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.
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This light unites us. This light unites us with our neighbors, Our friends and our enemies. Most importantly, This light unites us within ourselves. Our hearts, Our souls, Our spirits. This light unites us. —First Parish, Bedford, Massachusetts, Coming of Age participant...Chalice Lighting | By Rebecca Pankhurst | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Coming of Age, Community, Diversity, Healing, Reconciliation, Relationships, Sacred, Unity, Wholeness -
The element of fire represents passion, veracity, authenticity, and vitality. If the chalice is the supporting structure of Unitarian Universalism, then we are the flame....Chalice Lighting | By Sarah Lammert | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Challenge, Commitment, Community, Compassion, Freedom, Living Our Faith, Love, Power, Truth, Unitarian Universalism, Vulnerability -
Reverently I offer this symbol of our hope and high intent. Reverently I bequeath this flame to you. This is the light that is lit for everyone who comes into the world. Bear this light to others, one by one. Let the flame go from life to life till all is lit with its warmth. Tell that the light...Chalice Lighting | By Elizabeth M Strong | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Acceptance, History, Hope, Inclusion, Interdependence, Kindness, Reverence, Sacrifice, Seven Principles, Vision, Wisdom -
Our Unitarian heritage bids us light our chalice In the name of freedom, In the light of reason, In actions of tolerance. We gather in community to celebrate a heritage of freedom, reason, and tolerance....Chalice Lighting | By Elizabeth M Strong | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: History, Unitarian Universalism -
Rise up, o flame, by thy light glowing. Show us beauty, vision, and joy. —Singing the Living Tradition, Hymn #362 O flaming chalice, symbol of a free faith, Burn with the holy oil of helpfulness and service. Spread warmth and light and hope; Warm hearts grown cold with indifference; Light dark...Chalice Lighting | By Richard S. Gilbert | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Abundance, Community, Despair, Faith, Freedom, Hope, Justice, Kindness, Responsibility, Service, Unitarian Universalism -
May we light this chalice to honor our past: for Jan Hus, burned at the stake for suggesting that the cup be shared by all; for our Service Committee's earliest days, when its logo enabled the persecuted to find a safe haven. May we light this chalice to endorse our present: for our commitment to...Chalice Lighting | By George G Brooks | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Commitment, Dignity, Freedom, Generations, History, Justice, Partner Church Observation, Relationships, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarianism, Vision
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In honor of those we have known and loved in the past, In recognition of the gifts and sacrifices they have made on our behalf, And in our sincere hopes that we may be worthy of their memory, We light our candles, We give our thanks, And we offer our prayers. AMEN.Chalice Lighting | By Charles F Flagg | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Death, Freedom, Gratitude, Hope, Love, Memorial Day, Military, Sacrifice, Service, War, Worth -
For holy days on which we recall the old stories, we light the flame. For Passover which reminds us of the courage and strength of those seeking freedom in the past, we light the flame. For Easter which reminds us that love is our greatest challenge, we light the flame....Chalice Lighting | By Dillman Baker Sorrells | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Challenge, Christianity, Community, Courage, Easter, Freedom, History, Judaism, Love, Passover (Pesach), Sacred, Searching, Strength, Tradition, Unitarian Universalism -
(May be read responsively) For every time we make a mistake and we decide to start again: We light this chalice. For every time we are lonely and we let someone be our friend: We light this chalice. For every time we are disappointed and we choose to hope: We light this chalice.Chalice Lighting | By Maureen Killoran | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Beginnings, Community, Compassion, Forgiveness, Healing, Letting Go, Meaning, Relationships, Sorrow, Unitarian Universalism, Yom Kippur -
Let us pause, and breathe, and be in touch with the sacred presence that permeates all, including this room, now. Web of All... of life, death, and renewal: We open our hearts to those who suffer as a result of the wildfires.Meditation | By John Gibb Millspaugh, Sarah Gibb Millspaugh | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Courage, Despair, Disaster or Crisis, Faith
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Jefferson Unitarian Church Golden, CO Mothers Day, May 13, 2007 Three weeks ago my wife, Phyllis, and I participated in our all church social action weekend. What a magical day that was! We chose to help out building the new community garden at 32nd Avenue just this side of I-70....Sermon | By Peter Morales | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 6th Principle (World Community), Child Dedication, Children, Commitment, Health, Parents, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Relationships, Teacher Dedication, Teacher Recognition
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Holy spirit, We feel you moving among us here. Bless us with your presence. For we are in need… …in need of strength and courage. Our road is filled with rocks, with boulders strewn, boulders so high we sometimes wonder whether we can climb them, We are in need… …in need of comfort and...Meditation | By Judith L Quarles | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Challenge, Connections, Peace, Presence, Strength, Unitarian Universalism
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Spirit of life and love, In this season of beginning Some of us are hurried and harried. Some of us feel sorrowful and afraid. Some of us are not yet ready to step forward into the future. May we minister to one another with wisdom, Meeting our friends with open ears, open eyes, and open hearts....Meditation | By Judith L Quarles | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Caring, Community, Grace, Healing, Letting Go, Unitarian Universalism
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We pray for the children, For the voiceless, for the innocent, for the vulnerable, for the least powerful among us, and those most in need of our protection....Meditation | By Gary Kowalski | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children's / Religious Education Sunday
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It is worthwhile to live and fight courageously for sacred ideals.Meditation | By Norbert Fabian Capek | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Flower Communion
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In the name of Providence, which implants in the seed the future of the tree and in the hearts of men [and women] the longing for people living in [human] love; in the name of the highest....Meditation | By Norbert Fabian Capek | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Flower Communion
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Infinite Spirit of Life, we ask thy blessing on these, thy messengers of fellowship and love. May they remind us, amid diversities of knowledge and of gifts, to be one in desire and affection, and devotion to thy holy will. May they also remind us of the value of comradeship, of doing and sharing...Meditation | By Norbert Fabian Capek | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Flower Communion
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Speak, flowers, speak! Why do you say nothing? The flowers have the gift of language. In the meadow they speak of freedom, Creating patterns wild and free as no gardener could match. In the forest they nestle, snug carpets under the roof of Leaf and branch, making a rug of such softness....Reading | By Richard S. Gilbert | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beauty, Earth, Fear, Flower Communion, Hope, Nature, Vernal Equinox -
Children of the earth and sky, we are nurtured, sustained, given warmth and light from above and below. Supported by earth's strong, firm crust, we build our homes, till the fields, plant our gardens and orchards....Opening | By Alice Berry | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Autumnal Equinox, Awe, Children's / Religious Education Sunday, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Meaning, Nature, New Child, Searching, Unitarian Universalism, Vernal Equinox
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This is the home that love made. It is full of the love that the founders felt, when they planned out these walls and raised these beams above us. This is the home that love made. It is full of the love of all who have worshipped here; those who have celebrated and grieved here; the babies...Litany | By Amanda Poppei | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Autumnal Equinox, Building/Space Dedication, Commitment, Community, Direct Experience, Homecoming / Ingathering, Interdependence, Love, Purpose, Relationships, Unitarian Universalism, Unity