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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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  • A close-up photo of woven fabric in rich tones of blue, with yellow, red, and purple threads.
    When covenant / breaks, we need to come home / to trust.
    Reading | By Frances Koziar | March 9, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Covenant, Doubt, Humanism, Interdependence, Living Our Faith, Relationships, Unitarian Universalism, Worship
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    Bless your intention, to love, to comfort, to draw close.
    Blessing | By Kye Flannery | March 3, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Leadership, Worship
  • A person's head and shoulders, viewed from behind, with bright rays of colored light forming an aura.
    Whether you have made promises, broken promises, or are renewing your promises, you are beloved and you are welcome here.
    Opening | By Joan Javier-Duval | March 2, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Abundance, Acceptance, Community, Hospitality, Inclusion, Love, Worship
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    Let us grieve for our own pain, as oppressions / come between us, as sharp / as broken glass.
    Poetry | By Frances Koziar | March 2, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 5th Principle (Conscience & Democracy), Activism, Anti-Oppression, Courage, Integrity, Worship
  • Seen from behind, at the beach, a father has his arm lovingly wrapped around his child's shoulder.
    Happy kids are safer kids, because happy kids have adults they can ask for help.
    Reflection | By Quinn Gormley | March 2, 2022 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Acceptance, Anti-Oppression, Children, Coming Out, Direct Experience, Humanism, Identity, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Parents, Pride Sunday, Secular, Worship
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    It’s as if something was born from nothing.
    Reading | By Anya Sammler-Michael | March 1, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas
  • A menorah with red candles lies on the open pages of Hebrew scripture.
    We could have assimilated but instead / we rededicate
    Affirmation | By Leah Ongiri | March 1, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Hanukkah, Identity, Judaism, Strength, Tradition, Worship
  • In the middle of a Pride parade, a trans woman in a white cowboy hat poses with a rainbow fan.
    May the rainbow of love enfold you; may your fluidity never be hindered.
    Blessing | By Cricket Hall | March 1, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Acceptance, Anti-Oppression, Direct Experience, Identity, Inclusion, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Pride Sunday, Worship
  • A lit taper candle burns against a blurred background of blue holiday lights.
    Grief is welcome, a sacred part of the mourning.
    Reading | By Kari Kopnick | March 1, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Advent, Balance, Challenge, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Compassion, Despair, Empathy, Grief, Winter Solstice / Yule, Worship
  • In a shadowed forest, a path through the trees is bathed in golden light.
    We are stronger together because we are different, and because we are one.
    Chalice Lighting | By Frances Koziar | March 1, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Balance, Beauty, Conflict, Diversity, Earth-Centered, Relationships, Unitarian Universalism, Worship
  • Berrien UU Fellowship Board meeting
    We tend the spark of imagination and hope for the world to come.
    Chalice Lighting | By Rachael Hayes | February 25, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Business Meetings, Discernment, Generations, Humanism, Leadership, Purpose, Stewardship, Unitarian Universalism, Worship
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    We are one people of many beliefs, many origins, sexualities, and genders.
    Welcome | By Rachael Hayes | February 23, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Diversity, Hospitality, Inclusion, Worship
  • A man in an orange prison jumpsuit reads a letter, smiling.
    Praise be for our connection. Help us to learn from each other.
    Reflection | By Anonymous | February 23, 2022 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Diversity, Friendship, Playfulness, Worship
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    When disability is understood as dependency, disability is posited in direct contrast to American ideals of independence and autonomy.
    Reading | By Kim Nielsen | February 17, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: America, Body, Democracy, Disability, History, Identity, Justice, Multiculturalism, Oppression, Secular
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    Ableism is lived out purposefully, accidentally, and unknowingly.
    Quote | By Kim Nielsen | February 17, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Anti-Oppression, Body, Disability, Multiculturalism, Oppression
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    Disability is often elusive and changing.
    Reading | By Kim Nielsen | February 17, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: America, Body, Disability, Identity, Multiculturalism, Secular, Worship
  • A book titled "Defund Fear" by Zach Norris is held in the hands of someone whose hands are light brown; only their torso is showing.
    Safety is not tied to our capacity to watch our neighbors, but rather based on our capacity to truly look out for one another.
    Reading | February 16, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Activism, Caring, Community, Fear, Solidarity, Worship
  • A book titled "Defund Fear" by Zach Norris is held in the hands of someone whose hands are light brown; only their torso is showing.
    We can’t run from ourselves. The answer to safety is always closer rather than farther away.
    Reading | By Zach Norris | February 16, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Activism, Community, Fear, Justice, Solidarity, Worship
  • A hand holding a censer, in which burning copal incense releases smoke.
    Every time I find the sacred unexpectedly, I am filled with awe and surprise.
    Reflection | By Tania Y Márquez | February 16, 2022 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Worship
  • A single powerful red-orange flame glows in the darkness around it.
    Without consent, our ability to create becomes not a blessing, but a burden and an imposition.
    Opening | By Elizabeth Barish Browne | February 10, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Choice, Reproductive Justice, Sexuality, Unitarian Universalism, Worship