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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Father God, Mother God, God of many names and of none, we invite your presence; be with us this morning. Be with us as we honor our veterans of wartime; teach us how to care for those who have borne arms in our names. Be with us as we honor our veterans of peacetime; teach us to care for all who...Meditation | By Wren Bellavance-Grace | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Peace, Service, War -
This simple ritual provides a quiet time during our Sunday service. We set up a small table at the front of the dais. There is a large bowl partially filled with water in the center of the table. On either side is a smaller bowl filled with pebbles that feel nice in the hand....Ritual | By Eric Kaminetzky | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Connections, Contemplation, Earth-Centered, Interdependence, Spiritual Practice, Unitarian Universalism -
With gratitude and grace we lead forward to answer the call of our faith, we move happily together into the unknown, we open ourselves to growth, we go forth to begin the change to our corner of the world, we covenant together to transform the world through love and we are moved by Spirit to...Meditation | By Kirk Bogue | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Leadership, Teamwork, Unitarian Universalism, Vision
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Sample Teacher Dedication Ceremonies Religious Educator(s) From Liz Jones, Religious Educator, First UU Church, San Diego, CA: This morning we wish to thank you for your commitment to this church, to our values, and especially to our children. You have accepted the responsibility of helping our...Ritual | By Cindy Leitner, Liz Jones, Barbara Wells ten Hove | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children, Generations, Leadership
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With faithful progress, The Great Sun has traveled, From north to south again, And on this day pauses. So we also stand still, With the whole Earth, In quiet thankfulness, To the Source of Blessing, The Giver of All Light.Ritual | By Eric Williams | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Patience, Presence
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Happy Winter Solstice! Today is the morning after the longest night and shortest day of the year. Today is the beginning of the Waxing Half of the year, from now until the Summer Solstice the day will lengthen and night will shorten....Reading | By Elizabeth Dale | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Ending, Forgiveness, Letting Go, Searching
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In praise of computers and routers and servers and all the hardware and software that can help us build our connectedness; in praise of all the gremlins that live in the machines and bug our programs and help us to practice patience; in praise of the trolls who dwell in the internet and push us t...Opening | By Wren Bellavance-Grace | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Challenge, Connections, Playfulness, Science
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The strength of the Earth is the stones And the same is the source of our bones. The Water flows across the ground And within our blood. The Air blows around the world And brings us our breath. The Fire streams forth from the Sun without ceasing And sustains our lives. By these elements We are...Meditation | By Eric Williams | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Awe, Beauty, Body, Earth, Earth-Centered, Gratitude, Interdependence, Nature, Paganism, Reverence, Sacred, Strength
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Blessed are the droplets, for they shall fill the bucket to overflowing. Blessed are they who know there is a bucket, for they shall be filled with hope. Blessed are they who can see beyond their lifetimes, for they shall walk in faith that their work will not be in vain....Closing | By Amy Zucker Morgenstern | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Earth-Centered, Purpose, Unity, Vision
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Each of us is a flower, with a delicate beauty uniquely our own. We may be like sunflowers, turning always towards the light. May our lives bloom like the flowers. We may be like night-blooming cereus, only displaying our fragrant petals when it is dark and we think no one can see. May our lives...Meditation | By Amy Zucker Morgenstern | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beauty, Earth-Centered, Flower Communion, Individualism, Nature
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For this guided meditation, I invite you to get comfortable in your seat. Close your eyes, if you like, and take a deep breath. And another. Now, imagine that your death is a person. What does this person look like? Is the person angry and cruel, or laughing and kind? Does this person attract or...Meditation | By Joshua Leach, Seth Robinson | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Death, Meaning, Responsibility, Self-Respect
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Here may you know that you are lovable and that, indeed, you are loved. And may you carry that love out into the world as a blessing.Closing | By Dawn Skjei Cooley | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Love, Worth
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Once, there was a little girl named Amanda who loved to help other people. She helped her Papa David and Papi Caesar to clean the house, she raked up the leaves in her neighbor Jim’s yard when he was in pain and couldn’t do it himself, and she tutored her friend Sara in Math. So, when it came...Story | By Sunshine Jeremiah Wolfe | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Humility, Listening, Relationships, Service, Teamwork
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All violence is framed by blood. Our scars are the red line reminders— for the survivors, and all who follow later. See them, and do not turn away from the violence that drew them. Feel the scars you know, and hear the ones whispered about— They are guides. They are pathways, as much as they are...Meditation | By Kathleen McTigue, Eric Cherry | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Authority, Conscience, Courage, Disaster or Crisis, Discernment, Healing, Oppression, Politics, Responsibility, Violence, Wisdom
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SERMON DELIVERED BY REV. ROBERT WEST at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, New York on September 8, 1963. This was Rev. Robert West's first sermon at First Unitarian in Rochester. Late on a Sunday afternoon, five weeks ago, my family and I drove into Rochester to begin our life here with...Sermon | By Robert Nelson West | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anti-Oppression, Anti-Oppression, History, Race/Ethnicity, Rights
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We gather together as a community of seekers, to honour the interdependence of life, to respect the dignity of all, and to honour the land we walk humbly upon....Opening | By Sean Neil-Barron | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Indigenous American, Multiculturalism, Multiculturalism, Responsibility
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Imagine yourself on a wide, flowing river in a small boat, You are one little speck of being in a wide expanse of water bordered by rocky cliffs, towering trees and bright blue skies. Ahead of you are boulders and white water rapids, but also calm pools and sand bars for picnics. Around you are...Meditation | By Susan Enzweiler | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Community, Solidarity, Teamwork, Unity -
In faith, together, we light this small scrap of light, symbol of Grandfather Sun's enormous power, whose energy burns so brightly In these days of deep Summer, catapulting the leaves and vines, vegetables, flowers and fruits to astonishing size, lengths and heights, spilling over the tops of cag...Chalice Lighting | By Ellen Hamilton | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Abundance, Community, Earth, Earth-Centered, Food, Freedom, Gratitude, Growth, Joy, Nature, Summer -
Tune: L. v Beethoven Theme from 9th Symphony (Ode to Joy) Sing of joy and gladness now and evermore to Nature’s song, Open up our heart’s desire with love that lasts our whole life long May the knowledge of our kinship spread throughout the universe, Helping us to live our lives in harmony with...Music | By Bruce Callander | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Awe, Earth, Earth-Centered, Nature, Reverence
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President: We at ______ welcome you as new members of our community this morning. You have come to worship, play, work and grow among us. Ours is a free fellowship; we have no creeds and you are free to bring your ideas and beliefs to this fellowship to share with others....Ritual | By Sarah C Stewart | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Children, Commitment, Community, Family, Inclusion, New Member Ceremony, Unitarian Universalism