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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Our Unitarian heritage bids us light our chalice In the name of freedom, In the light of reason, In actions of tolerance. We gather in community to celebrate a heritage of freedom, reason, and tolerance....Chalice Lighting | By Elizabeth M Strong | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: History, Unitarian Universalism -
Rise up, o flame, by thy light glowing. Show us beauty, vision, and joy. —Singing the Living Tradition, Hymn #362 O flaming chalice, symbol of a free faith, Burn with the holy oil of helpfulness and service. Spread warmth and light and hope; Warm hearts grown cold with indifference; Light dark...Chalice Lighting | By Richard S. Gilbert | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Abundance, Community, Despair, Faith, Freedom, Hope, Justice, Kindness, Responsibility, Service, Unitarian Universalism -
May we light this chalice to honor our past: for Jan Hus, burned at the stake for suggesting that the cup be shared by all; for our Service Committee's earliest days, when its logo enabled the persecuted to find a safe haven. May we light this chalice to endorse our present: for our commitment to...Chalice Lighting | By George G Brooks | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Commitment, Dignity, Freedom, Generations, History, Justice, Partner Church Observation, Relationships, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarianism, Vision
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In honor of those we have known and loved in the past, In recognition of the gifts and sacrifices they have made on our behalf, And in our sincere hopes that we may be worthy of their memory, We light our candles, We give our thanks, And we offer our prayers. AMEN.Chalice Lighting | By Charles F Flagg | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Death, Freedom, Gratitude, Hope, Love, Memorial Day, Military, Sacrifice, Service, War, Worth -
(May be read responsively) For every time we make a mistake and we decide to start again: We light this chalice. For every time we are lonely and we let someone be our friend: We light this chalice. For every time we are disappointed and we choose to hope: We light this chalice.Chalice Lighting | By Maureen Killoran | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Beginnings, Community, Compassion, Forgiveness, Healing, Letting Go, Meaning, Relationships, Sorrow, Unitarian Universalism, Yom Kippur -
Holy spirit, We feel you moving among us here. Bless us with your presence. For we are in need… …in need of strength and courage. Our road is filled with rocks, with boulders strewn, boulders so high we sometimes wonder whether we can climb them, We are in need… …in need of comfort and...Meditation | By Judith L Quarles | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Challenge, Connections, Peace, Presence, Strength, Unitarian Universalism
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Spirit of life and love, In this season of beginning Some of us are hurried and harried. Some of us feel sorrowful and afraid. Some of us are not yet ready to step forward into the future. May we minister to one another with wisdom, Meeting our friends with open ears, open eyes, and open hearts....Meditation | By Judith L Quarles | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Caring, Community, Grace, Healing, Letting Go, Unitarian Universalism
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It is worthwhile to live and fight courageously for sacred ideals.Meditation | By Norbert Fabian Capek | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Flower Communion
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In the name of Providence, which implants in the seed the future of the tree and in the hearts of men [and women] the longing for people living in [human] love; in the name of the highest....Meditation | By Norbert Fabian Capek | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Flower Communion
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Infinite Spirit of Life, we ask thy blessing on these, thy messengers of fellowship and love. May they remind us, amid diversities of knowledge and of gifts, to be one in desire and affection, and devotion to thy holy will. May they also remind us of the value of comradeship, of doing and sharing...Meditation | By Norbert Fabian Capek | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Flower Communion
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Children of the earth and sky, we are nurtured, sustained, given warmth and light from above and below. Supported by earth's strong, firm crust, we build our homes, till the fields, plant our gardens and orchards....Opening | By Alice Berry | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Autumnal Equinox, Awe, Children's / Religious Education Sunday, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Meaning, Nature, New Child, Searching, Unitarian Universalism, Vernal Equinox
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This is the home that love made. It is full of the love that the founders felt, when they planned out these walls and raised these beams above us. This is the home that love made. It is full of the love of all who have worshipped here; those who have celebrated and grieved here; the babies...Litany | By Amanda Poppei | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Autumnal Equinox, Building/Space Dedication, Commitment, Community, Direct Experience, Homecoming / Ingathering, Interdependence, Love, Purpose, Relationships, Unitarian Universalism, Unity -
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child... Here may you find a warm greeting a kind word a gentle touch Sometimes I feel like I have no friend... Here may you find a community of support a pulse of liberation a vision of hope Sometimes I feel I am almost gone......Opening | By Amy Bowden Freedman | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Community, Despair, Friendship, Juneteenth, Kindness, Suffering
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My friends, we have arrived: we are here, in this new year. We have crossed the boundary of time, into the next year, with all its resolutions and plans and schedules ahead of us. Let us pause, for just this moment, before we move boldly onward....Meditation | By Amanda Poppei | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Winter -
Once more, the earth has turned toward the light of the sun. As we are bathed in the light of a new day, So may we greet the dawning of fresh possibility. Once more, we awaken from our slumber....Opening | By Amy Bowden Freedman | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Earth Day, Vernal Equinox
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As frozen earth holds the determined seed, this sacred space holds our weariness, our worry, our laughter and our celebration. Let us bring seed and soul into the light of thought, the warmth of community, and the hope of love. Let us see together, hear together, love together. Let us worship.Opening | By Laura Wallace | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Advent, Caring, Community, Earth-Centered, Hope, Love, Nature, Sacred, Winter Solstice / Yule -
As surely as we belong to the universe we belong together. We join here to transcend the isolated self, to reconnect, to know ourselves to be at home, here on earth, under the stars, linked with each other...Opening | By Margaret A Keip | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Connections, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Inclusion, Interdependence, Unity, Weddings and Commitment Ceremonies
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During a Blessing of the Animals, it is customary for members of the congregation to bring their animal companions with them to the service. If they cannot bring their animal friend with them, encourage them to bring a photo or some other meaningful item related to their animal friend. Prelude:...Complete Service | By Katherine A Jesch | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Animal Blessing, Animals, Direct Experience, Earth, Gratitude, Nature, Presence, Unitarian Universalism
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In gathering In the fall In the church In the quiet In the noise In thought In the spirit In anticipation In calm In the beginning In the end In transition In gratitude In hope In love In faith In unison Ingathering.Opening | By Tamara Lebak | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Community, Direct Experience, Homecoming / Ingathering
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In a Barnes & Noble just before Easter, I watched a woman glance at a table of books and make a face like she'd just tasted something awful. Then she hurried on by as if she were afraid the books would bite. Curious, I looked to see what she had grimaced at: All the books on the table were about...Sermon | By Holly Anne Lux-Sullivan | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 6th Principle (World Community), Diversity, Faith, Identity, Living Our Faith, Unitarian Universalism