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Unitarian Universalists use different terms for the words that begin a worship service, including call to worship, invocation, and opening words. These words invite the congregation from their separate lives and to the common place and time of the worship hour.

(In Unitarian Universalist worship if there are Opening Words there is generally not an Invocation, and vice versa.)

Search Words for Worship Services

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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13

  • An abstract pattern of paint, with bright orange, dark blue, and white.
    It is now, when we are called to act on our values, not to hide, not to fear, but to be bold and loud.
    Opening | By Tania Márquez | October 19, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Character, Courage, Direct Experience, Humanism, Justice, Living Our Faith, Responsibility, Secular, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • A photo of a brick storefront with "The Stonewall Inn" in neon letters in the window.
    On a holy night In 1969, In an Inn, also known as a bar, Called the Stonewall Inn, A basement— which had no running running water, Nor safe fire exits— Queer people, of many colors and kinds, Danced together, For it was the only place Where they were allowed to dance, At least, permitted to, by...
    Opening | By Otto O’Connor | June 11, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, America, Anti-Oppression, Coming Out, History, Identity, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, National Coming Out Day, Pride Sunday, Prophetic Words & Deeds
  • a rainbow array of shiny glitter flakes
    People sometimes ask: Is Pride a protest Or a party? And the answer is Of course Yes. And why not? Why not Rejoice as we resist Dance as we demand change Celebrate as we create community that delights in All of who we are? So bring all of that With you this morning....
    Opening | By Hannah Roberts Villnave | June 12, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Anti-Oppression, Community, Humanism, Joy, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Pride Sunday, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Secular, Solidarity, Strength, Unitarian Universalism
  • An arc of Earth's surface, blue oceans and swirling white clouds, taken from space
    May we recognize and abandon the familiar attitudes and practices that do not serve the whole. We are who we are and we have the opportunity to be who we want to be, to create a new inheritance for the future....
    Invocation | By Sweethome Teacup | September 1, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Activism, Animals, Anti-Oppression, Connections, Earth, Earth-Centered, Healing, Interdependence, Nature, Wholeness
  • In the snow, with only their upper body visible, a person holds a lit sparkler.
    If ever there were a time for a candle in the darkness, this would be it. Using a spark of hope, kindle the flame of love, ignite the light of peace, and feed the flame of justice.
    Chalice Lighting | By Melanie Davis | December 22, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Calling, Despair, Hope, Justice, Justice Sunday, Peace, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Secular, Unitarian Universalism, Worry
  • Girl lights a chalice at the start of worship at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, Colorado.
    The poet Langston Hughes has written: "Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." May this chalice flame challenge each of us to cherish to our dreams, for all things worth doing begin in the courage and inspiration of a dream.
    Chalice Lighting | By Maureen Killoran | September 18, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Activism, Anti-Oppression, Hope, Vision
  • a small flame burns on the wick of a pillar candle with a striped rainbow pattern
    We light this flame to ignite our hearts and minds— the spark of knowledge that enlightens, the shimmering hope that burns, the blazing love that engulfs our actions, the bonfire of our commitment. We light this flame for those who celebrate themselves who fear who hope who persevere who stand on...
    Chalice Lighting | By Linda lee Franson | August 14, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Anti-Oppression, Coming Out, Commitment, Inclusion, Justice, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Love, Pride Sunday, Unitarian Universalism
  • etched glass chalice made by Wade Stephen Baker, Kwakiutl Artist.
    The flaming chalice was first used by the Unitarian Service Committee as a symbol of life-saving refuge for people fleeing persecution in Europe. As we light this chalice, we invoke the love that called people to put their lives at risk to save others. May we be vessels of life-saving welcome.
    Chalice Lighting | By Michael J. Tino | July 28, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Commitment, Community, Ethics, History, Justice, Justice Sunday, Relationships, Salvation, Unitarianism
  • Large panels with letters in lights: "Dismantle Hate"
    Let us wake up. Not just from the Sunday morning exhaustion, from the wish for a few more drowsy minutes in bed. Let us wake up to this world we live in: to its beauty and wonder, and also to its tragedy and pain. We must wake up to this reality: that not all in our world have what we do, however...
    Opening | By Christian Schmidt | October 29, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Activism, Anti-Oppression, Black History / Whitney Young / James Reeb, Challenge, Direct Experience, Justice, Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, Privilege, Race/Ethnicity, Unitarian Universalism
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    It is said that ministers are here to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. I say, we are all afflicted, and we are all comfortable. May our time together this morning be a comfort and a confrontation. May we here find peace in times of tumult; May we here invite tumult into lives of...
    Opening | By Sharon Wylie | March 27, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Activism, Challenge, Commitment, Justice, WorshipWeb
  • Rainbow flag in front of Massachusetts State House.
    This chalice burns with twin flames. The first flame burns for those who seek and defend the right to a free and responsible search for truth and meaning so that each person may live according to conscience in a democratically elected society. The second flame burns for the defenders of freedom,...
    Chalice Lighting | By Tracy Bleakney | March 25, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 5th Principle (Conscience & Democracy), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Activism, America, Anti-Oppression, Commitment, Democracy, Freedom, July 4th, Justice Sunday, Memorial Day, Oppression, Power, Responsibility, Rights, Secular, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb
  • Hands around a flame.
    Take from life its coals, not its ashes. Fan the flames of love and justice; join hands and hearts in common endeavor; and there will be no limit to what we can achieve together.
    Chalice Lighting | By Laurel S Sheridan | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Abundance, Activism, Challenge, Commitment, Connections, Justice, Love, Purpose, Solidarity, Unitarian Universalism, Unity
  • standing-on-side-of-love-heart
    May the light of truth illumine our minds, May the spark of love set our hearts on fire, May the flame of freedom burn brightly within us, Now and always.
    Chalice Lighting | By Richard M Fewkes | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Activism, Commitment, Compassion, Ethics, Freedom, Justice, Love, Tradition, Truth, Unitarian Universalism