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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Great Spirit of Life, be with us now as we honor these, our young adults. By laying our hands on you, we infuse you with the power of our love. The many generations of families who have participated in the life of this congregation have left for you the legacy of their love and commitment. Those...Meditation | By Paul Langston-Daley | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Generations, Solidarity, Unity -
Great Spirit of Life, be with us now as we witness these, our youth. By laying our hands on you, we infuse you with the power of our love. The many generations of families who have participated in the life of this congregation have left for you the legacy of their love and commitment....Meditation | By Paul Langston-Daley | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Generations, Solidarity, Unity, Youth/Teens
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As part of my seminary training I spent a summer working as a hospital chaplain, assigned to the psychiatric floor. I found it to be deeply gratifying work, and I was able to build relationships with many of the patients. Some were long-term and others had a quick turnaround. Some were what we...Sermon | By Peter Friedrichs | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Calling, Identity, Meaning, Self-Respect, Unitarian Universalism
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Today is the second of our three-part sermon series dedicated to Rev. Forrest Church. As I noted last week, Church spent nearly 30 years as the senior minister of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in New York City....Sermon | By Peter Friedrichs | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Limitations, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Purpose, Service, Unitarian Universalism
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For nearly thirty years, Forrest Church served as the spiritual leader of the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in New York City. During his ministry, the church became both a haven for spiritual seekers and a beacon of social outreach to the community. He helped to found a shelter for...Activity | By Peter Friedrichs | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Fear, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism, Vision, Wisdom
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Pity the poor dandelion. It is, in many ways, nature’s perfect plant. With a tap root that grows more than a foot long, it can survive in climates of scorching heat and bitter cold. Its tender, young greens make a tasty addition to any salad, or they can be boiled like fiddleheads or as a tea...Sermon | By Peter Friedrichs | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, America, Anti-Oppression, Anti-Oppression, Immigration, Immigration, Respect
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Wondrous Gift of Life, thanks for this day and this gathering in our beautiful diversity and devoted generosity! We revel in our blessings for and from this holy life! Washed and refreshed in such grace, we celebrate the joys of this life....Prayer | By Naftali King | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beauty, Calling, Death, Despair, Disaster, Earth, Environment, Healing, Nature, Suffering -
We call this light before us in hope that we may always remain a strong community, working together to make the world a better place. When we are grieving or sad, When we are challenged, When we need help, This flame guides us out of the darkness. When we are cheerful, When we celebrate, When we...Chalice Lighting | By Atticus Palmer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Challenge, Community, Generosity, Hope, Joy, Playfulness, Responsibility, Sorrow, Strength, Unity -
Every day we experience hunger and yearning: for food, for approval, for respect, for love, for meaningful work, for any and enough work, for home, for family, for friends, for health, for healing, for hope, for the departed, for the newly arrived, for the green trees, for the cool clean waters, ...Meditation | By Naftali King | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Connections, Gratitude, Healing, Health, Humanism, Love, Meaning, Purpose, Relationships, Secular, Spirituality, Thanksgiving, Tradition, Unitarian Universalism -
Let us join hands and hearts in gratitude on this wondrous day, where we have the abundance of our lives before us. We remember, on this day of bounty, all those who do not have enough, who are afraid, who are lonely, and who suffer....Meditation | By Naftali King | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Abundance, Commitment, Compassion, Connections, Fall, Food, Generosity, Gratitude, Poverty, Secular, Spirituality, Thanksgiving, Unitarian Universalism -
Single Set of Cremains Whispering Breath of Mystery, rattling the windows of our spirits with tears and sorrow, draw us back to the wonderful, the loving, the beautiful times we had with name, whose ashes we now hold. Recall to us his/her / this one’s inspirational actions, caring, and commitment.Ritual | By Naftali King | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Animal Memorial, Death, Generations, Grief, Memorial Services, Reverence, Transformation -
When the world’s violence shatters the joy of a moment We pause and reach out for the hands that remain We open our hearts with love. When despair rises as a monster from the deep and drags down one of our own, our answer is that We open our hearts with love....Reading | By Naftali King | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Compassion, Healing, Love, Suffering
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How shall we begin to live out our free faith? Nurture this precious light. When we do, we are beacons of freedom creating a safe place to rest, explore, and innovate. Nurture this precious light!...Reading | By Naftali King | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Community, Purpose, Reverence
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Litany Response: “A Day!” Do we really apprehend what a day is? Do we feel its importance? Do we know its capacity? A day! It has risen upon us from the great depth of eternity, girt round with wonder; emerging from the womb of darkness; a new creation of Life and Light spoken into being by the...Reading | By Naftali King | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Awe, Purpose, Transcendence
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Somos una gente del arco iris. We are a rainbow people. The rainbow is an arc of light brilliantly displaying all the colors of the visible spectrum, all the colors that combine to make the astounding beauty of our world, all the colors that combine to reflect the astounding diversity of human...Reading | By Naftali King | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beauty, Diversity, Unitarian Universalism, Unity
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We know there is great abundance in our world: a great abundance of suffering—of people homeless, hungry, frightened, lonely, in danger, sick, exhausted, and wondering when this abundant suffering shall cease. We know there is great abundance in our world: a great abundance of love—of people...Reading | By Naftali King | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Abundance, Change, Transformation
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I am part of a religious community because we promise not to reduce each other to terrible labels, not to strip each other of our humanity, not to ascribe levels of worthiness to one another.Reading | By Naftali King | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Dignity, Direct Experience, Humanism, Identity, Secular, Self-Care, Self-Respect, Unitarian Universalism, Worth -
What is this fire? A match, a wick, a flame. What is this place? Wood, and stone, and glass. Yet here we have gathered In this place Before this flame Making each holy By our presence here, together.Chalice Lighting | By Kelly Weisman Asprooth-Jackson | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Sacred, Unity -
There once was a person named John Murray. He lived in England, and worked as a minister there. The congregation to which he belonged took religion very seriously. They believed in life after death, but they thought that almost everyone was going to have a terrible, horrible time after they died.Story | By Kelly Weisman Asprooth-Jackson | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: History, Universalism
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I send you out now, to share yourself with the world May its promise and complexity set your mind ablaze May you hold fast to what your life has taught you May you question everything And when you have changed the world, And the world has changed you, May you return again, to this place, And shar...Closing | By Kelly Weisman Asprooth-Jackson | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Transformation, Truth, Wonder