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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When Jesus was baptized the spirit descended upon him like a dove and God said, “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.” It must have been a great feeling, but it didn’t last long. The next thing Jesus knew, the nice spirit that had descended like a dove became aggressive and drove him...Meditation | By Sarah York | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Challenge, Change, Christianity, Despair, Solitude, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarianism -
The stone has got to be rolled back from the tomb again and again every year. Roll up your sleeves. He is not coming back, you know....Meditation | By Victoria Weinstein | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christianity, Easter
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Let us join in a moment dedicated to that quiet power within us. It is within that we find the will to face the world; it is within that we find the love to embrace the world; it is within that we find our personal identity and know the world. Yet, within us is also a great void....Meditation | By Jay E Abernathy, Jr | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Individualism
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Introduction to a New Orleans Jazz Funeral Welcome to a new tradition for our church—a New Orleans-style jazz funeral for the old year. This service offers opportunities for reflection on the past year, a chance to “bury” whatever that was negative or hurtful to us in 20xx, and looks forward...Ritual | By Melanie Morel-Ensminger | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Hope, Letting Go, Memorial Services, Mourning, Multiculturalism, Multiculturalism, Remembrance Day, Wholeness
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Spirit of Life and love known by many names and worshipped in a rainbow of ways Infinite Mystery, Spark of Ah-ha and Ahhh and Awe Conspiring energy of interdependent co-arising Be with us now. Surround us. Push us forward. Pull us together....Meditation | By Tandi Rogers | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Courage, Grace, Love, Mystery, Unitarian Universalism
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Am I a guest here. Here in this House. Are you? Are we guests here. Here in this House. And, whose House do we inhabit? In the small world of our lives the borders between us: easements, fences, gates, hedges—serve to delineate, to separate us. To remind us of where my property begins and ends.Reading | By Alicia R. Forde | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anti-Oppression, Anti-Oppression, Direct Experience, History, Immigration, Immigration, Indigenous Peoples Day, International, Responsibility, Secular -
Let us pause, and breathe, and be in touch with the sacred presence that permeates all, including this room, now. Web of All... of life, death, and renewal: We open our hearts to those who suffer as a result of the wildfires.Meditation | By John Gibb Millspaugh, Sarah Gibb Millspaugh | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Courage, Despair, Disaster or Crisis, Faith
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Jefferson Unitarian Church Golden, CO Mothers Day, May 13, 2007 Three weeks ago my wife, Phyllis, and I participated in our all church social action weekend. What a magical day that was! We chose to help out building the new community garden at 32nd Avenue just this side of I-70....Sermon | By Peter Morales | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 6th Principle (World Community), Child Dedication, Children, Commitment, Health, Parents, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Relationships, Teacher Dedication, Teacher Recognition
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We pray for the children, For the voiceless, for the innocent, for the vulnerable, for the least powerful among us, and those most in need of our protection....Meditation | By Gary Kowalski | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children's / Religious Education Sunday
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In the midst of a world marked by tragedy and beauty there must be those who bear witness against unnecessary destruction and who, with faith, rise and lead in freedom, with grace and power. There must be those who speak honestly and do not avoid seeing what must be seen of sorrow and outrage, or...Meditation | By Rebecca Ann Parker | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Healing, Leadership, Love, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism, Wisdom -
Voice 1: Go forth in solidarity Voice 2: Your presence in [destination] is a clear statement to the residents: they are not alone; you stand with them in their struggle. Know also that all of [your congregation] stands with you....Reading | By Ali Woodworth | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Service
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What we try to express as Unitarian Universalists, are these truths: Each of us is unique. Each of us has gifts we were given at birth – we were born with these gifts; they are wired within us. Each of us has the responsibility to apply these talents to the world. Each of us must navigate how to...Sermon | By Beth Graham | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Calling, Canvass/Pledge, Meaning, Searching, Service, Stewardship, Vision
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In March of 2002, the Unitarian Universalist Ministers’ Association held its every seven years gathering in Birmingham, Alabama. I was excited to go to Birmingham, partly because it would be my first convocation with a thousand or so colleagues, but for another reason as well. My first husband,...Sermon | By Susan LaMar | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Privilege, Race/Ethnicity
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Reading Isaiah 58:1-12 (excerpt) Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet!Announce to my people their sins. Day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness… Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and...Sermon | By Kathleen McTigue | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Economy
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I grew up as the heavily-committed eldest child of an American Baptist minister in the 50's. Committed, that is, to self-preservation, staying out of trouble with our small town and my family, and having fun within safe parameters, namely, church activities. I never felt particularly committed to...Reading | By Elizabeth Ketcham | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Christianity, God, Playfulness, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Reason, Revelation, Reverence, Unitarian Universalism
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Among the most accomplished and fabled tribes of Africa, no tribe was considered to have warriors more fearsome or more intelligent than the mighty Masai....Reading | By Patrick T O'Neill | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Child Dedication, Children, Children's / Religious Education Sunday, Children's Sabbath, Commitment, Community, Family, Fathers, Generations, International, Mothers, New Child, Relationships -
Earlier this week I was speaking with a member of the church about the sermon I was going to deliver today. She said to me, “What’s the big deal?” This one’s easy. All you have to say is: “You have money. We need money. Give us your money. Then we can all go home.” So, you have money. We...Sermon | By Peter Friedrichs | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Canvass/Pledge, Generosity
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A complete service for Children's Sabbath, with Homily by Pat Hoertdoerfer. Chalice Lighting We gather this hour as people of faith With joys and sorrows; gifts and needs. We light this beacon of hope, Sign of our quest for truth and meaning, In celebration of the life we share together. Opening...Complete Service | By Patricia Hoertdoerfer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children's Sabbath
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There is a living web that runs through us To all the universe Linking us each with each and through all life On to the distant stars. Each knows a little corner of the world, and lives As if this were his all....Meditation | By Robert T Weston | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Connections
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Speak, flowers, speak! Why do you say nothing? The flowers have the gift of language. In the meadow they speak of freedom, Creating patterns wild and free as no gardener could match. In the forest they nestle, snug carpets under the roof of Leaf and branch, making a rug of such softness....Reading | By Richard S. Gilbert | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beauty, Earth, Fear, Flower Communion, Hope, Nature, Vernal Equinox