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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 person in a black top and blue pants, out of focus, stands looking away from the camera on a forest path. Our point of view is ground level, and in the foreground, in focus, there is a dry brown fallen leaf.
    We lift up those who fear that their hurts, their pains, are too insignificant for healing. May they know that their hurt and their pain is valid, no matter the size, and may they feel comforted in the knowledge that they are not alone and that they are loved.
    Prayer | By Krista Westervelt | July 31, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Brokenness, Caring, Despair, Fear, Grief, Healing, Pain, Regret, Suffering, Wholeness, Worship
  • A lily blossom, with pale violet leaves and yellow stamens, floats in a pond. Our view is from directly above, and in the water around the blossom we see the reflection of the concentric circles of the frames supporting the glass roof of a greenhouse.
    We extinguish this flame to remind us: love is the center. As we explore and rest, engage and heal: love remains the center. When all we can see is cold ashes: love remains.
    Chalice Extinguishing | By Eric Hepburn | July 17, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Healing, Love, Truth, Worship
  • A lily blossom, with pale violet leaves and yellow stamens, floats in a pond. Our view is from directly above, and in the water around the blossom we see the reflection of the concentric circles of the frames supporting the glass roof of a greenhouse.
    We light this flame to remind us: love is the center. As we grow and connect, mature and deepen: love remains the center. When the light of truth burns all else away: love remains.
    Chalice Lighting | By Eric Hepburn | July 17, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Connections, Growth, Love, Sacred, Truth, Worship
  • Against a uniform dark background, a bright yellow light shines in the upper left of the image. Rays of light and lens flare effects stream from the central light.
    We light this chalice with all our soul’s longing, to be who we are, to be who will we will become, to be ourselves.
    Chalice Lighting | By SarahRuth Wekoye Davis | July 8, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Hope, Identity, Love, Reverence, Sadness, Worship
  • Closeup image of Benjamin Franklin’s right eye from a $100 bill.
    The offering we take each Sunday is an opportunity to recommit to this place, and to these people. It is as much a ritual as singing together, lighting our Chalice, or reciting our Unison Affirmation.
    Offering | By Paul Dalzell | July 8, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Commitment, Community, Generosity, Love, Worship
  • At night, a person in a black hoodie holds a lantern while standing on the sea shore. In the darkness, we see only the person’s head and upper body lit by the lantern, as well as the dark blue sea and some clouds visible in the last light of day. There are stars in the sky above.
    May we continue to strive to know one another in community.
    Responsive Reading | By Leslie Takahashi | July 2, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Conflict, Humanism, Truth, Wisdom, Worship
  • A photo captures a sky, a Black person's upraised fist, and a cardboard sign (as if at a protest) that says, "Freedom Day Juneteenth"
    Let us rejoice for those who safely passed through the shades of night towards the daylight of freedom.
    Prayer | By Addae Ama Kraba | July 1, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Freedom, History, Juneteenth, Worship
  • a translucent bowl of water, from above, holds a small sunflower blossom
    The water of tears, the water of cleansing and renewal, the water of nourishment, and the water of change.
    Ritual | By Madelyn Campbell | July 1, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Change, Grief, Healing, Nature, Water Communion, Worship
  • The Juneteenth flag: A solid white five-pointed star on a field of blue and red. The border between the blue top half and the red bottom half is an arch that passes through the center of the star. The five-pointed star is surrounded by the outline of a larger 12-pointed star.
    May we remember the atrocities that brought us here.
    Prayer | By Ali K.C. Bell | June 30, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Brokenness, Freedom, Generations, History, Honesty, Juneteenth, Race/Ethnicity, Worship
  • A large tree with a sagging branch being held aloft by a prop shaped like a human hand.
    On this Sunday before Labor Day, we light this flame to honor all work. Not only the work we do for pay with our hands, our backs, and our minds, that is important, yes. But also the work we do for love!
    Chalice Lighting | By Paul Dalzell | June 28, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Body, Caring, Community, Connections, Labor Day, Love, Work, Worship
  • A rough-hewn wooden table top, with a white coffee mug in the foreground and a notebook opened to a blank page in the background.
    The agenda looks long. When will I get home? What surprises and big decisions await us?
    Poetry | By Lisa Smith-Horn | June 28, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Business Meetings, Commitment, Connections, Democracy, Governance, Listening, Respect, Trust, Worship
  • The face and arms of a young person, surrounded by darkness, are illuminated by the light from the fire in a sky lantern that he is holding and about to launch.
    We light our chalice as a symbol of the Light within us and the life that flows through the world around us.
    Chalice Lighting | By Brian C. Lee | June 28, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Commitment, Community, Love, Truth, Worship
  • Against the background of a sunset sky, we see the silhouettes of three children leaping into the air, with their arms raised and their legs bent.
    Today, we honor a journey that some of our youth have been on to mindfully enter the next phase of their lives… this is ultimately a time when we have invited them to think specifically about their own path.
    Ritual | By Kharma Amos | June 27, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Character, Children, Coming of Age, Coming-of-Age, Community, Growth, Identity, Resilience, Worship, Youth/Teens
  • The first slide of a slide deck. The main text, in a green box, says “A Blessing for Queer Youth of Faith,” and the author’s name, Rev. Cathy Rion Starr, appears below the box. On the right side there is a graphic of a purple tulip-like flower, intertwined with a six-color Pride rainbow banner. At the bottom right are the words “Side with Love” next to the Side with Love heart logo, in Pride colors.
    Bless you, for who you are, right now, right here. Bless you in your queerness, your genderfabulousness, your questioning, wondering, exploring, declaring. Bless you in the words you create and evolve and claim for yourself.
    Blessing | By Cathy Rion Starr | June 27, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: #LGBTQ, #Pride, #SideWithLove, Community, Connections, Faith, Gender, Identity, Interdependence, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, National Coming Out Day, Pride Sunday, Wholeness, Worship, Youth/Teens
  • Through a heart-shaped window in the door of a light blue metal box, we see a glowing candle and its reflection.
    We gather in covenant to celebrate the reality that love is at the core of our beings and that love will guide us if we open ourselves to the challenges which love requires of us.
    Affirmation, Opening, Poetry | By Esther Hurlburt | June 26, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Covenant, Living Our Faith, Love, Worship
  • A single dandelion inflorescence held up against the background of an out-of-focus horizon and sky.
    The flames did not show the whole path, but by their light we saw each other and knew we did not travel alone.
    Responsive Reading | By Karin Fuog | June 26, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Acceptance, Community, Covenant, Ending, Gratitude, Journey, Letting Go, Worship
  • In a dark room, several taper candles and smaller candles in red, cut-glass holders are all alit.
    This is a year in which hard, brave choices will be required of all of us.
    Reflection | By Martha Durkee-Neuman | June 26, 2024 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Choice, Courage, Creativity, Direct Experience, Discernment, Imagination, Integrity, Interdependence, Journey, Secular, Worship
  • A small rainbow flag, on a small stick, is held by the outstretched arms of two different people of color.
    “Queer” challenges the status quo; it dares me to be authentically myself.
    Reflection | By Vanessa Titang | June 19, 2024 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #Pride, 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Acceptance, Coming Out, Direct Experience, Humanism, Identity, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Multiculturalism, Pride Sunday, Searching, Self-Respect, Sexuality, Transformation, Worship
  • Two middle-aged people, seen from the shoulders up, press their faces together intimately and smile broadly. A Pride flag is wrapped around their shoulders.
    May everyone feel safe and free to love as they choose.
    Reflection | By Lynette Yetter | June 12, 2024 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #Pride, 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 6th Principle (World Community), Brokenness, Community, Despair, Direct Experience, Fear, Friendship, Humanism, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Oppression, Pain, Pride Sunday, Searching, Women, Worship
  • An irregular spider web with beads of water on it, in front of a yellow-orange background.
    Each of us, imperfect and vulnerable bodyspirits that we are, is connected to a vast web of love which holds us and will not let us go.
    Quote | By Meg Riley | June 6, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Body, Generations, Interdependence, Love, Universalism