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.
Search Words for Worship Services
Displaying 2261 – 2280 of 3317
Changing a filter will refresh results (and remaining options) immediately. Searching by keyword requires use of the "Search" button.
-
Today we walk toward the dayspring breaking through, the Easter day of joy.Opening | By Daniel Chesney Kanter | February 17, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Brokenness, Change, Christianity, Hope, Joy, Palm Sunday, Power, Unitarian Universalism -
Creator and Creation, We are here and We know paradise is beyond our reach yet at our finger tips. Here the sacred is revealed, And we hope for peace, And restoration of the soul. We acknowledge we are not in charge, And relinquish control. Let the realm of humanity be transcended by all that is...Meditation | By Daniel Chesney Kanter | February 17, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Christianity, Mystery, Sacred, Transcendence, Unitarian Universalism -
Spirit of Life that flows through our hearts like a never ending stream, On this blessed day we are filled with gratitude to find ourselves together once again in this sacred time and place, unified in our diversity by the hope and compassion in our hearts, as well as the sadness and...Prayer | By Krista Taves | February 17, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Brokenness, Compassion, Disaster or Crisis, Hope, Justice, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Race/Ethnicity, Unitarian Universalism, Vision
-
Ultimate Grace, the heart of every matter, in every perfection and imperfection, in all senses and: tenses, in moments of every right and wrong, presenting choices to inquiring hearts. You are in the purpose and the journey of mishaps. You are in moments of understanding and misunderstanding. We...Prayer | By Ma Theresa "Tet" Gustilo Gallardo | February 12, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Awe, Freedom, Grace, International, Justice, Unitarianism
-
At the beginning of this sermon, pictures of the five black people killed by police officers were projected for the congregation to see as each was named. At the end of the sermon, photo portraits of each were placed on chairs as candles were lit for them. This is Tamir Rice. Tamir Rice is twelve...Sermon | By Seth Carrier-Ladd | February 3, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Anger, Anti-Oppression, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Race/Ethnicity, Unitarian Universalism
-
Do not think we are finished— oh no we will never be finished never just done until the light of justice is lit behind every eye. Do not think we will be silent— no there will not be silence until the world has sung the names of the dead with full throats and still we will sing on. Do not think...Reading | By Audette Fulbright Fulson | February 2, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Activism, Anti-Oppression, Brokenness, Courage, Direct Experience, Justice, Oppression, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Race/Ethnicity
-
This story was created collaboratively by several religious educators. As you prepare to share it, read the 1966 Ware Lecture "Don't Sleep Through the Revolution," by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered at the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly in Hollywood, Florida, May 18, 1966.Story | By Gail Forsyth-Vail | January 29, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Anti-Oppression, Black History / Whitney Young / James Reeb, Humanism, Juneteenth, Justice, Justice Sunday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Race/Ethnicity, Responsibility
-
This is adapted from a litany by Gail Forsyth-Vail, who suggests the following to maximize the reading's power: Identify seventeen people who will come forward to represent the generations of African Americans in the British colonies and in the United States. As you name the first generation,...Reading | By James (Jay) C Leach | January 29, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 6th Principle (World Community), Anti-Oppression, Black History / Whitney Young / James Reeb, History, Humanism, Juneteenth, Justice, Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Race/Ethnicity
-
This reading requires seventeen people who are able to come forward and represent the generations of African Americans in the British colonies and in the United States. As you name the first generation, indicate to a person that they should stand. Each time you call a new generation, you indicate...Reading | By Gail Forsyth-Vail | January 29, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 6th Principle (World Community), Anti-Oppression, Black History / Whitney Young / James Reeb, History, Humanism, Juneteenth, Justice, Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Race/Ethnicity
-
“The Miseducation of Justice-Making” excerpted from Nathan C. Walker (2014) Exorcising Preaching: Crafting Intellectually Honest Worship. St. Louis: Chalice Press. What does justice-making look like, feel like, when we receive hostile communication? Are we hostile in return? Or is something else...Reading | By Nathan C. Walker | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Courage, Direct Experience, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Relationships, Strength, Teamwork, Unitarian Universalism, Unity
-
“Beyond the Zero-Sum Game” excerpted from Nathan C. Walker (2014) Exorcising Preaching: Crafting Intellectually Honest Worship. St. Louis: Chalice Press. For centuries, insiders have been democratizing their religions. Incremental moments of institutional reform have led to a new era of...Reading | By Nathan C. Walker | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Courage, Covenant, Direct Experience, Power, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Responsibility, Teamwork, Unitarian Universalism
-
“This Ain’t No Country Club” excerpted from Nathan C. Walker (2014) Exorcising Preaching: Crafting Intellectually Honest Worship. St. Louis: Chalice Press. There is no time to be spinning around ourselves saying, “We’re so small. We’re a minority religion.” As if “minority” is...Reading | By Nathan C. Walker | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Courage, Meaning, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Purpose, Searching, Unity
-
“Personal Spiritual Trainers” excerpted from Nathan C. Walker (2014) Exorcising Preaching: Crafting Intellectually Honest Worship. St. Louis: Chalice Press. When you come to me, come not with the expectation to have some passive clergyperson coddle you into complacency. No. Come to me as your...Reading | By Nathan C. Walker | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Direct Experience, Growth, Humility, Meaning, Progress, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism
-
Great Spirit of Life, as a new year begins, we turn inward to reflect about the state of our lives: What lessons have we learned in the past year and which new ones now call us forward? To whom do we still owe an apology or expression of thanks? And with whom must we draw fresh boundaries? As we...Prayer | By Kate Lore | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Awe, Community, Direct Experience, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Judaism, New Year, Paganism, Power, Relationships, Rosh Hashanah, Searching, Secular, Unitarian Universalism -
I want to talk about choice. I want to talk about the fact that just because someone who is out to destroy you says you chose to be the way you are does not mean the path of best protection is to counter with “no I didn’t, it’s not a choice, I was born this way and I’ve always been this...Affirmation | By Alex Kapitan | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Anti-Oppression, Coming Out, Identity, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Multiculturalism, National Coming Out Day, Pride Sunday, Self-Respect, Unitarian Universalism
-
There once was a child who got lost in the woods. As night began to descend, the child became more and more frightened. I’m sure any of us would be frightened too, in that situation, but what made this child even more frightened, was that he had always been afraid of the dark. He was more afraid...Story | By Sheri Phillabaum | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Awe, Beauty, Courage, Fear, Halloween, Samhain, Winter Solstice / Yule, Wonder
-
O come all you faithful, rejoicing and victorious, Come, let us embrace the mystery in the spirit of life, as we celebrate the goodness of Kwanzaa and the the African American heritage. Come and give thanks for companions on the journey in the struggle for freedom and justice....Prayer | By Addae Ama Kraba | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Community, Diversity, Human Rights, Justice, Kwanzaa, Race/Ethnicity, Unitarian Universalism
-
Oh Beloved, Can it be that another year has passed? Wasn’t it just yesterday when we heard such familiar music, when these well-worn stories awakened us from our post-harvest slumber? Wasn’t it only weeks ago when we last reminisced about seasons past, when life seemed easier, when this season...Prayer | By Aaron Payson | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christmas Eve / Christmas, Community, Hope, Joy, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Unitarian Universalism, Winter Solstice / Yule
-
My name is Mary Magdalene. You may have heard of me. I lived a long, long time ago, 2,000 years ago. And I’m here today to tell you the story of Easter as I saw it. But first I should tell you that some people think I'm a little crazy. Legend has it that I spent most of my life alone in a cave,...Script | By Tess Baumberger | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anti-Oppression, Christianity, Courage, Easter, God, Love, Oppression, Revelation, Unitarian Universalism
-
Leader 1: This is a special night – Christmas Eve, the night before we celebrate the birth of a Jewish leader whose life and words have changed the minds and hearts of many to the side of goodness, generosity and caring. Leader 2: In honor of that birth, tonight we tell the story of a man whose...Script | By Tess Baumberger, Cindy Clarenbach | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 6th Principle (World Community), Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Compassion, Conscience, Dignity, Generosity, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarianism