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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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  • alt text: Alt text: a close-up of a person's outstretched arms and hands. They're wearing a brown fleece jacket, and their palms are facing the sky as if in surrender or prayer.
    In contemplating what's beyond my control, I surrender to The Universe that which I can not accomplish.
    Reflection | By Mary Shelden | March 11, 2026 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Acceptance, Creativity, Faith, Mystery, Personal Stories, Power, Spiritual Practice, Trust, Vulnerability, Wisdom, Worship
  • Against a black background, a the outline of a heart shape made by a person moving a pink sparkler while the camera’s shutter is open for a long exposure.
    With the lighting of this flame let us shine upon the hearts of all those who suffer, who yearn, and who crave the joyful noise of community–all Beings, not one left behind.
    Chalice Lighting | By Sangye Hawke | March 10, 2026 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Hope, Inclusion, Joy, Worship
  • View looking down a pedestrian bridge made from wooden planks suspended by poles hanging from a pair of cables. There is perhaps 50 feet of bridge, which ends at two support posts on either side of a wooden staircase heading up the side of a hill. The bridge is surrounded by bushes and trees.
    For a long time, both villages existed separately, across the canyon, happily humming along in life. They knew the other was there, but never had much cause to interact.…
    Time for All Ages | By Sara LaWall, Gem Emerson Paige | March 10, 2026 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Caring, Community, Connections, Creativity, Generations, Imagination, Interdependence, Leadership, Progress, Teamwork, Worship
  • The Milky Way in the night sky, with a bright star or planet slightly below it.
    Hope resides in the promise that love can always expand, always meet us, always teach us to cast down the mighty, raise up the broken, and rekindle the truth of our interdependence.
    Opening | By Valerie Freseman | March 8, 2026 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Christmas Eve / Christmas, Hope, Immanence, Interdependence, Love, Simplicity, Worship
  • A flock of 50 or so birds, silhouetted against a somewhat cloudy sky. Near the top of the image the sky is blue and the clouds are white, but the clouds behind the birds are glowing deep red from the setting sun.
    Spirit of Life and Love, may we offer our humble, if not sometimes begrudging, gratitude for the miracle of moments taken for granted— for minutes that feel like hours, for the miracle of mountain tops and coral reefs, the miracle of survival and ancient olive trees…
    Prayer | By Helen “HP” Rivers | March 7, 2026 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Abundance, Beauty, Grief, Joy, Love, Mental Health, Nature, Spring, Transcendence, Worship
  • Three floors of shelving in the Stockholm public library, filled with books, viewed from a walkway on the third floor. The wood-panelled room has curved walls, and the shelving follows the gentle curve away from the viewer.
    In the spirit of the ever-searching mind and the deep questioning soul, we call to mind beloved books and their wisdom.
    Responsive Reading | By Emily R. Mace | March 6, 2026 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Arts & Music, Community, Connections, Courage, Creativity, Joy, Justice, Love, Vision, Wisdom, Worship
  • A large crowd of protesters, many holding signs with slogans like "Neighbors Say ICE Out," on a Minneapolis, Minnesota, city street on a cold winter day.
    Blessed are all who hunger and thirst for liberation, for we shall inherit the future. 
    Affirmation | By Ashley Horan | March 6, 2026 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Activism, Anti-Oppression, Human Rights, Imagination, Living Our Faith, Politics, Power, Purpose, Rights, Solidarity, Worship
  • In a tunnel-like passageway, three women of different ethnicities are walking away from the camera, holding hands with their arms in the air. Their body language suggests joy and playfulness.
    Help me to give grace when it’s needed, both to myself and to others.
    Reflection | By Becca Morse | March 4, 2026 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Belief, Friendship, Grace, Personal Stories, Playfulness, Power, Self-Care, Self-Respect, Solidarity, Worship
  • A close-up of a person's face, from the nose up. They have light brown skin, and dark hair and eyebrows. Their eyes are closed. There is a large cross of ashes on their forehead, received on Ash Wednesday.
    You are finite; that is not a problem to be solved.
    Quote | By Kate Bowler | March 3, 2026 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Brokenness, Christianity, Lent, Spiritual Practice, Vulnerability, Worship
  • A Black woman and Black child lie on their stomachs next to each other; the adult is holding a red book open in front of them. The child is gazing at the book's pages while their mother or aunt turns to look at the child with affection.
    I’ve been given a mandate to explore and articulate the value and relevance of my history, no matter what.
    Reflection | By Takiyah Nur Amin | February 25, 2026 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #8thPrinciple, #BlackHistoryMonth, #BlackLivesMatter, Worship
  • A young Black girl is seated between two older relatives. All of them are holding open a photo album with pictures of family members. The young girl's face shows concentration and interest in studying the photos.
    My ancestors’ courage blesses my life and the lives of my children.
    Reflection | By Lauren Smith | February 18, 2026 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #8thPrinciple, #BlackHistoryMonth, #BlackLivesMatter, #WidenTheCircle, Worship
  • Three children stand against a wall, as if lining up for school lunch. A Black student holds an apple she's eating, turning her head to smile at the other two students.
    My family taught me that we uplift and save ourselves.
    Reflection | By Ali K.C. Bell | February 11, 2026 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #8thPrinciple, #BlackHistoryMonth, #BlackLivesMatter, Worship
  • The cover of Blessing It All, edited by Revs. Allison Palm and Heather Concannon. A range of brightly colored vertical stripes are blended together, fading to white at the top and bottom of the cover.
    Ritual is an embodied and participatory way to mark a transition or facilitate a transformation.
    Leader Resource | By Allison Palm, Heather Concannon, Aisha Ansano | February 5, 2026 | From WorshipLab
    Tagged as: Worship
  • A farmhouse on the Oklahoma plains, with stormy skies overhead and a rainbow stretching from the ground to the right of the house up into the sky over it. The house, with white sides and a bright red roof, has several dormer windows and a cupola. It is attached to a covered garage or stable that is nearly as large as the house itself.
    May your courage be louder than the whispers. May your glitter outshine their glares. May your love be stubborn as red dirt clay, and your joy roll on like prairie wind.
    Blessing | By Tim Atkins | February 4, 2026 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: America, Courage, Joy, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Love, Pride Sunday, Strength, Worship
  • A view, from within the crowd, of participants in a pride parade on a city street. Most of the frame is filled with dozens of rainbow Pride flags being waved by individual marchers.
    Blessed are we, the whole queer family, for love is our birthright, and joy is our inheritance.
    Blessing, Prayer | By Tim Atkins | February 4, 2026 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Diversity, Family, Inclusion, Joy, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Love, Pride Sunday, Worship
  • Against a dark background, four pink paper letters dangle from individual strings: L O V E
    If love is sweet labor, love can be taught, modeled, and practiced. This labor engages all our emotions.
    Quote | By Valerie Kaur | February 4, 2026 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Grief, Joy, Love, Wonder, Work, Worship
  • A gold Emmy statue rests on a table: a winged figure holding, over their head, a stylized globe. The statue is on a table, seen from above and close up.
    I grew up witnessing Black people who were free to exercise our own self-determination.
    Reflection | By Antoinette Hollamon | February 4, 2026 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #8thPrinciple, #BlackHistoryMonth, #BlackLivesMatter, #WidenTheCircle, Black History / Whitney Young / James Reeb, Worship
  • A life-size statue of Carter G. Woodson, sitting on a concrete memorial. He is seated with one hand on a knee, and the other arm along the back of the support. Next to him, there's a bouquet of flowers and a color sign with Woodson's face and the caption "Father of Black History Month." The words "Father of Black History" are engraved into the memorial's base.
    Black History Month has a beautiful, amazing history; it comes from a deep culture of resistance.
    Reflection | By Takiyah Nur Amin | January 28, 2026 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #8thPrinciple, #BlackHistoryMonth, #BlackLivesMatter, America, Black History / Whitney Young / James Reeb, Generations, Identity, Justice, Progress, Race/Ethnicity, Self-Respect, Solidarity, Worship
  • A young woman with a huge smile turns to smile at the camera as she boards a plane. She's carrying a backpack and walking up an external flight of stairs. In front of her is someone else boarding the plane.
    Tenderness helped me on my journey to adulthood, and taught me the importance of hospitality.
    Reflection | By Sue Oshiro-Zeier | January 21, 2026 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Beginnings, Change, Compassion, Generations, Generosity, Kindness, Vulnerability, Worship, Young Adults
  • Marchers with large puppets and headdresses walk down a residential street in Minneapolis; a central figure depicts a Black person in a multicolored robe and blue headdress.
    A complete service, focusing on how Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists have shown up in struggles for justice, written as clergy are called to witness in Minneapolis.
    Complete Service | By Erika Hewitt | January 20, 2026 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Worship