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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We unite in our differences in background and belief; We unite—with gratitude and hope: Hope for a world of differences; Hope for a world that honors difference; We unite in community With gratitude for difference. Source: Association Sunday 2009...Opening | By David Breeden | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Diversity, Multiculturalism, Multiculturalism, Unity -
We light this chalice to find inner peace, love for each other, and faith in ourselves. Also, to be welcoming to whomever we meet and kind to all living creatures. So gather around this light of hope as we share this time together.Chalice Lighting | By Oberlin UU Fellowship, Oberlin, OH | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Community, Connections, Diversity, Faith, Hope, Hospitality, Love, Peace, Purpose, Self-Respect -
Someone told me once that Einstein thought time is a variable. That is to say that time is not a constant. Are you following this? I think Einstein was right. When I was a child, a year was a YEAR! Now a year is a week....Reading | By Ken Nye | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Acceptance, Aging, Balance, Direct Experience, Humanism, Patience, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Wisdom
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Note: Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) 2016 begins in the evening of Wednesday, May 4 and ends in the evening of Thursday, May 5. This week holds the annual observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Yom Hashoah. Jewish communities prefer not to call the dreadful events of the 1930's and...Ritual | By Mary Wellemeyer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Grief, Holocaust Remembrance / Yom Ha'Shoah, Hope, Human Rights, Judaism, Responsibility, Suffering
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Bob and Addie Polk had moved into the neighborhood in 1970, when the little houses were relatively new, and through the years they had been friendly with the neighbors. After her husband died, Addie kept more to herself, increasingly limited by declining health in older age....Sermon | By Mary Wellemeyer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Courage, Despair, Direct Experience, Discernment, Money
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A knock at the door, late morning. The dog makes a racket, but the two stand their ground. They are on God's business. I know before I open the door what they have to say—that God is the answer. I pull the door open, try to be pleasant, (but, please, don't talk too long). Two women, earnest,...Reading | By Ken Nye | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Peace
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My dad died 28 years ago. I still have some of his things: A red plaid Pendleton bath robe. (I look like Dad in that thing now.) An old Sears table saw bought used in 1950. I still use it, (but for rough cuts only). An old grinding wheel, noisy as sin, but sharpens mower blades in no time....Reading | By Ken Nye | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children, Family, Father's Day, Fathers, Generations, History, Integrity, Parents
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As years go by and passions cool, we make love in places that young lovers only dream about. We make love at the kitchen table, a Scrabble board the mattress and hints to help the other our passionate kisses. We make love in the car, thrilling to beautiful scenery or a rarely seen wild animal. We...Reading | By Ken Nye | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Aging, Love, Marriage, Sexuality
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If I should die, (and I will some day), I won't be far away. You will see me. When the big golden retriever ambles in and lies down under the kitchen table, he's lying at my feet. I'm in the chair....Reading | By Ken Nye | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Death
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"Christ is born! Alleluia!" "Only ten shopping days until Christmas!" We lament tying one to the other, but this is not naked materialism. There is religion in the ribbons. A wintry night. A tiny baby, a cattle stall, a bed in the hay, two thousand years ago. From hundreds of miles Kings come to...Reading | By Ken Nye | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christmas Eve / Christmas
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The tree is all set Packages piled at its base. Telephone calls from the kids confirming the times of dinner and church. Nothing much left to do. The Fed Ex guy just delivered the last late order. I'll wrap it, and then what? Time on my hands. Time to think. What is this all about? Christmas is...Reading | By Ken Nye | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christmas Eve / Christmas
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ALL: Today we honor the youth among us You who are stepping beyond and away and toward Today we share in your journey And encourage your discovery Young Adults (18-35): Today we welcome your energy And offer you a safe place to grow Today we celebrate your hopes and dreams Come live, breathe, thr...Ritual | By Jaynn Truran | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Bridging Ceremony, Children, Choice, Direct Experience, Ending, Friendship, Generations, Growth, Letting Go, Power, Youth/Teens
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Every week we gather in this beautiful space to find peace. Each week words and music offer and celebrate peace with the hope of instilling it in us. Now, take the peace you have found here, back out into the world with you. Renewed in our faith and inspired to act, Let us be the peacemakers the...Closing | By Sam Trumbore | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Peace
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Goodness is a means, not an end. Look within. Who can stop the hunger for more than we deserve? Who can prevent a jealous thought from urging us to protect our hearts? Who can ward off all the uncertainties that disturb the mind before we decide to act?...Meditation | By Sam Trumbore | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Choice, Good, Integrity, Love, Unitarian Universalism, Worry
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Welcome to this place. This is a home where no revealed truths are promoted and no scripture or human being accepted as infallible. This is a place for searching for truth. But we are believers....Opening | By John M Higgins | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 6th Principle (World Community), Caring, Freedom, Identity, Purpose, Truth, Unitarian Universalism, Unity, Vision
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Today we celebrate a dream awakening. Today we worship with renewed hope in our hearts. Today we act on an audacity of hopes and dreams for the future. Today we begin the hard work for justice, equity and compassion in all human relations, for today is a day like no other and it is ours to shape...Opening | By Elizabeth M Strong | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Commitment, Courage, Justice, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism, Vision
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Let us pause, and breathe, and be in touch with the sacred presence that permeates all, including this room, now. Web of All... of life, death, and renewal: We open our hearts to those who suffer as a result of the wildfires.Meditation | By John Gibb Millspaugh, Sarah Gibb Millspaugh | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Courage, Despair, Disaster or Crisis, Faith
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Jefferson Unitarian Church Golden, CO Mothers Day, May 13, 2007 Three weeks ago my wife, Phyllis, and I participated in our all church social action weekend. What a magical day that was! We chose to help out building the new community garden at 32nd Avenue just this side of I-70....Sermon | By Peter Morales | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 6th Principle (World Community), Child Dedication, Children, Commitment, Health, Parents, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Relationships, Teacher Dedication, Teacher Recognition
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We pray for the children, For the voiceless, for the innocent, for the vulnerable, for the least powerful among us, and those most in need of our protection....Meditation | By Gary Kowalski | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children's / Religious Education Sunday
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In the midst of a world marked by tragedy and beauty there must be those who bear witness against unnecessary destruction and who, with faith, rise and lead in freedom, with grace and power. There must be those who speak honestly and do not avoid seeing what must be seen of sorrow and outrage, or...Meditation | By Rebecca Ann Parker | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Healing, Leadership, Love, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism, Wisdom