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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Out of our separate lives we come, to walk this path together for an hour or a day, for a week or a month or a series of months and years. For this space of time we travel together, making much or little or nothing at all of the fact that another walks beside us. We can keep our eyes cast down...Opening | By Eileen B Karpeles | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Connections, Love, Vulnerability -
There was a young man who grew up in China. Everyone said that he was so calm and peaceful, he should become a monk. Not wanting to displease his family and friends by telling the truth, the young man let them think he was indeed peaceful and calm. Inside, however, the young man was filled with...Story | By Denise Tracy | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Body, History, Multiculturalism, Multiculturalism, Peace, Self-Care, Taoism
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May the truth that makes us free, and the hope that never dies, and the love that casts out all fear lead us forward together, 'till the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.Closing | By Anonymous | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Truth
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To the blessings of this season, may our senses be alert and our hearts take heed, for in a busy and sometimes tragic world, beauty is often the comfort most sure. To the blessings of warm, accepting human relationship, may our hearts be open and our minds take heed, for in a lonely and sometimes...Meditation | By Ken Sawyer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beauty, Forgiveness, Friendship, Justice
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If God is your strength and companion and prayer the means of centering your thoughts, There is room for you here. If the teachings of the Buddha give you clarity and calm in the midst of human striving, There is room for you here If Gaia’s seasonal rhythms lead you best through the myriad steps...Meditation | By Mary Edes | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Buddhism, Direct Experience, Earth-Centered, Silence
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Here we are gathered, Humanist, and Christian, Non-theist, Buddhist, and Jew, Pagan, and Seeker—a Unitarian Universalist congregation. Let us confess what we know to be true.We are quick to proclaim our faith, but slow to live the teachings of that faith as it has been handed down to us, across...Meditation | By Mary Edes | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Forgiveness, Unitarian Universalism
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Come, come to this place, whoever you are: Wanderer, worshipper, lover of learning, All seekers after what is true, All who seek a community of compassion & diversity Come, come to this place, whoever you are: Though you’ve broken your vows a thousand times And you’re too busy and you don’t...Opening | By Daniel Budd | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Hope, Inclusion
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Great Spirit of Life, be with us now as we honor these, our young adults. By laying our hands on you, we infuse you with the power of our love. The many generations of families who have participated in the life of this congregation have left for you the legacy of their love and commitment. Those...Meditation | By Paul Langston-Daley | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Generations, Solidarity, Unity
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May love permeate your every heartbeat May faith guide your every step May truth and compassion be your Eternal travelling companions And may a deep, abiding Spirit rest joyously In your every waking wish And your every resting dream...Closing | By Becca Reynolds | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Compassion, Love, Peace
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Like the cosmic dust following after a great Perseid meteor, we are the living remnants of time and all that has come to pass in its wake—briefly shining lights on the way to eternity. We are only visible to the naked eye for an instant. Take this moment to shine like the start dust you are. May...Benediction | By Mary Edes | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Awe, Beauty, Earth, Earth-Centered, Generations, Transcendence, Wonder -
Universal Spirit of Life, God of many names, Source of all being in which we live and breathe and have our being, We come together in prayer even though many us struggle with what that means. We come together before that which is greater than us, although we struggle to say what that is....Prayer | By Krista Taves | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Conflict, Diversity, God, Presence, Spiritual Practice, Suffering, Unity -
The storm outside echoes the storm raging within my soul. So many people in need… so much pain, so much grief. Too many causes and campaigns fill my mailboxes, sap my energy, beg for my money. Three things I must do...only three things? You've got to be kidding—which three do I choose? Books and...Meditation | By Jan Taddeo | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 6th Principle (World Community), Calling, Choice, Direct Experience, Listening, Peace, Power, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Unitarian Universalism
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Reader 1: They teach us to read in black and white. Reader 2: Truth is this—the rest is false. Reader 3: You are whole—or broken. Reader 2: Who you love is acceptable—or not. Reader 1: My life tells its truth in many hues. Reader 2: We are taught to think in "either/or"s Reader 1: I believe...Reading | By Leslie Takahashi | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Diversity, Inclusion, Unity
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With thankful hearts we have come together this morning to celebrate the bounty of the day, to bask in the warmth of this community, to share with friends the tides of our lives, to entertain, perennially, our hopes for a better future....Opening | By Alison Wohler | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Community, Unity
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There was a Mystery. She was a great Mystery. And nobody understood or appreciated her mainly because there was no one else around to appreciate or understand much of anything.Story | By Thomas Rhodes | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Earth Day, God, Mystery, Playfulness
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Great Spirit of Life, be with us now as we witness these, our youth. By laying our hands on you, we infuse you with the power of our love. The many generations of families who have participated in the life of this congregation have left for you the legacy of their love and commitment....Meditation | By Paul Langston-Daley | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Generations, Solidarity, Unity, Youth/Teens
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As part of my seminary training I spent a summer working as a hospital chaplain, assigned to the psychiatric floor. I found it to be deeply gratifying work, and I was able to build relationships with many of the patients. Some were long-term and others had a quick turnaround. Some were what we...Sermon | By Peter Friedrichs | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Calling, Identity, Meaning, Self-Respect, Unitarian Universalism
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Today is the second of our three-part sermon series dedicated to Rev. Forrest Church. As I noted last week, Church spent nearly 30 years as the senior minister of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in New York City....Sermon | By Peter Friedrichs | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Limitations, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Purpose, Service, Unitarian Universalism
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How clearly I remember it. My husband, Dan, and our daughter, Sarah, had spent the night in Taos, New Mexico. The next morning we set out for the pueblo, an ancient village inhabited by indigenous people known as the Pueblo. Clearly tourists, easily identified as European Americans, we were...Sermon | By Jan Carlsson-Bull | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), America, Anti-Oppression, Anti-Oppression, Healing, History, Indigenous American, Indigenous Peoples Day, Race/Ethnicity, Secular
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We give thanks for the animals Who live close to nature, Who remind us of the sanctities of birth and death, Who do not trouble their lives with foreboding or grief, Who let go each moment as it passes, And accept each new one as it comes With serenity and grace....Meditation | By Gary Kowalski | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Acceptance, Animals, Direct Experience, Earth-Centered, Gratitude, Peace