Edit Header for Worship Opening Search

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

Changing a filter will refresh results (and remaining options) immediately. Searching by keyword or changing the number of items per page requires use of the "Search" button.

Displaying 1 - 13 of 13

  • Close-up image of several blades of grass coated in small ice crystals. The sun is visible between the blades, and the crystals create a small rainbow.
    Let us open all our senses and let our synapses spark one connection after another.
    Welcome | By Shari Woodbury | December 12, 2023 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Birth, Child Dedication, Children, Connections, Joy, Playfulness, Wonder, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • From the back, a Black woman wearing a hat and a small Black child are seated in a church pew.
    God, Your creation is not yet done creating you.
    Opening | By Gretchen Haley | July 24, 2023 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: God, Goddess, Imagination, Immanence, Playfulness
  • Roasting marshmallows over glowing coals
    Under the right circumstances, playing with fire is a delight—imagine being gathered round a firepit as the crackling flames invite us to sing, dance, and roast a marshmallow or two. Our chalice also invites us to play, although with ideas rather than with marshmallows. The flame encourages us to...
    Chalice Lighting | By Melanie Davis | October 6, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Humanism, Joy, Playfulness, Secular, Trust, Unitarian Universalism
  • large_greenleaf_many_raindrops
    We gather as many drops, each winding our own path down life’s surfaces and ruts. Here we pool together as a single body, flowing together for a time. Together we are a stream, at times even a river, for with our shared force we can travel toward oceans of meaning and seas of connection.
    Chalice Lighting | By Leslie Takahashi | December 7, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Connections, Earth, Earth-Centered, Meaning, Nature, Playfulness, Unitarian Universalism, Water Communion
  • A close up of the strings of a stand-up bass, being plucked by a musician's hand
    The chalice is the container— the space where the musicians and the listeners gather. The oil is the fuel— the hours of practice and the life experiences of everyone in the room. The wick is the instruments and vocal cords through which the music will flow. And the flame—the flame!— is the...
    Chalice Lighting | By Marnie Singer | October 24, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Arts & Music, Direct Experience, Playfulness
  • Three small children sit, in costumes (including a chicken and a dinosaur) while snacking on Halloween candy.
    No matter who—or what—you are, you are welcome here. Let’s be clear: Here, we welcome goblins and ghouls, saints and sinners, angels and devils, zombies and werewolves, vampires and witches. We welcome princesses and princes, paupers and farmhands, aliens and astronauts, robots and cyborgs,...
    Opening | By Christian Schmidt | September 25, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Halloween, Identity, Inclusion, Playfulness, Secular, Unitarian Universalism
  • Magic_woman_robe_staff
    Mindful that With great power comes great responsibility, We light this chalice in the hopes that In brightest day, in blackest night, Our faith will Flame on! —Spiderman, Green Lantern, & the Human Torch (compiled by Cynthia Landrum)...
    Chalice Lighting | By Cynthia Landrum | November 11, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: America, Courage, Covenant, Faith, Hope, Hospitality, Mindfulness, Playfulness, Power, Responsibility, Secular
  • Yoda and Jedi CosPlayer.
    Among Star Wars afficianados, May 4th is recognized as a special day. This "May the Fourth" invocation was written by Tori Jameson with help from Earl Rogers, Kevin Mann, and Cyn Burnelle. Please use it in worship as responsibly as a Jedi uses a lightsaber. Leader: May the force be with you!
    Invocation | By Tori Jameson | May 4, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, History, Playfulness, Secular
  • People praying in the Tirta Empul temple (Bali, Indonesia), submerged to the waist in water and bowing before fountains that are pouring out water.
    Fire and water, ancient opposites Sun and ocean, the cradle of life Dancing flame and dancing river— We invoke them together today As we kindle our chalice flame.
    Chalice Lighting | By Laura Horton-Ludwig | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Awe, Earth, Earth-Centered, Immanence, Interdependence, Nature, Paganism, Peace, Playfulness, Reverence, Sacred, Transcendence
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    In praise of computers and routers and servers and all the hardware and software that can help us build our connectedness; in praise of all the gremlins that live in the machines and bug our programs and help us to practice patience; in praise of the trolls who dwell in the internet and push us t...
    Opening | By Wren Bellavance-Grace | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Challenge, Connections, Playfulness, Science
  • A large number of people are in silhouette against the blaze of a bonfire
    Little flame, Light the tender kindling of our souls... And soon a roaring blaze shall be Of warmth and love and community. From this little spark May a fire of passion spread from heart to heart, And light our way, sweet spirit. And light our way.
    Chalice Lighting | By Kathryn Estey | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Acceptance, Beginnings, Caring, Commitment, Community, Compassion, Growth, Inclusion, Journey, Playfulness
  • UU Community Church of Augusta, Maine youth on service learning trip
    We call this light before us in hope that we may always remain a strong community, working together to make the world a better place. When we are grieving or sad, When we are challenged, When we need help, This flame guides us out of the darkness. When we are cheerful, When we celebrate, When we...
    Chalice Lighting | By Atticus Palmer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Challenge, Community, Generosity, Hope, Joy, Playfulness, Responsibility, Sorrow, Strength, Unity
  • 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