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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 - 20 of 30

  • Vines cross and intertwine themselves on a tree trunk
    Let us marvel at the miracle of being here, right now.
    Opening | By Tania Márquez | November 30, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Friendship, Gratitude, Joy, Unitarian Universalism, Unity, Wonder, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • Scrabble letters spell out the word "January."
    For the new year, just days old, beginning today, always beginning: We light our chalice, symbol of faith, perseverance, and hope, in astonished thanksgiving and irrepressible praise. For beginnings that emerge out of endings, appear amidst continuity, become visible in hindsight: We light our...
    Chalice Lighting | By Lisa Doege | January 8, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Beginnings, Faith, Gratitude, Homecoming / Ingathering, Hope, New Year, Unitarian Universalism
  • A line of framed family photos, all on a surface, some out of focus
    Let us be thankful and full of praise to be in the company of those who came before.
    Opening | By Karen G. Johnston | October 22, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Connections, Direct Experience, Generations, Gratitude, History, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Vision
  • chalice with words
    In recognition of Labor Day, we light this flame to honor all work, Including the work of our hands hands and our backs, in gratitude for all the labors that support our world, and for all those who boldly continue the work of justice, equity, and peace.
    Chalice Lighting | By Florence Caplow | December 5, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Gratitude, Interdependence, Labor Day, Responsibility, Secular, Service
  • A person's hands and lower arms: the hands touch at the fingertips, palms separated, pointed upwards as if in prayer.
    We light our chalice this morning in the spirit of gratitude, Thankful for years of ministerial service to this church, For celebrations of life and death, dedications, and communions, For leading worship, grounding our congregation in spiritual practice, Helping us to navigate the wonders and...
    Chalice Lighting | By Nick Wilbourn | August 3, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Ending, Gratitude, Leadership, Ministerial Transition, Ministry, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism
  • On a towel, a freshly baked loaf of bread. Behind it is a small dish of butter.
    We light our chalice as a symbol of gratitude as we celebrate the abundance of our lives together. In this sanctuary we harvest bushels of strength for one another, and offer our crop with the hands of compassion and generosity....
    Chalice Lighting | By Katie Sivani Gelfand | May 31, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Abundance, Christianity, Communion (Christian), Community, Generosity, Grace, Gratitude, Stewardship, Strength, Table Grace, Thanksgiving, Unitarian Universalism
  • Foamy waves wash up on craggy rocks, made red by the sun, in Morrazo, Galicia (Spain)
    A: Because the tides are rising B: So must we C: Rise! A: to this moment C: Rise! B: to this day C: Rise! A: to this life B: This place in the web A: That is yours, and ours. C: Rise! B: Because the earth remains A: Our only home C: And we B: Fellow travelers A: Its only hope C: For healing B:...
    Opening | By Gretchen Haley | February 15, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Awe, Beauty, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Gratitude, Nature, Responsibility, Climate Justice
  • A close-up photo of the stacked hands, solidarity-style, of three people.
    It is always good to give thanks! All that we have is a gift from life: our food, our relationships, our shelter from the cold. And when we give thanks, it is always good to be mindful of all people, and notice those who are suffering and do what we can to ease suffering and change its causes....
    Opening | By Myke Johnson | November 23, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Anti-Oppression, Gratitude, Healing, Justice, Spiritual Practice, Suffering, Thanksgiving, Vulnerability, Wholeness
  • colorful tulips, not yet in full bloom, lying on a white table
    At last, we are here. After a long winter, we can say enthusiastically and without second thought, alleluia! Alleluia, spring is here in all her glory. New life begins, the earth and its creatures are resurrected from their dens of hibernation and dark slumber....
    Opening | By Jeanne Lloyd | August 11, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Beauty, Christianity, Earth, Earth-Centered, Easter, Gratitude, Hope, Joy, Reverence, Spring, Transformation
  • Against a blue sky, a billboard on top of a building says GRATITUDE
    The wheel of the year has turned again. Once more the Thanksgiving season has arrived. How shall we sing our song of gratitude now? For what shall we give thanks? For this moment; for friends near and far; for our breath; for love; for courage and clarity; for strength; for delight; for laughter;...
    Opening | By Laura Horton-Ludwig | November 30, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Arts & Music, Awe, Direct Experience, Generations, Gratitude, Thanksgiving, Wonder
  • One set of hands hold a plate with a loaf of bread, while another set of hands breaks a piece off for communion.
    We gather here today to share and give thanks, To tell stories and break bread and be together in holy communion. We light our chalice this morning in the spirit of thanksgiving, With love, hope, and generosity of spirit, Grateful for this blessed opportunity to be together.
    Chalice Lighting | By Nick Wilbourn | November 25, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Christianity, Communion (Christian), Gratitude, History, Tradition, Unitarian Universalism
  • A happy border collie sits behind the last wooden pew in a sanctary full of people
    Come hoof and trunk and tail and horn and paw and wing and claw; Come bird and reptile, mammal born all full of nature’s law. Bring bark and crow and ribbit, too and silent stare and hiss; Bring purr and trill and warble, too and voice no ear can miss....
    Opening | By Ian W. Riddell | July 30, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Animal Blessing, Animals, Earth-Centered, Gratitude, Nature, Secular
  • Child_in_Mother's_arms
    We light this chalice for mothers and mothering; to celebrate those who have taken on the task of nurturing a young one-baby, child, or youth-into adulthood; to celebrate those who have nourished the light of truth and compassion in growing minds and hearts; to celebrate those who have committed...
    Chalice Lighting | By Claudene (Deane) Oliva | May 4, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Children, Commitment, Education, Family, Fathers, Generations, Gratitude, Love, Mother's Day, Mothers, Parents, WorshipWeb
  • Security force team members for Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Farah wait for a UH-60 Black Hawk medevac helicopter to land before moving a simulated casualty during medical evacuation training on FOB Farah, Jan. 9
    In honor of those who have served, And those who continue to serve, At home and abroad, for peace and in war, We light our chalice, And we offer our thanks.
    Chalice Lighting | By Cynthia Landrum | November 11, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: America, Conflict, Death, Freedom, Gratitude, Memorial Day, Military, Military Service, Peace, Sacrifice, Secular, Service, Veterans Day, War
  • A person, seen only from the waist up in the dark, holds a red neon heart in their hands.
    Welcome to this place of peace; May we find some moments of quiet contemplation. Welcome to this place of celebration; May our hearts soar with gratitude for the gift of life. Welcome to this place of sacred love; May we gently hold all that is broken here. Welcome to this place of inquiry; Here,...
    Opening | By Cathy Rion Starr | June 19, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Acceptance, Community, Contemplation, Gratitude, Justice, Unitarian Universalism
  • Church of the Larger Fellowship Service of Installation for Rev. Meg Riley at GA 2011.
    Leader: We light our Chalice in honor of all those who have served in our ministry. People: May the Chalice be to us a symbol of the sharing of faith and hope which they have brought. May the flame remind us of the giving of their lives and love upon the altar of service and truth.
    Chalice Lighting | By Peter Scott Lee | May 14, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Faith, Gratitude, Installations, Love, Ministerial Transition, Ministry, Ordinations, Remembrance Day, Sacrifice, Service, Truth, Unitarian Universalism
  • Teacher with young children making chalices.
    What if when I light the chalice, you hear an invitation to welcome gratitude for the earth? This week, as I got ready to light the chalice, my family talked about blessings from this planet. Here is my list: [list 3-7 things] And now, with this flame of hope shedding light in your heart: what is...
    Chalice Lighting | By Karen G. Johnston | May 6, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Animals, Children, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Environment, Gratitude, Nature, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb
  • Sunrise_radiant_sky_hope-Flickr
    (Can be preceded by singing the first verse of "Bright Morning Stars," Hymn 357 in Singing the Living Tradition) Day breaks on our gratitude for family and friends, For the freedom to find our own truth, For the company of those who gather here, And the promises we offer one another....
    Chalice Lighting | By Robin F. Gray | March 25, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Covenant, Faith, Family, Freedom, Friendship, Grace, Gratitude, Hope, Journey, Truth
  • Pink candle chalice surrounded by colorful paper hearts on wooden table.
    For the gift of this day and for our community of spiritual nurture and compassion, we give thanks. We light this chalice as a symbol of our faith. May our many sparks meet and merge in communion of heart and soul.
    Chalice Lighting | By Bruce Southworth | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Caring, Commitment, Community, Compassion, Faith, Gratitude, Growth, Hope, Presence, Reverence
  • In a black and white photo, someone pours milk into a large pot of mashed potatos. Behind him, someone else prepares food at a kitchen counter.
    T... starts out with Turkey and with Tofu, and Together, H...reminds us of Happiness, may it grow beyond all measure. A...means All who are returning, a reunion in Fall, N...for Newcomers to our Fellowship, and hearty welcome to all! K...for Kind friends with whom we will share dinner, S... means...
    Chalice Lighting | By Maureen Killoran | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Abundance, Community, Fall, Food, Gratitude, Happiness, Integrity, Playfulness, Relationships, Thanksgiving, Tradition, Unitarian Universalism