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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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  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    The following is an excerpt from the Theological Statement that opens the May 2018 Report of the UUMA Ableism Task Force. The members of that Task Force were Rev. Josh Pawelek and Rev. Barbara F. Meyers, co-chairs; Rev. Mark Belletini; Rev. Erika Hewitt; Rev. Evan Keely; and Rev. Theresa I. Soto.
    Reading | August 17, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Anti-Oppression, Body, Disability, Inclusion, Wholeness, Worship
  • A rust-colored leaf floats on the surface of a pond, and under the surface of the water there are stones and rocks. The surface of the water reflects the hand that dropped the leaf onto the water.
    Watershed moments are turning points, moments that permanently alter an understanding.
    Opening | By Martina Thompson | August 5, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Earth-Centered, Nature, Unitarian Universalism, Water Communion, Worship
  • A wash of green, blue, and purple light blending together.
    Church is for helping people stay human in the face of inhumane circumstances.
    Audio Recording | By Erika Hewitt, Elizabeth Stevens | August 2, 2021 | From WorshipLab
    Tagged as: Brokenness, Disaster or Crisis, Presence, Self-Care, Trauma, Worship Tips
  • In the background, a group of Black people stand on a church chancel. In the foreground, from behind, a black person stands in their pew with arms raised in a "praise" position.
    When we learn to dismantle the markers and habits of white supremacy in our worship life, we get free together.
    Leader Resource | By Erika Hewitt, Julica Hermann de la Fuente | July 30, 2021 | From WorshipLab
    Tagged as: #8thPrinciple, #BlackLivesMatter, Anti-Oppression, Equity, Justice, Worship Tips
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    When you doubt yourself or feel afraid; when you fail, as we all do at times, remember that spark—always there sustaining and revitalizing you.
    Blessing | By Rita Capezzi | July 28, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Bridging Ceremony, Worship, Young Adults, Youth/Teens
  • A man in US Navy dress whites stands on the grass in a military cemetery looking at the headstones
    We collectively share the sorrow of those individuals in the armed services who lost their lives in war.
    Prayer | By Jennifer Cottrill | July 27, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Death, Memorial Day, Military, Worship
  • A hand holds a slide up to the light, on which is a dated image of a woman and man posing outside.
    Sometimes it feels like Father’s Day is more about enshrining a myth than it is about facing the realities of fatherhood.
    Meditation | By Ryan Urie | July 26, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Children, Direct Experience, Family, Father's Day, Fathers, Generations, History, Parents, Secular, Worship
  • A blurred photo of a leafy tree against a blue sky, as if a breeze were blowing through the entire photo.
    May I speak from my learning and not from my habit.
    Meditation | By Deb Cannon | July 26, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Change, Character, Growth, Integrity, Worship
  • Vertical swaths of paint, in deep blues and indigos, on a wall.
    Don’t argue with salvation when it arrives on your shores.
    Reading | By Alex Jensen | July 26, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Abundance, Gratitude, Salvation, Worship
  • A hand with red nail polish cups a compass, above the mossy floor of a forest, and the other hand points to moss or another object on the ground.
    My inner compass reminds me of the power we’ve been given to create a new future.
    Reflection | By Mariela Pérez-Simons | July 14, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Earth, Earth-Centered, Imagination, Limitations, Nature, Self-Care, Self-Respect, Worship
  • Two hands, of dark skin color, reach to each other. Each hand holds a jigsaw puzzle piece with half of a red heart on it, suggesting that the two pieces fit together perfectly.
    I learned that love and support can be expressed in many different ways by different people.
    Reflection | By Ndidi Achebe | July 7, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Brokenness, Community, Compassion, Direct Experience, Fear, Humanism, Limitations, Love, Relationships, Worship
  • Ijeoma Oluo sits in a black leather chair, wearing a black shirt and red trousers.
    To see how we fight still after entire lifetimes of struggle—and then to tell us to be more polite is just plain cruel.
    Reading | By Ijeoma Oluo | June 30, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: #8thPrinciple, #BlackLivesMatter, Anti-Oppression, Humanism, Race/Ethnicity, Secular, Worship
  • Hanging underneath an outdoor surface is a new green chrysalis, a clear one that’s about ready to emerge, and a butterfly that’s already come out.
    Emergence, becoming, is inherent in each of us.
    Reflection | By Kimberlee Anne Tomczak Carlson | June 30, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Change, Direct Experience, Earth-Centered, Growth, Nature, Patience, Transformation, Worship
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    Conflict resolution is in fact one of the greatest things that you can accomplish in your life and in your relationship. [W]hen I view people as not bringing conflict up, I think it’s being unfaithful to the relationship. I think it’s an abdication of your role in the relationship, and you are...
    Reading | By Amanda Doyle | June 23, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Caring, Conflict, Direct Experience, Friendship, Humanism, Marriage, Relationships, Secular, Vulnerability, Worship
  • A white nationalist, wearing body armor with a white nationalist symbol, stands in front of a line of religious leaders, some wearing Side with Love garb, at the Charlottesville Unite the Right Rally (August 12, 2017).
    Do we who are UUs really believe in the values of our faith enough to enact to them in bold, clear, and unequivocal ways?
    Reflection | By Takiyah Nur Amin | June 23, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #8thPrinciple, #BlackLivesMatter, 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), America, Anti-Oppression, Conflict, Direct Experience, Division, Equity, Justice, Living Our Faith, Race/Ethnicity, Unitarian Universalism, Worship
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    We celebrate our desires to stretch our wings towards where we wish to fly and soar free. And thus, we make a bridge. We affirm our commitment to remain connected to those who are still earth-bound and captive, remembering that a bridge may be a footpath or an umbrella. And thus, we offer a bridge.
    Responsive Reading | By Leslie Takahashi | June 19, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Caring, Connections, Worship
  • flowers with stone backdrop
    Čapek turned to the beauty of the countryside; to the beauty of flowers.
    Reading | By Teresa Schwartz, David Schwartz | June 16, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Flower Communion, Unitarianism, Worship
  • A photo, taken from above, of the ocean water meeting sand, kelp, and stones.
    We light this chalice as a symbol of courage to move into that time of this and that / and not this / and not that
    Chalice Lighting | By Summer Albayati | June 14, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Balance, Worship
  • A neon pink triangle and "Silence = Death" in the glass wall of the Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, DC.
    Help me live in gratitude for the LGBTQ+ ancestors who paved this road we walk and roll on.
    Reflection | By Li Kynvi | June 9, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Activism, Anti-Oppression, Direct Experience, Identity, Justice, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Pride Sunday, Worship
  • A mandala coloring sheet: concentric circles contain designs and prhrases from the seven Principles
    Maybe if we add an 8th Principle, we will get closer to the BeLOVEd Community we dream about.
    Time for All Ages | By Karen G. Johnston | June 5, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: #8thPrinciple, #BlackLivesMatter, Seven Principles, Worship