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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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 -
Here may you know that you are lovable and that, indeed, you are loved. And may you carry that love out into the world as a blessing.Closing | By Dawn Skjei Cooley | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Love, Worth
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Once, there was a little girl named Amanda who loved to help other people. She helped her Papa David and Papi Caesar to clean the house, she raked up the leaves in her neighbor Jim’s yard when he was in pain and couldn’t do it himself, and she tutored her friend Sara in Math. So, when it came...Story | By Sunshine Jeremiah Wolfe | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Humility, Listening, Relationships, Service, Teamwork
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All violence is framed by blood. Our scars are the red line reminders— for the survivors, and all who follow later. See them, and do not turn away from the violence that drew them. Feel the scars you know, and hear the ones whispered about— They are guides. They are pathways, as much as they are...Meditation | By Kathleen McTigue, Eric Cherry | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Authority, Conscience, Courage, Disaster or Crisis, Discernment, Healing, Oppression, Politics, Responsibility, Violence, Wisdom
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SERMON DELIVERED BY REV. ROBERT WEST at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, New York on September 8, 1963. This was Rev. Robert West's first sermon at First Unitarian in Rochester. Late on a Sunday afternoon, five weeks ago, my family and I drove into Rochester to begin our life here with...Sermon | By Robert Nelson West | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anti-Oppression, Anti-Oppression, History, Race/Ethnicity, Rights
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Imagine yourself on a wide, flowing river in a small boat, You are one little speck of being in a wide expanse of water bordered by rocky cliffs, towering trees and bright blue skies. Ahead of you are boulders and white water rapids, but also calm pools and sand bars for picnics. Around you are...Meditation | By Susan Enzweiler | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Community, Solidarity, Teamwork, Unity -
In faith, together, we light this small scrap of light, symbol of Grandfather Sun's enormous power, whose energy burns so brightly In these days of deep Summer, catapulting the leaves and vines, vegetables, flowers and fruits to astonishing size, lengths and heights, spilling over the tops of cag...Chalice Lighting | By Ellen Hamilton | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Abundance, Community, Earth, Earth-Centered, Food, Freedom, Gratitude, Growth, Joy, Nature, Summer -
Tune: L. v Beethoven Theme from 9th Symphony (Ode to Joy) Sing of joy and gladness now and evermore to Nature’s song, Open up our heart’s desire with love that lasts our whole life long May the knowledge of our kinship spread throughout the universe, Helping us to live our lives in harmony with...Music | By Bruce Callander | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Awe, Earth, Earth-Centered, Nature, Reverence
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President: We at ______ welcome you as new members of our community this morning. You have come to worship, play, work and grow among us. Ours is a free fellowship; we have no creeds and you are free to bring your ideas and beliefs to this fellowship to share with others....Ritual | By Sarah C Stewart | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Children, Commitment, Community, Family, Inclusion, New Member Ceremony, Unitarian Universalism
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To worship means to consider that which has worth—today we consider, with gratitude, the many gifts of this community— The opportunity to be affirmed in who we are and to offer that affirmation to others The chance to stand up together to help remake the world in the ideal of justice The freedom...Opening | By Leslie Takahashi | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Purpose, Service, Stewardship, Vision
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Within the space of an instant, you can make a first impression show gratitude, kiss, change your mind, wipe away a tear, live, and die. It only takes a minute to write a note, tell a joke, change a diaper, sing a song, or be still....Meditation | By Thomas Rhodes | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Integrity, Purpose, Service, Vision, Work
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As we gather here together May we be attentive one to another. May we listen carefully, may we freely speak. May we be respectful of one another. May we be serious, yet not somber. May we be light of heart And full of good cheer. As we gather here together May we work toward common goals....Reading | By Betty Jo Middleton | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Caring, Respect, Unity
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I. THE CYNIC I was the town cynic whose life was choked out By a hidden disease of the heart That I knew was there in my chest But never told. And I carried it around with me And quoted verses to the people I met About the vanity and absurdity of it all And made them weep. If only they could have...Reading | By Joshua Leach | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Arrogance, Death, Failure, Searching, Suffering
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For this one hour, Spirit of Life we let go. For this one hour, may we let go of our anxieties, our fears, our anger, our self-doubts, our regrets, our petty grievances, and our distractions....Chalice Lighting | By Paul Stephan Dodenhoff | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anger, Doubt, Fear, Letting Go, Peace, Presence, Regret, Reverence, Transcendence, Worry -
Come, come, whoever you are - you are welcome here! No matter your age, your size, the color of your eyes, your hair, your skin—you are welcome here! No matter how you came here, if you came alone, or with others— you are welcome here! No matter whom you love, or how you speak, or whatever your...Opening | By Melanie Morel-Ensminger | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Inclusion, Unity
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Every year, the same conundrum: How do we find our way into Easter when, for us, the most important part about Jesus of Nazareth is his teachings, rather than his death? Like many traditional holidays, it must have some meaning to us beyond its commercial trappings. But what is that meaning,...Reading | By Ellen Cooper | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christianity, Death, Easter, Transformation
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There are two things we can learn from a daffodil to help ourselves and each other.Time for All Ages | By Ruth E Gibson | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Change, Earth, Earth-Centered, Flower Communion, Growth, Nature, Spring, Strength, Transformation, Vernal Equinox, Wonder -
From "The Young People in the Church," September 20, 1902 What is our idea of a church? Are we simply a mutual admiration society, meeting from Sunday to Sunday to congratulate ourselves that we are not so bigoted as other people, and sigh because they are not emancipated?...Reading | By Marion Shutter | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Prophetic Words & Deeds, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism, Vision
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When I was very young, my family often went camping at Assateague Island on the Maryland shore. It was a long drive, but there were lots of adventures along the way. The last adventure was crossing the Verrazano Bridge over the Sinepuxent Bay. This was one of my favorite moments. As we approached...Meditation | By Jan Taddeo | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Change, Courage, Searching, Vision -
I believe in One God: That is, the heaven we make on earth. And in all the prophets and saviors, the begotten children of all people, Born under every banner and tribe, nation and state, parcel and plot, Whose suffering, struggles, and wisdom free me from injustice, And lift me up so that I, too,...Reading | By Eliot Brian Chenowith | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Faith, Redemption, Reverence