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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As we listen to the blessing of music, May we know this ending As more than a time of goodbye. May the warmth of this community and the memory of our chalice flame sustain our hearts and encourage our minds, as we engage the blessings of life's challenges and joys. The service has ended. Your...Benediction | By Maureen Killoran | August 10, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Arts & Music, Community, Trust, Unitarianism -
The following is a creative format for a water communion, but most other worship elements have been removed to highlight they way that the communion is structured. Note: this service, as written didn’t include a Joys and Sorrows component; its creator hoped for the larger container of the water...Ritual | By Darcey Elizabeth Hegvik Laine | August 6, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Direct Experience, Earth, Earth-Centered, Nature, Water Communion -
God who is with us in the courtrooms, at the border, in the streets, in the struggle, We do not know if this arc bends toward justice....Prayer | By Elizabeth Nguyen | August 6, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Anti-Oppression, Justice, Race/Ethnicity, Solidarity -
What does “fair” mean? Is “fair” the same thing as “equal”? Which one is reflected in the concept of “justice”? Designed to be used as a Message for All Ages or as part of a Children's Chapel service, this activity uses cookies (yum!) to explore the differences between fair and...Activity | By Erika Hewitt | August 3, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anti-Oppression, Children's Sabbath, Direct Experience, Equity, Food, Justice, Playfulness, Power, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Relationships, Seven Principles -
[In the] spirit of love, harmony, and remembrance, we stand too often divided, too often set apart from one another in heedless ways. We seek to be compassionate but our vision may be clouded or distracted. We too often go forward, day by day, and look without seeing....Litany | By Dennis McCarty | August 3, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Anti-Oppression, Compassion, Direct Experience, Integrity, Relationships, Solidarity, Suffering, Vulnerability -
Sheet Music (PDF) for "There Is A Love." There is a love holding me / us. There is a love holding all that I / we love. There is a love holding all. I / We rest in this love.Music | By Elizabeth H. Norton, Rebecca Ann Parker | July 31, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Awe, Direct Experience, Love, Peace, Power, Relationships, Seven Principles, Transcendence, Wonder -
“Hope has to be seen to be believed. It has to be made visible. It has to be something we can feel and touch. We are called to be persons who embody hope for one another. We have to be each other’s partners in hope.”...Quote | By Paul J. Wadell | July 24, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Community, Connections, Hope, Humanism, Purpose, Relationships -
This is a ritual of caring for one another, couched in terms of struggle and hope.Ritual | By Erika Hewitt | July 24, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Connections, Direct Experience, Hope, Pain, Relationships, Strength, Vulnerability -
Be revered In thee the faithful hope that still looks forward, And keeps the life-spark warm of future action Beneath the cloak of patient sufferance.Closing | By Margaret Fuller | June 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Faith, Hope, Patience, Self-Respect, Strength, Suffering, Unitarianism -
We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.Quote | By Martin Luther King, Jr. | June 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Failure, Hope, Limitations -
“Look, look!” The strangers around me were shouting and pointing. I spun around. From my position halfway across the Brooklyn Bridge, I could see a large circle of light on the Verizon building, prominent in the New York City skyline. Inside the circle were three symbols that would have meant...Reading | By Annie Gonzalez Milliken | June 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Activism, Change, Courage, Economy, Hope, Joy, Justice, Love, Solidarity, Unitarian Universalism, Unity
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“Hope” is the thing with feathers— That perches in the soul— And sings the tune without the words— And never stops—at all— And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard— And sore must be the storm— That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm— I’ve heard it in the...Poetry | By Emily Dickinson | June 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Hope, Listening, Nature, Secular
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Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime; Therefore, we are saved by hope. Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; Therefore, we are saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; Therefore, we are saved by...Reading | By Reinhold Neibuhr | June 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Ethics, Faith, Forgiveness, History, Hope, Limitations, Living Our Faith, Love, Salvation, Work
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Ah, it’s true. When our ancestors spoke of heaven, they were speaking of this moment. When they went on about nirvana they imagined a time like this. When they sang of paradise, it was this morning they imagined....Poetry | By Mark Belletini | June 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Body, Community, Generations, Imagination, Living Our Faith, Love, Mystery, Presence, Silence, Truth
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You get up in the morning, you brush your teeth, and you help another human being.Quote | By Paul Eisemann | June 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Activism, Caring, Character, Choice, Meaning, Purpose, Relationships, Service
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This charge was written to be led by several voices: one person says a line, and then all in attendance respond, “We charge you to engage.” Because your congregation is located in one of the poorest cities in the nation in the richest state per capita in the country We charge you to engage...Litany | By Cathy Rion Starr | June 19, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 5th Principle (Conscience & Democracy), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Activism, Faith, Humanism, Installations, Justice, Oppression, Ordinations, Privilege, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Race/Ethnicity, Solidarity, Unitarian Universalism
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Welcome to this place of peace; May we find some moments of quiet contemplation. Welcome to this place of celebration; May our hearts soar with gratitude for the gift of life. Welcome to this place of sacred love; May we gently hold all that is broken here. Welcome to this place of inquiry; Here,...Opening | By Cathy Rion Starr | June 19, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Community, Contemplation, Gratitude, Justice, Unitarian Universalism -
Leader: Today we mark the turning of a season. We mark it with the ritual exchange of flowers. We mark it with the election of new leaders and our annual business meeting. And right now, in this moment, we mark it with celebration of outgoing leaders. [Invite outgoing leaders forward] There is a...Litany | By Cathy Rion Starr | June 19, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Change, Commitment, Ending, Gratitude, Leadership, Letting Go, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Teamwork, Unitarian Universalism
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To prepare for this activity, place umbrellas in the pews. Instruct people to open the umbrellas when the man in the story receives the umbrella. Today we have a very special item in our very special Mystery Box. This item is going to teach us more about sanctuaries....Story | By Tim Atkins | June 19, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Caring, Character, Children, Empathy, Generosity, Interdependence -
This is a house of reflection and contemplation, of joy and sorrow, friendship, sharing and laughter. We light this chalice in remembrance of what we have been and in the hope of what we may become.Chalice Lighting | By Dale Hudson | June 19, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Commitment, Community, Connections, Direct Experience, Friendship, History, Hope, Joy, Reconciliation, Relationships, Sorrow