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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The Book of Life is open before us. It tells stories of sadness and happiness, despair and hope, stagnation and change, and a peaceful stillness that transcends both. May you be written in the Book of Life....Closing | By Amy Zucker Morgenstern | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Forgiveness, Freedom, Judaism, Letting Go, Rosh Hashanah, Transformation -
Each day I am newly reminded of my unworthiness—a dozen thoughts misspoken; another day when the good I do falls short of the good that I could do; myriad small interchanges; moments of sharing that strain to the breaking point my desire to be generous, helpful, and kind; months of careful work...Meditation | By Elizabeth Tarbox | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Body, Brokenness, Earth, Earth-Centered, Healing, Nature, Unitarian Universalism, Wholeness, Worth -
I spent some time this weekend with an old friend, a dentist. She's considering buying her own practice, but wonders if she could retain the current patients and attract new ones. She wonders if the office staff would like her, or befriend her too much, or resent her, or desert her; she wonders...Meditation | By Jane Rzepka | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Courage, Faith, Fear, Living Our Faith, Secular, Wholeness -
On sabbatical in East Africa, I heard a story of a people who believe that we are each created with our own song. Their tradition as a community is to honor that song by singing it as welcome when a child is born, as comfort when the child is ill, in celebration when the child marries, and in...Meditation | By David S Blanchard | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Beauty, Character, Children, Direct Experience, Individualism, Mystery, Prophetic Words & Deeds -
When Jesus was baptized the spirit descended upon him like a dove and God said, “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.” It must have been a great feeling, but it didn’t last long. The next thing Jesus knew, the nice spirit that had descended like a dove became aggressive and drove him...Meditation | By Sarah York | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Challenge, Change, Christianity, Despair, Solitude, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarianism
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One snowflake is a marvel, a miracle; Four snowflakes, five, and the kids begin to run around in the yard One hundred and the cars start slowing down; One thousand, two...you can see where this is going....Closing | By Erik Walker Wikstrom | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Power, Purpose, Strength, Unity -
Let us do the unthinkable thing. We'll sit and breathe together on the edge of our seats in a world that pollenates and reproduces, shape shifting and breaking into bloom. Let us sit and breathe together as one breath, sit still just long enough for each of our dreams to rise and silently hover...Meditation | By Susan Maginn | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Body, Nature, Transcendence
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Written during the February 2014 Teacher Development Renaissance Module, Pacific Southwest Liberal Religious Educator Association (LREDA) chapter. Minister: This morning we dedicate our Religious Education teachers who have been called to minister to our children, to our future. Without them to...Ritual | By Alison Crotty, Marci Beaudoin, Nancy Jasa, Sarah Roberts | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Children, Generations, Leadership, Trust, Youth/Teens
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Spirit of Life and of Love, Deep down we know that there is a greater mystery, a life and a pulse with which we are all connected. We know also that our lives are happier, healthier and more satisfying when we reach out to it, when we make it a conscious and real aspect of our lives. Yet it is so...Meditation | By Kate Lore | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christianity, Connections, Gratitude, Service
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During our darkest moments, still, there is hope. When facing our biggest challenges, still, there is hope. When all we can do is put one foot in front of the other, still, there is hope. When we can’t find the way out, still, there is hope. When all we can do to help is hold someone’s hand as...Chalice Lighting | By Nadine McSpadden | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Challenge, Compassion, Despair, Empathy, Hope, Humanism, Interdependence, Journey, Love, Secular, Solidarity, Strength -
The earth is warming, the birdsong increases, the sweeter breezes brush our cheeks, and the earth holds hope in its seeds and buds....Opening | By Susan Davison Archer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Earth, Joy, Nature, Spring
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My friends, may the Spirit of Love be A living flame before you, A guiding star above you, A firm path below you, And a gentle presence behind you.Closing | By Eric Williams | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Love, Presence, Reverence, Transcendence, Unitarian Universalism, Wonder -
May the firmness of the earth be yours. May the flow of the water be yours. May the freedom of the air be yours. May the fierceness of the fire be yours. May all of the gifts of this life, The Below and the Above, Be with you now and remain with you always.Closing | By Eric Williams | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Earth, Earth-Centered, Nature, Paganism
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May you be filled with the blessings of this covenanted community. May you carry them with you as you depart from here. May you discover the places in the world where these blessings are needed. May you have the courage to share them....Closing | By Eric Williams | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Connections, Relationships, Service
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For years now, my conservative friends have asked me, “Do you really want to live in a welfare state?” I’ve thought about it and I’ve decided: Yes, I do. I want to live in a welfare state! If we define “welfare” in the original meaning of the word, “the condition of being or getting...Reading | By Paul Stephan Dodenhoff | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anti-Oppression, Anti-Oppression, Compassion, Politics, Responsibility, Unity
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Source of Life, Taker of Life, Transformer of Life, Life Itself We implore you—hear us. Let us hear ourselves. Let us hear our own cries for help. Let us hear the pangs that rise from our bodies. Let us hear our bodies. Let us hear our breaths. Let us hear our living soul, its bellowing laughter...Meditation | By Ma Theresa "Tet" Gustilo Gallardo | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Connections, Humility, Imagination, Immanence
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For those who came before us, may our gratitude be long and lasting. For those who come after us, may we be the strong stewards of our commitments. May each of us know the immortality of the larger frame revealed through community....Reading | By Leslie Takahashi | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Connections, Generations, Responsibility
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We know the story: an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds. The glory of the Lord shone around them. A great light descends on dark fields, happy angels and cherubim sing for joy, play their lutes, and dance about to defy the gravity of earthly cares....Meditation | By Teresa Schwartz | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Courage, God, Goddess, Mystery, Searching, Wonder -
Source of all gifts, Giver of all peace, On this silent and holy night we celebrate once again our deep faith that this venture we call existence is not meaningless, is not hopeless....Meditation | By Kristin Grassel Schmidt | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Caring, Hope, Love, Redemption
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As the year winds down to its close And we are submerged once again In the seasonal darkness we have come to know so well, We have reason to think back upon the year that was, If only because it will soon be gone....Meditation | By Mark Stringer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Forgiveness, Honesty, Letting Go, New Year, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule