at First Universalist
please e-mail it to: office@uuroc.org 
(no later than noon on Wednesday of the week prior to publication)

Staff:



Rev. Eileen Casey-Campbell,

Minister

minister@uuroc.org


Rev. Michelle Yates,

Minister of Lifespan Faith Development

edu@uuroc.org

(716)-208-5891


Dr. Brock Tjosvold,

Co-Director of Music

brock@uuroc.org

(On Sabbatical until 2027)


Dr. Claudio Espejo,

Co-Director of Music

claudio@uuroc.org


Mx. Emma Barry,

Office Manager

office@uuroc.org


Justin Wilson,

Congregational Life Coordinator

conglife@uuroc.org


Meghan Garvey,

2026- 28 Ministerial Intern

meghan@uuroc.org

Quick Links:



Church Calendar


New to First Universalist?


Monthly Newsletter


Religious Education

150 S. Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604

(585) 546-2826 | office@uuroc.org

 
 

Office Hours

 Tuesday - Friday, 9am to 4pm


Building Office Hours

Tuesdays & Thursdays

9am to 4pm


Staff are advised to work from home if possible when temperatures exceed 85°. They will be available via phone/email on those days.

 

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