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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Today we are recognizing those in the congregation who have recently retired or are about to retire. The transition from an active work life to retirement is an important life transition....Ritual | By Carol Hepokoski | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Aging, Direct Experience, Ending, Letting Go, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Respect, Work -
In a world filled with the darkness of ignorance, let us bring the light of reason In a world filled with the darkness of despair, may we share the light of hope In a world filled with the darkness of hate, let us shine the light of love...Chalice Lighting | By Douglas John Traversa | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Compassion, Despair, Faith, Fear, Growth, Healing, Hope, Inclusion, Love, Reason -
As we gather to celebrate In this time of beginnings In the season of birth and rebirth, We hear the heart beat of Mother Earth With the spring time comes the blossoming of the plants A time of exploration and creation And the emerging patterns of life We hear the heart beat of Mother Earth Let u...Reading | By Addae Ama Kraba | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb -
We come together this morning as celebrants, as seekers and companions. We enter into this, the longest day, joyfully, allowing ourselves the beauty of this time together in which we may rest our cares and sorrows, and allow our hearts and spirits to be uplifted....Opening | By B Leslie Koons | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Balance, Beauty, Earth, Presence, Searching, Summer Solstice
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"Few of their children in the country learn English Unless the stream of their importation could be turned they will soon so outnumber us that all the advantages we have will not be able to preserve our Language, and even our Government will become precarious." Does this sound familiar? This...Sermon | By James (Jay) C Leach | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 6th Principle (World Community), Anti-Oppression, Globalism, Immigration, Immigration, Oppression, Privilege
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Every third Tuesday, I am a Buddhist I empty my mind and lighten my heart And try to let go of attachments Every other Friday, I am a Christian. I look for the least of these And try to love God and my neighbor The full moon of the month finds me Wiccan; I honor the dual nature of God And find my...Reading | By Joanna Fontaine Crawford | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Buddhism, Freedom, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Unitarian Universalism
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The children being dedicated will take a walk around the sanctuary. Different church members and older children present in the pews will offer objects that will become a part of the child throughout the poem....Ritual | By Kate Howard | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Child Dedication, Children, Community, International, Joy, Parents, Responsibility, Unitarian Universalism
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To those of you who are visitors here for the first time, thank you again for being with us. If you are lonely, here you will find a warm companionship....Welcome | By David R Chapman | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Connections, Direct Experience, Friendship, Home, Secular, Strength, Unitarian Universalism, Unity
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Good Friend, your soul is within me now, And I hallow your spirit with my love. Our peace will come and goodwill shall be done, And we will learn that our Earth is our Heaven. This day and all days, I offer you My bread, my hand and my heart....Meditation | By David R Chapman | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christianity, Relationships, Reverence
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I invite you to join me in a special ingathering ritual in which we will gather in energy and love from all directions. Your responsive call is the “Gathered Here” chant. Some of you will participate perhaps in a more metaphysical sense and for others your participation may be more metaphorical;...Opening | By Jane Altman Page | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Earth-Centered, Homecoming / Ingathering, Paganism, Water Communion
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The tale I am about to tell is a based on a true story. It is a tale woven from the stories of those who remember. It is a tale of wayward travels, a tale of the stranded tourist. Some of the people who recounted the events described it as a Happy Accident....Reading | By Carie J Johnsen | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Connections, Hospitality, Inclusion
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I believe music is god given Singing is an act of creation, of bringing into the world something that wasn't there before. Singing is a natural expression of my spirit—at the same time it can be soothing, energizing, crying, laughing, angelic or down in the dirt blues...it's all good! Singing is...Litany | By Carie J Johnsen | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Arts & Music, Beauty, Direct Experience, Joy, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Unitarian Universalism, Unity
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Opening Prayer As we draw together this evening, let us pause for moment to remember the faces of the many women who have gathered in this space to build a house for <name>....Blessing | By Carie J Johnsen | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Abundance, Building/Space Dedication, Community, Family, Grace, Gratitude, Home, Interdependence, Love, New Home, Sacred, Strength, Unitarian Universalism
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Once a month we have an adult and a child lead a multigenerational part of the service called, “Living the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Principles.” The adult and child are chosen ahead of time so they can prepare the words they will say. We do a different principle every month, from October to...Ritual | By Karen J Hirsch | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 5th Principle (Conscience & Democracy), Generations
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In the spirit of love and compassion, let us pray. Spirit of Life, gods of many names, be in our hearts and minds as we come together today to pray for our world. We come today as people of privilege, grateful for this blessing, and hopeful for our future. Let us know that each from our own...Prayer | By Claudene (Deane) Oliva | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Interdependence, Seven Principles, Solidarity, Strength, Unitarian Universalism, Unity
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We light our chalice this morning, grateful for the love that we experience in this beloved community. May the flame light the way for all who seek such abundance.Chalice Lighting | By Dawn Skjei Cooley | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Abundance, Caring, Commitment, Community, Gratitude, Inclusion, Journey, Love, Searching -
Singing the Journey uses our Six Sources as organizing themes, as shown in the sections of the Table of Contents. “The Living Tradition we share draws from many sources,” so come with me now on a short spiritual romp through these six sections as I draw only from the song titles in each section...Reading | By Jaco ten Hove | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Playfulness, Reverence, Unitarian Universalism
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Joy and grief Health and sickness Light and Darkness Peace and anger Life and death Wholeness and brokeness We each bring all of these here to this sanctuary of unity in diversity For this one hour of this one day And pour them out Commingling the oil of our lives To become the flame of this chal...Chalice Lighting | By Paul Stephan Dodenhoff | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anger, Birth, Brokenness, Death, Diversity, Grief, Joy, Peace, Unity, Wholeness -
To the God of our own understanding, the spirit with whom we commune this morning – we ask that our minds be open, our hearts welcoming, our arms embracing. We lift up those whose lives are touched by sadness, by illness, by worry, or by loneliness. May they find comfort, hope, and healing...Meditation | By Chrystal Hogan | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: God, Healing, Strength
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Minister: Today, we welcome into our community these new members, who have chosen to make a commitment to this congregation by signing our Membership Book....Ritual | By Laura Randall | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Commitment, Community, Covenant, Identity, Living Our Faith, New Member Ceremony, Unitarian Universalism, Unity