Unitarian Universalists honor and celebrate a wide range of holidays and occasions over the course of a year. Unlike other faith traditions that use a single lectionary (a collection of scripture readings appointed for a given day or occasion), the topics and themes for Unitarian Universalist worship services are usually chosen independently by worship leaders in congregations. These include unique UU traditions, like the Flower Ceremony, as well as holidays from other faith traditions, such as Christmas or Beltane.
View and download the 2023-24 UUA Worship Calendar (PDF), which includes faith-based and secular holidays that UU congregations often celebrate. The calendar also includes monthly worship themes used in popular theme-based ministry programs. To download or print, follow the link and use the File menu, then select the Landscape layout option.
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May we each find the balance point we needClosing | By Michelle Collins | September 15, 2023 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beginnings, Change, Ending, Life Transition, Limitations, Transformation, WorshipWeb, Worship -
The work of radical inclusion; of collective liberation.Closing | By Emily Richards | October 18, 2022 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Business Meetings, Living Our Faith, Purpose -
Love our Earth. Take action to consume less, use less energy, respect water; And be cooperative, collaborative and creative community – like the moss and the mushrooms. Our children’s lives depend on us.Closing | By Denise Cawley | June 20, 2019 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Commitment, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Environment, Food Justice, Interdependence, Privilege, Respect, Responsibility, Simplicity, Six Sources, Climate Justice -
We all know loss and pain. Let none of it divide us. In the rising sun today Let us do together what we cannot do alone: Roll away the stones that close our hearts.Closing | By Joel Miller | December 21, 2018 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christianity, Easter, Love, Pain, Unity, Wholeness -
May all our hours together be blessed as this one has been: by open-hearted sharing, learning from one another, and making beautiful harmonies together. And may we greet everyone we encounter with the same acceptance and grateful kinship, until we meet again. Blessed be.Closing | By Amy Zucker Morgenstern | September 14, 2018 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 6th Principle (World Community), Acceptance, Community, Honesty, Relationships, Service, Unitarian Universalism, Water Communion -
On this, the longest night of the year, we are warmed by the certain knowledge that tomorrow will welcome more light than today. As it has for eons—for billions of years—the coming of light brings life. May we be awed by the great miracles of light and life, and faithfully nurture the mystery...Closing | By Gregory Jones | November 21, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Awe, Earth, Earth-Centered, Hope, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule -
We are on a journey. We didn’t plan it. We didn’t have time for the bread to rise. We may find ourselves in the wilderness, hungry, thirsty, Doubting that we should have ever come. But look around: We are not alone. It is our journey together: A journey to our better selves, A journey to a...Closing | By Debra Haffner | July 4, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beginnings, Community, Connections, Courage, Doubt, Journey, Judaism, Passover (Pesach) -
I do not know where we go when we die; And I do not know what the soul is Or what death is or when or why. What I know is that The song once sung cannot be unsung, And the life once lived cannot be unlived, And the love once loved cannot be unloved.Closing | By Kenneth W. Collier | April 27, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Agnosticism, Animal Memorial, Death, Direct Experience, Faith, Humanism, Memorial Services, Purpose
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Our grief is a holy thing. It is that proof that another life touched ours in a profound way. It is the mark of love, the mark of connection, and the mark of a life well lived. We will mourn, we will cry, we will miss (Name)....Closing | By Tracie Barrett-Welser | April 25, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Death, Grief, Memorial Services, Relationships, Sacred -
May the next ten days be days of reflection, introspection, and peace.Closing | By Debra Haffner | September 29, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beginnings, Connections, Judaism, Letting Go, Rosh Hashanah -
Having let go, Set our intentions, Named our curiosity, Committed our energies, And given ourselves over to lives of balance, purpose and meaning, Let us begin again In love...Closing | By Lois Van Leer | May 3, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beginnings, Ending, Hope, Journey, Letting Go, Love, New Year
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For all those who celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, may this day be another affirmation of divine love and promise; For all those who see the eternal story of new spring and life beginning anew, may you breathe deeply of a season of promise and hope. For all who are experiencing despair or...Closing | By Alex Holt | April 4, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Acceptance, Beginnings, Christianity, Courage, Direct Experience, Easter, Hope -
In this religious community we reach back into the past to honor those who came before us and those who have given much so that we may be here today. And we reach forward with hands of welcome to embrace those who have newly joined our Fellowship....Closing | By Thomas Rhodes | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Connections, Direct Experience, Generations, Gratitude, New Member Ceremony, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Unitarian Universalism, Unity
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It starts with a drop, Then a trickle... A burble, a rush of water, bubbling toward its destination; And finally the wide, endless sea. All rivers run to the sea. Today you brought water Poured it into a common bowl. Though our experiences have differed, These waters mingle, signifying our common...Closing | By Kayle Rice | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Unity, Water Communion -
The Good Fridays of our lives come unbidden and unexpected Bringing the winter of despair and the death of dreams and hope Only love has the power to mend what has been broken A love that brings healing to our wounds A love that offers hope when we have none A love that creates unity where there ...Closing | By Andrew Pakula | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Good Friday -
The Book of Life is open before us. It tells stories of sadness and happiness, despair and hope, stagnation and change, and a peaceful stillness that transcends both. May you be written in the Book of Life....Closing | By Amy Zucker Morgenstern | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Forgiveness, Freedom, Judaism, Letting Go, Rosh Hashanah, Transformation
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Now, go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage. Prove all things and hold fast that which is good. Amen.Closing | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Coming of Age
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We are never complete. We are never finished. We are always yet to be. May we always allow others to be, and help and enable each other to grow toward all that we are capable of becoming. Amen...Closing | By Anonymous | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Coming of Age
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The Greek philosopher Plato compared the human mind to a ship on which the sailors had mutinied and locked the captain and the navigator in a cabin. On such a ship, the sailors feel free to steer the ship as they like, but their direction is erratic. The goal of our religious education and youth...Closing | By Jeff Liebmann | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Bridging, Bridging Ceremony, Coming of Age, Commitment, Community, Graduation Recognition, Identity, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism, Unity -
As we bring to a close our tribute to the journey we have made through the years, let us be mindful of the enduring bond that keeps us together. Let us remember those who went before and paved the road for us to travel....Closing | By Priscilla Murdock | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Building/Space Dedication, Business Meetings, Commitment, Connections, History, Meaning, Purpose