First Congregational Church, UCC

First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Rochester is hosting the Motor City Chorale as it presents its “Christmas Time is Here” concert on Friday, December 19, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. The church is located at 1315 N. Pine Street, Rochester.
The audience will be treated to such holiday favorites as Last Christmas, Angel’s Carol
by choir favorite Sir John Rutter, a number from the men, Little Saint Nick,
to honor deceased Beach Boy Brian Wilson, a number from the women, All Alone Beneath the Mistletoe and many more fun-loving, toe-tapping songs. 
Originally founded in 1933 as the General Motors Chorus, the Motor City Chorale is celebrating more than 90 years of continuous service to the Metro Detroit community. Open to the public, the concert is free of charge. A free-will offering will be collected. 
The Chorale is directed by Eric Miller, a post he has held since 2015, following his tenure as the Chorale’s accompanist from 2008-2015. He served as choir director of Warren’s Lincoln High School from 1981 to 2015, and currently is the Senior Choir Director of St. Paul’s Church, Grosse Pointe Farms. 
The accompanist of the Chorale is Robert Foster, who has served as organist of First English Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe Woods since 1984 and Piano Accompanist for Grosse Pointe North High School since 2017.
“We’re always delighted when the Motor City Chorale’s talented group of experienced singers presents their musical gifts,” commented Senior Pastor Scott Cunningham. “We welcome the community to join us for this marvelous holiday treat."
About the Motor City Chorale
The Motor City Chorale is a strategically planned and guided 501(c)(3) organization that fosters, develops and shares a passion for choral music. It inspires audiences through masterful choral performance, dedication to artistic excellence, educational enrichment, entertainment and community service. The chorale actively participates in annual charity events, including providing music scholarships for vocal students at Warren’s Lincoln High School, performing at the John Dingell VA Hospital in Detroit, caroling at Greenfield Village during Holiday Nights, and collecting and donating school supplies, food, clothing, personal products and Christmas gifts. For more information, visit <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__motorcitychorale.com_home&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=qCpxKiJ18LtsWhd-aWlX4CCHFgqQXynC9p3mP-bFnJc&amp;m=j-VLWZo5ApLqRA48qrvl_pY54fSGarzcB0TI_K03A-WoWYMNBCZ7GA1qG6XO4nRb&amp;s=Qi34UvRj9yCx7m2Px26wAqsOLrS0PDEG9bEa-QdotMA&amp;e=" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://motorcitychorale.com/home</a>.
About First Congregational Church, UCC, Rochester
Founded in 1827, First Congregational Church of Rochester is an open and affirming local church of the United Church of Christ. We welcome all in love, as Jesus Christ welcomes us all. We are an inclusive community that embraces all people, regardless of race, ethnic background, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, social or economic situation, marital or family status, biblical interpretation, or political persuasion. Worship services are typically Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. and are also available online via YouTube and Facebook. Childcare is available and children are always welcome to remain in worship in our Pray Ground for structured play and coloring, as we value their presence. A “wiggle room” is also available. The church is located at 1315 N. Pine Street, Rochester. For more information, visit, <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__fccrochester.org_&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=qCpxKiJ18LtsWhd-aWlX4CCHFgqQXynC9p3mP-bFnJc&amp;m=j-VLWZo5ApLqRA48qrvl_pY54fSGarzcB0TI_K03A-WoWYMNBCZ7GA1qG6XO4nRb&amp;s=Nx-d7awmnaDzFXGnuMzS4FQZ3XY7WDe8hJBYDr8aGlg&amp;e=" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://fccrochester.org/</a>.

Local Event: First Congregational Presents Motor City Chorale’s “Christmas Time is Here" Concert

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First Congregational Presents Motor City...

First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Rochester is hosting the Motor City Chorale as it presents its “Christmas...

First Congregational Presents Motor City Chorale’s “Christmas Time is Here" Concert

St. Mary of the Hills Roman Catholic Church

The Rochester Community Chorus will present John Rutter’s Magnificat, and Adolphus Hailstork’s I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes, a cantata in three sections, with 20-piece orchestra on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., at St. Mary of the Hills Catholic Church, 2675 John R, Rochester Hills. 
The Chorus will be joined by the Adult Choir of St. Mary of the Hills Catholic Church and the Choral Union of Rochester Christian University, under the direction of Dr. Joe Bentley. Approximately 100 singers will perform the two works. 
 
Written in 1990, Rutter’s stunningly beautiful Magnificat is based on the biblical Magnificat canticle and includes both Latin and English text. Woven through the glorious piece are themes about Mary, a prayer and a Sanctus setting. John Rutter wrote “…Magnificat – a poetic outpouring of praise, joy and trust in God, ascribed by Luke to the Virgin Mary on learning that she was to give birth to Christ – has always been one of the most familiar and well-loved of scriptural texts…” 
Continuing an annual tradition, the Chorus will also present two musical compositions at the Rochester Community Christmas concert held at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Rochester, on December 7, 2025. 
Daniel Greig is the Director of the Rochester Community Chorus, a post he has held since 2012. He has exposed the Chorus to many different genres of music including standard classical choral repertoire, folk music, show tunes, popular music, multicultural music, and much more. The Chorus has grown under Dan’s leadership and continues to be a welcoming and talented group of singers who have a zest for singing and growing as musicians. In addition to directing the Rochester Community Chorus, Daniel serves as Director of Music Ministry at St. Mary of the Hills Catholic Community, a post he has held since 2005. 
Daniel holds a Bachelor of Music in Education and a Master of Music in Conducting from Wayne State University and is also an adjunct faculty member at University of Detroit Mercy, where he conducts the Detroit Mercy Chorus. 
Dr. Joe Bentley is a retired professor of music from Rochester Christian University, where he conducted the A Cappella Chorus for 34 years. He continues to direct The Choral Union of RCU and is active as conductor of the EMA Singers of 
Expressions Music Academy, the Birmingham Musicale Choral Ensemble, and music director at the Congregational Church of Birmingham. He holds degrees from Harding University, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Michigan State University. 
About The Rochester Community Chorus
The Rochester Community Chorus welcomes new singers from Rochester and surrounding communities to join the fun. The chorus has performed a wide variety of literature including sacred and secular large-scale works such as Carmina Burana, various Requiems, masses, pops concerts, show tunes, and multicultural music. The chorus is open to all who enjoy singing at any skill level. 
The Chorus seeks to enrich the cultural life of the community by providing its singers with opportunities to perform high quality choral music, under professional direction and by enhancing the lives of all through the resonant power of harmony and word. Approximately 40 singers currently make up the Chorus.
For more information, visit rochestercommunitychorus.org/ and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/friendsofrochestercommunitychorus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/friendsofrochestercommunitychorus</a>. 
About The Choral Union of Rochester Christian University
The Choral Union of Rochester Christian University was founded by Dr. Joe Bentley, in the fall of 2016 as the Rochester College Alumni Chorus. The group is made up of alumni, faculty, staff, students, and interested community friends. Anyone with collegiate choral experience is welcome to join via audition. Since its inception, the group has sung on campus, in various churches in the metro Detroit area and Flint, the annual Rochester Community Christmas Concert, for the National Day of Prayer at the annual Rochester Prayer Breakfast, with the Metropolitan Detroit Youth Chorus, with the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church (Rochester) choirs, and with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra for their annual Christmas concert. For more information about the group, see <a href="https://www.choralunionru.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.choralunionru.org</a>. 
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Local Event: Rochester Community Chorus Presents John Rutter's "Magnificat" 

Rochester Community Chorus Presents John...

The Rochester Community Chorus will present John Rutter’s Magnificat, and Adolphus Hailstork’s I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes, a...

Rochester Community Chorus Presents John Rutter's "Magnificat" 

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First Congregational Presents Motor City Chorale’s “Christmas Time is Here" Concert

DEC

19

9:00 AM

First Congregational Church, UCC, 1315 N Pine St, Rochester, MI

Rochester Community Chorus Presents John Rutter's "Magnificat"

JAN

25

9:00 AM

St. Mary of the Hills Roman Catholic Church, 2675 John R Rd, Rochester Hills, MI

Preschool & Kindergarten Information Night