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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Written during the February 2014 Teacher Development Renaissance Module, Pacific Southwest Liberal Religious Educator Association (LREDA) chapter. Minister: This morning we dedicate our Religious Education teachers who have been called to minister to our children, to our future. Without them to...Ritual | By Alison Crotty, Marci Beaudoin, Nancy Jasa, Sarah Roberts | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Children, Generations, Leadership, Trust, Youth/Teens -
Spirit of Life and of Love, Deep down we know that there is a greater mystery, a life and a pulse with which we are all connected. We know also that our lives are happier, healthier and more satisfying when we reach out to it, when we make it a conscious and real aspect of our lives. Yet it is so...Meditation | By Kate Lore | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christianity, Connections, Gratitude, Service
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During our darkest moments, still, there is hope. When facing our biggest challenges, still, there is hope. When all we can do is put one foot in front of the other, still, there is hope. When we can’t find the way out, still, there is hope. When all we can do to help is hold someone’s hand as...Chalice Lighting | By Nadine McSpadden | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Challenge, Compassion, Despair, Empathy, Hope, Humanism, Interdependence, Journey, Love, Secular, Solidarity, Strength -
The earth is warming, the birdsong increases, the sweeter breezes brush our cheeks, and the earth holds hope in its seeds and buds....Opening | By Susan Davison Archer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Earth, Joy, Nature, Spring
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For years now, my conservative friends have asked me, “Do you really want to live in a welfare state?” I’ve thought about it and I’ve decided: Yes, I do. I want to live in a welfare state! If we define “welfare” in the original meaning of the word, “the condition of being or getting...Reading | By Paul Stephan Dodenhoff | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anti-Oppression, Anti-Oppression, Compassion, Politics, Responsibility, Unity
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Source of Life, Taker of Life, Transformer of Life, Life Itself We implore you—hear us. Let us hear ourselves. Let us hear our own cries for help. Let us hear the pangs that rise from our bodies. Let us hear our bodies. Let us hear our breaths. Let us hear our living soul, its bellowing laughter...Meditation | By Ma Theresa "Tet" Gustilo Gallardo | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Connections, Humility, Imagination, Immanence
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For those who came before us, may our gratitude be long and lasting. For those who come after us, may we be the strong stewards of our commitments. May each of us know the immortality of the larger frame revealed through community....Reading | By Leslie Takahashi | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Connections, Generations, Responsibility
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We know the story: an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds. The glory of the Lord shone around them. A great light descends on dark fields, happy angels and cherubim sing for joy, play their lutes, and dance about to defy the gravity of earthly cares....Meditation | By Teresa Schwartz | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Courage, God, Goddess, Mystery, Searching, Wonder -
Source of all gifts, Giver of all peace, On this silent and holy night we celebrate once again our deep faith that this venture we call existence is not meaningless, is not hopeless....Meditation | By Kristin Grassel Schmidt | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Caring, Hope, Love, Redemption
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As the year winds down to its close And we are submerged once again In the seasonal darkness we have come to know so well, We have reason to think back upon the year that was, If only because it will soon be gone....Meditation | By Mark Stringer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Forgiveness, Honesty, Letting Go, New Year, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule -
[sing Holy Waters] We bring waters from the four directions. Water from the north, from icy seas and frozen lands, water that commingles and is part of the water of the globe. Bless these waters, that they may be healing waters. May the waters make us new....Ritual | By Lindsay Bennett-Jacobs | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Earth-Centered, Nature, Paganism
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Father God, Mother God, God of many names and of none, we invite your presence; be with us this morning. Be with us as we honor our veterans of wartime; teach us how to care for those who have borne arms in our names. Be with us as we honor our veterans of peacetime; teach us to care for all who...Meditation | By Wren Bellavance-Grace | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Peace, Service, War
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This simple ritual provides a quiet time during our Sunday service. We set up a small table at the front of the dais. There is a large bowl partially filled with water in the center of the table. On either side is a smaller bowl filled with pebbles that feel nice in the hand....Ritual | By Eric Kaminetzky | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Connections, Contemplation, Earth-Centered, Interdependence, Spiritual Practice, Unitarian Universalism -
With gratitude and grace we lead forward to answer the call of our faith, we move happily together into the unknown, we open ourselves to growth, we go forth to begin the change to our corner of the world, we covenant together to transform the world through love and we are moved by Spirit to...Meditation | By Kirk Bogue | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Leadership, Teamwork, Unitarian Universalism, Vision
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Sample Teacher Dedication Ceremonies Religious Educator(s) From Liz Jones, Religious Educator, First UU Church, San Diego, CA: This morning we wish to thank you for your commitment to this church, to our values, and especially to our children. You have accepted the responsibility of helping our...Ritual | By Cindy Leitner, Liz Jones, Barbara Wells ten Hove | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children, Generations, Leadership
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Happy Winter Solstice! Today is the morning after the longest night and shortest day of the year. Today is the beginning of the Waxing Half of the year, from now until the Summer Solstice the day will lengthen and night will shorten....Reading | By Elizabeth Dale | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Ending, Forgiveness, Letting Go, Searching
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In praise of computers and routers and servers and all the hardware and software that can help us build our connectedness; in praise of all the gremlins that live in the machines and bug our programs and help us to practice patience; in praise of the trolls who dwell in the internet and push us t...Opening | By Wren Bellavance-Grace | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Challenge, Connections, Playfulness, Science
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Blessed are the droplets, for they shall fill the bucket to overflowing. Blessed are they who know there is a bucket, for they shall be filled with hope. Blessed are they who can see beyond their lifetimes, for they shall walk in faith that their work will not be in vain....Closing | By Amy Zucker Morgenstern | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Earth-Centered, Purpose, Unity, Vision
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Each of us is a flower, with a delicate beauty uniquely our own. We may be like sunflowers, turning always towards the light. May our lives bloom like the flowers. We may be like night-blooming cereus, only displaying our fragrant petals when it is dark and we think no one can see. May our lives...Meditation | By Amy Zucker Morgenstern | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beauty, Earth-Centered, Flower Communion, Individualism, Nature
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For this guided meditation, I invite you to get comfortable in your seat. Close your eyes, if you like, and take a deep breath. And another. Now, imagine that your death is a person. What does this person look like? Is the person angry and cruel, or laughing and kind? Does this person attract or...Meditation | By Joshua Leach, Seth Robinson | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Death, Meaning, Responsibility, Self-Respect