Unitarian Universalists use different terms for the words that begin a worship service, including call to worshipinvocation, 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 - 16 of 16

  • We gather to honor our covenant and engage in congregational life.
    Chalice Lighting | By Emily Richards | October 18, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Business Meetings, Character, Democracy, Leadership, Purpose, Work
  • We tend the spark of imagination and hope for the world to come.
    Chalice Lighting | By Rachael Hayes | February 25, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Business Meetings, Discernment, Generations, Humanism, Leadership, Purpose, Stewardship, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • • It takes a spark. • It takes fuel. • It takes air. • And it takes a container to hold them all. It is only with all of these things that we make fire. • It takes a call. • It takes learning and experience • It takes love. • And it takes a community to hold them all. It is only with...
    Chalice Lighting | By Christian Schmidt | January 16, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Calling, Direct Experience, Leadership, Ordinations, Relationships
  • As we light this chalice [this evening], may it serve to give us clarity of purpose and illumine our way as we set about doing the work of this congregation, in commitment, in cooperation, and in love.
    Chalice Lighting | By Viola Abbitt | January 7, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 5th Principle (Conscience & Democracy), Business Meetings, Commitment, Community, Governance, Humanism, Leadership, Love, Purpose, Secular, Teamwork, Unitarian Universalism, Work
  • Voice One, Elder (with chalice): Across the generations we have carried the flame. We fought the injustice, sang the songs, spoke for truth, and built something lasting. We join in the line and we carry the flame forward. (pass chalice and mic to next speaker) Voice Two, Active Leader (with metal...
    Chalice Lighting | By Douglas Taylor | December 7, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Bridging, Bridging Ceremony, Building/Space Dedication, Coming of Age, Coming-of-Age, Commitment, Faith, Family, Generations, Justice, Leadership, Stewardship, Unitarian Universalism, Unity
  • We light this chalice to honor our work, to celebrate our community, and to bring hope and determination to our mission in the wider world....
    Chalice Lighting | By Chrystal Hogan | September 14, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Leadership, Ministerial Transition, Ministry, Purpose, Service, Teamwork, Vision, Work
  • 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
  • We seekers are on a quest: A quest to discover truth and meaning. Sometimes we think we’ve found it— Wrapped up, glimmering with newness Straight off the intellectual assembly line. All the answers right here for us And others, if they’d only listen. But truth has a way of coming in disguise,...
    Opening | By Jason Cook | June 18, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Character, Children's / Religious Education Sunday, Direct Experience, Growth, Humanism, Leadership, Meaning, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Revelation, Searching, Secular, Teacher Dedication, Teacher Recognition, Transformation, Truth, Wisdom
  • I light this chalice for all the times you have lit this chalice; For every time you struck the match Or flicked that zapper thing Or empowered a nervous parishioner to do the same. I light this chalice for all that you've done: For all you've fostered and cultivated and nudged; For all you've...
    Chalice Lighting | By Celia Thurston | June 12, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community Ministry Sunday, Leadership, Ministerial Transition, Ministry, Relationships, Service, Unitarian Universalism
  • This is the hour. The time has come. Mindful of our responsibilities as leaders of this faith and guardians of the living tradition, we call upon that great cloud of witnesses—those who came before, those who are here now and those who have yet to come. We seek their presence, love and support in...
    Chalice Lighting | By Connie Simon | December 13, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 6th Principle (World Community), Business Meetings, Calling, Generations, Governance, Leadership, Ordinations, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Responsibility, Secular, Teamwork, Tradition, Unitarian Universalism, Wisdom
  • Here we are in our circle again. A circle of vision and reflection, A forum for deciding and empowering. Here we are at the base of another bridge, another space spanning the shores of today and tomorrow. Beckoning us to cross the chasm, one day at a time....
    Opening | By Shari Woodbury | August 11, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 5th Principle (Conscience & Democracy), Business Meetings, Calling, Community, Humanism, Installations, Leadership, Secular, Trust, Unitarian Universalism, Vision
  • How often we seek refuge in this sacred flame From the world’s trouble and pain. Today, may our lamp light the way For whose who know no refuge, That we may open our minds Our arms Our hearts Our mouths to sing “Come, whoever you are,” Wholly new and wholly true.
    Chalice Lighting | By Amy Carol Webb | November 24, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Compassion, Disaster, Hope, Hospitality, Inclusion, Interdependence, International, Journey, Leadership, Pain, Unitarian Universalism, Worth
  • Fire of our faith, fire our future.
    Chalice Lighting | By Cynthia Landrum | November 11, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Commitment, Faith, Generations, History, Hope, Identity, Journey, Leadership, Living Our Faith, Responsibility, Unitarian Universalism
  • When we light our chalice everyone focuses on the flame. Yet it is the paraffin of the candle, the cotton of the wick, the potassium chlorate and sulfur of the match, and the oxygen in the air around us that makes that flame possible. As leaders we are not called to be a lone beacon on a hill.
    Chalice Lighting | By Erik Walker Wikstrom | November 10, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Inclusion, Interdependence, Leadership, Purpose, Relationships, Responsibility, Service, Seven Principles, Teamwork, Unitarian Universalism, Unity
  • As we approach our agenda let us remember that we are doing the work of the congregation.* When we do the work of this congregation*, we touch lives. When we touch lives, we change the world. May this chalice flame we now kindle remind us throughout our meeting of our ministry and our mission....
    Chalice Lighting | By Erik Walker Wikstrom | November 10, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Business Meetings, Commitment, Covenant, Discernment, Leadership, Mindfulness, Power, Privilege, Purpose, Responsibility, Service, Seven Principles, Unitarian Universalism
  • (This was written for the opening worship at a district board retreat....
    Opening | By Gina Whitaker | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Business Meetings, Leadership, Purpose, Responsibility, Service, Teamwork, Vision, Work