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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In the moment that I switched to “teacher mode,” I recalled moments in which I had inadvertently said ungracious things. I was fortunate enough to have professors, ministers, and friends illuminate my clumsiness for me. They did so in a way that was gracious enough that it increased my appreciation and respect for them, and clear enough that I will never forget the teaching.Reflection | By Seanan R. Holland | August 2, 2017 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Direct Experience, Growth, Humanism, Humility, Inclusion, Military, Privilege, Secular -
Yesterday, a new employee—a white guy—walked into the bakery where I work. “Hi,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve met you yet.” He told me his name. “I’m Jabari,” I replied. “Are you American?,” he asked. I hesitated. “Yeaaaaaaaaaah.” “Well, it’s just that your name is...Reading | By Jabari S. Jones | July 31, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), America, Anti-Oppression, Black History / Whitney Young / James Reeb, Direct Experience, Humanism, Identity, Multiculturalism, Race/Ethnicity, Secular -
"With our minds and our hearts and our hands, may we choose to bless the world." Sheet music available in 4-part harmony.Music | By Elizabeth H. Norton | July 29, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Commitment, Grace, Gratitude, Living Our Faith, Love, Purpose, Service, Unitarian Universalism -
"I went back to church thinking that it would be like an epidural, like it would take the pain away… that church would make the pain go away. Faith and church was not an epidural for me at all; it was like a midwife who just stood next to me saying, 'Push. It’s supposed to hurt a little bit.'"...Quote | By Brené Brown | July 26, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Challenge, Commitment, Direct Experience, Discernment, Faith, Letting Go, Living Our Faith, Pain, Purpose, Spirituality -
Our souls and minds need sustenance as much as our physical bodies. May we delight in the ways we find to provide this nourishment to our whole selves.Reflection | By Aisha Ansano | July 26, 2017 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Body, Compromise, Direct Experience, Family, Food, Humanism, Peace, Secular, Self-Care -
Empathy isn’t just something that happens to us—a meteor shower of synapses firing across the brain—it’s also a choice we make: to pay attention, to extend ourselves. It’s made of exertion, that dowdier cousin of impulse. Sometimes we care for another because we know we should or because...Reading | By Leslie Jamison | July 19, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Commitment, Compassion, Connections, Direct Experience, Empathy, Humanism, Interdependence, Living Our Faith, Love, Relationships, Secular -
"Fear's pronoun is singular: I've got to watch out for me and mine. Love's pronoun is plural: we're in this together, and together we can grow things that will blossom even in a time of drought." —Kathleen McTigue My son, Caleb, and I went to Starbucks on a recent Saturday morning. We often do...Reflection | By Elea Kemler | July 19, 2017 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Children, Direct Experience, Disability, Humanism, Interdependence, Kindness, Living Our Faith, Love, Mothers, Multiculturalism, Parents, Secular, Unitarian Universalism -
As we create and share sacred space together, let us reflect upon what brings us here. We have all come here for different reasons, from different decisions, faced different challenges and shared different love. And yet all of our differences have led us to this space, right here, right now. Some...Opening | By Ella Boyer | July 13, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Awe, Diversity, Generations, Love, Purpose, Transcendence, Unitarian Universalism, Unity -
Here, today, in this place and with these people, May we listen so that we can hear; May we hear so that we can feel; May we feel so that we can know; and May we know so that we can change ourselves and this world. May this chalice we light, Light our Way.Chalice Lighting | By Erik Walker Wikstrom | July 13, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Body, Change, Community, Listening, Purpose, Reverence, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism -
I pull another basket of steaming dishes out of the dishwasher in our church basement. My partner in kitchen clean-up grabs a clean dish towel to dab the pools of water from the upturned soup bowls. They ask, “So, what’s your undergrad in?” The conversations that happen in church kitchens are...Reflection | By Kari Kopnick | July 13, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anti-Oppression, Class, Direct Experience, Education, Self-Respect, Work, Worth -
We are all flames. When we gather hand in hand our church our community our home We inspire, We celebrate, We come together Sharing our light of hope for our shared future. This chalice lighting was written by two young children and their parent, in honor of their mom's ordination.Chalice Lighting | By Josh, Prudence, & Percival Robern | July 13, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Community, Generations, Humanism, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism -
There’s something deeply moving for me about the idea of a love that will always have my back.Reflection | By DeReau K. Farrar | July 12, 2017 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Christianity, Direct Experience, Love, Relationships -
For almost thirty years after coming to the United States, I didn't fully understand the cultural cues around me. Initially, this gave me the false sense of liberation. I often interpreted uncomfortable situations to be my fault, as an ignorant immigrant. Trying hard to assimilate, I unconsciously suppressed what came naturally to me.Reflection | By Yuri Yamamoto | July 5, 2017 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), America, Culture, Direct Experience, Identity, Immigration, International, Letting Go, Multiculturalism, Race/Ethnicity, Transformation -
We are on a journey. We didn’t plan it. We didn’t have time for the bread to rise. We may find ourselves in the wilderness, hungry, thirsty, Doubting that we should have ever come. But look around: We are not alone. It is our journey together: A journey to our better selves, A journey to a...Closing | By Debra Haffner | July 4, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beginnings, Community, Connections, Courage, Doubt, Journey, Judaism, Passover (Pesach) -
What if everything always went according to plan? At first, we might accomplish more of what we think we need to accomplish. And it may seem less stressful, at first, being able to anticipate what happens next. But after a certain amount of time (and that amount would vary person to person) the...Opening | By Krista Flanagan | July 4, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Challenge, Direct Experience, Letting Go, Mystery, Patience, Stress, Trust -
Prelude Chalice Lighting by Laura Horton Ludwig [For this service, the chalice was a large pillar candle in a clear glass bowl of water.] Call to Worship Welcome to this Earth Day worship service! Like so many days, this day holds wonder and sorrow....Complete Service | By Diana Smith | July 4, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Beauty, Climate Justice, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Humanism, Nature, Responsibility, Secular -
This hands-on ritual could be used to celebrate Earth Day, a Solstice, or an Equinox. Before the service begins, set up a table or two (or more) with several stations for people to plant seeds....Ritual | By Diana Smith | July 4, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Abundance, Autumnal Equinox, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Food, Nature, Summer Solstice, Vernal Equinox, Water Communion -
Come into this place with your whole self – the parts that are raw and exposed; the part that is beaming with joy; the part that is seeking the truth, the new, the possibility. Come into this place – open your heart, lay down your burden, lift up your hope – for something new to happen. Come...Opening | By Margaret Weis | July 4, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Acceptance, Caring, Direct Experience, Humanism, Journey, Joy, Presence, Wholeness
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One: It may be the hardest thing we will ever do, Many: Caught up in our self-righteousness, honing our pain. One: The one who offended may not deserve forgiveness Many: And we are not obliged to offer it. One: Why, then, should we forgive? Many: Because we have all caused pain....Responsive Reading | By Amanda Udis-Kessler | July 3, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Direct Experience, Fire Communion, Forgiveness, Growth, Healing, Humanism, Letting Go, Limitations, New Year, Spiritual Practice, Transformation, Yom Kippur -
One: We would go deeper. Many: We would become the selves we cannot even imagine today. One: We would become courageous. Many: We would grow to delight in congregations filled with different perspectives. One: We would know unutterable joy. Many: We would be filled with gratitude. One: May we go...Responsive Reading | By Amanda Udis-Kessler | July 3, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Awe, Courage, Direct Experience, Gratitude, Spirituality, Transformation, Wonder