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An unlit chalice on a church altar

Unitarian Universalists honor and celebrate a wide range of holidays and occasions over the course of a year. Unlike other faith traditions that use a single lectionary (a collection of scripture readings appointed for a given day or occasion), the topics and themes for Unitarian Universalist worship services are usually chosen independently by worship leaders in congregations. These include unique UU traditions, like the Flower Ceremony, as well as holidays from other faith traditions, such as Christmas or Beltane.

View and download the 2023-24 UUA Worship Calendar (PDF), which includes faith-based and secular holidays that UU congregations often celebrate. The calendar also includes monthly worship themes used in popular theme-based ministry programs. To download or print, follow the link and use the File menu, then select the Landscape layout option.

LEADER RESOURCE 2 Rituals to Welcome a New Child
a medieval window from the Burrell Collection in Glasgow, Scotland, depicting the Nativity
Islamic prayer beads or Subha inside the Süleymaniye Moque (Istanbul).
An altar filled with candles, photos, and flowers

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  • A black person's fist against a dark background, with "BLM" written on their wrist.
    Your individual niceness is inadequate to deal with the brutality and the viciousness of what white body supremacy has done to my people.
    Quote | By Resmaa Menakem | April 20, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, Anti-Oppression, Body, History, Race/Ethnicity
  • A vibrant swath of crimson, gold, and blue light plays on a dark background
    Inhale—you are Creation. Exhale—you are Creator.
    Poetry | By Jennifer Pratt-Walter | April 19, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Body, Earth-Centered, God, Goddess, Mystery, Worship
  • A heart divided into jigsaw-puzzle-like segments that say "Imagine," "Act," "Reflect," "Forgive," and "Heal."
    Start by telling the story of your mistake. Keep practicing! This is a tool you can use in many different situations.
    Time for All Ages | By Maria Bavier | April 19, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Forgiveness, Friendship, Healing, Humanism, Relationships, Secular, Worship
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    We are all able In different ways With various strengths and talents. We are all holy Part of the universe And the interdependent web. We light this chalice Cherishing our differences And holding each other in sacredness.
    Chalice Lighting | By Cindy Fesgen | April 17, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Diversity, Inclusion, Worship
  • A red candle, lit and emanating a wisp of smoke, hovers in the dark. The lower half of a person's face is seen in the background.
    As we light this flame, we remember friends and loved ones near and far and we give thanks. As the fire burns brightly, we open our minds and hearts to new ways of being and we feel alive....
    Chalice Lighting | By Leia Durland-Jones | April 17, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Hospitality, Inclusion, Love, Worship
  • A black-and-white photo, taken from above, of the photographer's legs outstreched over water, and his young son nestled on top of his legs.
    Sometimes love is simply letting someone else like what they like.
    Reflection | By Nathan Ryan | April 14, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Children, Connections, Direct Experience, Fathers, Generations, Joy, Love, Parents, Searching, Worship
  • Against a vibrant, deep red wall, a Black parent cradles and smiles down at a happy toddler.
    We cannot begin to find ourselves without love.
    Opening | By Elizabeth Barish Browne | April 12, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Body, Children, Connections, Father's Day, Humanism, Interdependence, Love, Mother's Day, Parents, Relationships, Secular, Trust, Worship
  • In a grocery store, a person wearing a mask looks off-camera while two other masked shoppers shop behind them
    May I have the wisdom to be curious when I find myself grumbling about “them.”
    Reflection | By Erika Hewitt | April 7, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #COVID19, 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Conflict, Conscience, Healing, Humanism, Integrity, Relationships, Secular, Self-Respect, Worship
  • Outdoors, and seen from behind, a person with short gray hair wears a colorful hat with tulle and pink flowers.
    A triumph of love over death is the core of the Easter message.
    Reflection | By Rachel Lonberg | March 31, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Beauty, Christianity, Death, Easter, Joy, Love, Worship
  • A field of purple flowers, in Latvia, with small lights reflected on them.
    Easter is a holiday of miracles.
    Opening | By Peggy Clarke | March 31, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Belief, Christianity, Easter, Hope, Love, Nature, Worship
  • A close-up of the stacked hands of about five people, standing in a circle.
    Let it be said by generations to come that when the pain of our separation was revealed, we moved closer to the promised land of our beloved community.
    Benediction | By Anya Sammler-Michael | March 22, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: #COVID19, Challenge, Compassion, Disaster or Crisis, Integrity, Living Our Faith, Seven Principles, Worship
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    It can be a lonely time for those of us whose arms are empty.
    Meditation | By Amy Williams Clark | March 18, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Children, Direct Experience, Grief, Mother's Day, Mothers, Searching, Secular
  • small fabric teddy bears, connected in a mobile, are suspended over an imagined baby's bassinet
    Can I do it again? Do I even dare? Do I have the strength? Because the cradle might be empty—again.
    Meditation | By Amy Williams Clark | March 18, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Body, Children, Grief, Mothers, Parents, Searching, Secular, Worship
  • Majestic Tree with strong roots
    A movement meditation for all ages
    Meditation | By Kimberlee Anne Tomczak Carlson | March 18, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Body, Children's / Religious Education Sunday, Children's Sabbath, Direct Experience, Earth-Centered, Growth, Imagination, Nature, Resilience, Strength, Worship
  • An open hymnal, most of the text and music blurred.
    Writing in a book—a hardback book! with pen!—goes against everything we’ve been taught, but now is the time to do it.
    Ritual | By Margy Levine Young | March 18, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Gender, Inclusion, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Worship
  • A sharp, gleaming fish hook lies on the edge of a boat, with a body of water visible in the background.
    Spirit of Life and Love, help me to notice when I am hooked.
    Reflection | By Shari Woodbury | March 17, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Buddhism, Contemplation, Mindfulness, Patience, Spiritual Practice, Worship
  • The back of a person as they regard a wall, lit by a stark fluorescent light, on which many medical face masks are hung.
    I am afraid and exhausted from the constant fear. I don’t know who to trust for information about the virus.
    Ritual | By Kate Landis | March 16, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: #COVID19, Brokenness, Death, Direct Experience, Disaster or Crisis, Grief, Healing, Hope, Secular, Solidarity, Worship
  • Side With Love Against Hate
    A reflection from the Side With Love Sunday worship service.
    Reflection | By Laura Conkle | March 10, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: #30DaysOfLove, #SideWithLove, Direct Experience, Healing, Humanism, Inclusion, Justice, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Living Our Faith, Poverty, Resilience, Secular, Unitarian Universalism
  • At the edge of the woods, with bare trees, the back of someone's head as they hold binoculars up to their face.
    Maybe hope is fleeting. It leaves and returns again; there’s beauty in its impermanence.
    Reflection | By Jessica Clay | March 10, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Animals, Contemplation, Earth, Earth-Centered, Nature, Presence, Secular, Winter, Worship
  • Standing on the Side of Love
    A reflection from the Side With Love Sunday worship service.
    Homily | By Takiyah Nur Amin | March 10, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: #30DaysOfLove, #BlackLivesMatter, #SideWithLove, 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Anti-Oppression, Commitment, Direct Experience, Equity, Integrity, Justice, Living Our Faith, Multiculturalism, Salvation, Unitarian Universalism