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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 65

  • an abstract image of greens and yellows with bursts of orange
    May we know ourselves as vessels of infinite possibility
    Opening | By Leah Ongiri | March 10, 2023 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Growth, Living Our Faith, Purpose, Spirituality, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    We shall all be free.
    Chalice Lighting | By Adam Slate | March 9, 2023 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Freedom, Living Our Faith, Purpose, Vision, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    We come together in one faith.
    Chalice Lighting | By Pat Uribe-Lichty | October 18, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Faith, Hope, Living Our Faith, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    Our common work is the creation of Beloved Community.
    Chalice Lighting | By Pat Uribe-Lichty | October 18, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Commitment, Living Our Faith, Purpose, Service, Unitarian Universalism
  • A lit candle in moody lighting with a sprig of red berries
    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
  • Deep orange sunlight falls on a single fern stalk.
    Can we find space for lifting our heads in wonder—that we’re still striving, still trying together
    Chalice Lighting | By Li Kynvi | August 10, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Business Meetings, Commitment, Community, Faith, Hope, Identity, Living Our Faith, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • An abstract flame-like pattern, in bright gold colors, and a black background.
    May we tend our Soul Fire through these challenging and trying times
    Chalice Lighting | By anastasi birosh | March 31, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: #8thPrinciple, Acceptance, Challenge, Hope, Hospitality, Inclusion, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • Berrien UU Fellowship Board meeting
    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
  • A blue flame emitting red sparks
    Light the fire of the Future
    Opening | By Kiakiali Bordner | January 14, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Freedom, Hope, Hospitality, Inclusion, Love, Purpose
  • A wash of colored smoke, drifting in abstract patterns, colored blue and violet and pink.
    Here we gather to celebrate hope, and the infinite possibilities of love.
    Chalice Lighting | By Tom Goldsmith | April 28, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Freedom, Hope, Love, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • Protesters hold a Standing on the Side of Love banner outside the US Supreme Court
    To be a Unitarian Universalist means we’ll never be done with the work.
    Chalice Lighting | By Erika Hewitt | November 9, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Anti-Oppression, Community, Covenant, Identity, Living Our Faith, Purpose, Seven Principles, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism, Universalism
  • At a conference table, young adults smile around an open laptop.
    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
  • A red pillar candle is lit, with evergreen and a sunny window visible in the background.
    Reader 1: Flaming chalice, symbol of our living tradition, we kindle you for light Reader 2: Light in this darkest season of the year Light to reveal the sources of greed and hate among us Light to guide our way forward together Reader 1: Chalice Flame, we kindle you for love Reader 2: Love to ke...
    Chalice Lighting | By Ariel Hunt-Brondwin | November 13, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Hope, Love, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule
  • A tiny blue dot (Earth) is barely visible in the inky void of the universe.
    Our chalice reminds us that the fire within ourselves is the same fire that illuminates the Universe. It is our reminder that all is connected even though the space of the void is vast, and our experience here is but a blip in the cosmic timeline....
    Chalice Lighting | By Shawn Trapp | November 11, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Agnosticism, Atheism, Awe, Humanism, Meaning, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Purpose, Reason, Science, Secular, Wonder
  • A leaf frond on the right side of a white field.
    You are welcome here no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, no matter what your background. You are welcome here to join us as we proclaim worth in our spiritual journeys. You are welcome to join us as we sing songs that uplift our very beings....
    Welcome | By Dan Lambert | April 25, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Humanism, Purpose, Secular, Unitarian Universalism
  • A lit chalice, seen from above, on a decorated cloth.
    Let us be a faith that gathers, reaching for one another through the walls of hate others build, through the cages of ignorance and arrogance, and through the fear that burns city streets....
    Opening | By Heide Cottam | October 8, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 6th Principle (World Community), Anti-Oppression, Faith, Inclusion, Purpose, Service, Unitarian Universalism
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    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
  • A person of color, from behind, wearing a leather backpack while gazing out at a cityscape.
    Be it real or metaphor, whatever is in your backpack, or your briefcase, or your purse that you’ve brought into this sanctuary that is weighing you down: leave it behind. Whatever you are carrying that is keeping you distracted, or caught up in shame, or guilt, or hopelessness: leave it behind....
    Opening | By Nathan Ryan | August 28, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Backpack Blessing, Community, Hope, Humanism, Integrity, Letting Go, Presence, Purpose, Secular, Unitarian Universalism
  • Against gray leaves, a chalice of green stems and a "flame" of red leaves
    Come, let us enter this space of hope and community. Come, let us enter this space with our sorrows, our joys, our passion and compassion. Come. let us enter this space with the stories of our ancestors, for their strength and wisdom beats in our hearts....
    Opening | By Katie Romano Griffin | March 15, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Community, Community Ministry Sunday, Connections, Generations, History, Homecoming / Ingathering, Humanism, Interdependence, New Member Ceremony, Purpose, Scout Sunday, Tradition, Unitarian Universalism, Unity, Vision, Water Communion
  • Sunlight streams through a rounded window.
    Come into this place, bringing all you hold with you. though your heart be heavily burdened, whether you be on the brink of tears or burn with unquenchable rage this community can hold you and your strongest emotions, yes, even the messy ones are welcome here. Come in if you sing just a bit too...
    Invocation | By Elizabeth Mount | December 13, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Connections, Creativity, Direct Experience, Diversity, Faith, Humanism, Inclusion, Living Our Faith, Purpose, Sacred, Unitarian Universalism, Wholeness