What Events and Groups Does First Parish Chelmsford Offer?

Updated

First Parish Chelmsford (uuchelmsford.org) lists recurring community gatherings, small groups, and special observances on its website, alongside Sunday worship at 10:00 AM. The clearest way to see what's coming up is the "Upcoming Events" section of the homepage, which shows dated listings with times. Below is what the site currently shows, organized by type, plus how to check for updates before you go.

Recurring Community Gatherings

These are the repeating events listed on the site. Dates shown are the specific instances posted, not a guarantee of an ongoing schedule.

Event When (as listed) Notes
Families Friday's Games Night Fridays, 7:00–9:00 PM (e.g., Oct 30 and Nov 6, 2026) Geared toward families; evening gathering
New Women's Small Group First Sunday of the month, 4:00–6:00 PM (e.g., Nov 1, 2026) Small-group format
Retirees, 70's+ Better-Yeared Group Nov 8, 2026, 11:30 AM–1:30 PM Meet & Greet with a special guest; theme was Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)

The Retirees group is worth noting if you're older and want a lower-commitment way to meet people: it combines a social meet-and-greet with a themed guest topic, so you get conversation plus practical information in one session.

Special Observances and One-Time Events

  • Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) Vigil — Saturday, Nov 21, 2026 at 6:00 PM at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts, 1A North Rd, Chelmsford, MA 01824. The site notes TDOR is observed annually; this year's vigil is held off-site at the arts center rather than at the church.
  • Share the Plate — a monthly giving focus. October's recipient was Edesia Nutrition, a Rhode Island nonprofit working on childhood malnutrition. This is a way to participate in the community's outreach even if you don't attend services.

Groups for Specific Audiences

Beyond the listings above, the site points to a few audience-specific connections:

  • Youth religious faith formation — Sundays at 10:00 AM, with youth updates noted as starting 9/20/26.
  • College students in the Boston area — the site directs students to Sanctuary Campus, which hosts meetups, small groups, retreats, and Wednesday evening worship for UU students. The site provides a link and a form to get connected.

How to Confirm Before You Go

Event listings on a congregation's homepage can go stale, and the dates above are the ones posted at the time of writing. Before attending:

  1. Open uuchelmsford.org and check the "Upcoming Events" section for the current month.
  2. For the TDOR vigil or any off-site event, confirm the location and time on the event's own news post, since venues like the Chelmsford Center for the Arts are separate from the church.
  3. If you're new and unsure which group fits, the site's "Plan Your Visit" and "New Here?" links are the intended starting points.

If your goal is Sunday worship rather than groups, services are at 10:00 AM with a YouTube livestream available; the events above are separate from that service and mostly happen on weekday evenings or Sunday afternoons.