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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There's my temple! Believer, unbeliever or wild one. You are welcome! We have no definition of who we are but human. We have no code but that of respect. We have no creed but that of equality. There's my temple! Identity-seeker, sinner, stateless or not. You are welcome! We have no constraints on...Affirmation | By Ma Theresa "Tet" Gustilo Gallardo | August 11, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Community, Covenant, Inclusion, Truth, Unitarian Universalism, Unity -
Gracious God, A warrior fights for those who cannot fight for themselves. As a warrior prepares for battle, there is a solemn responsibility: to know how and when and if to take life, just as a warrior must know how and when and if to risk their own life....Prayer | By Susan Maginn | August 11, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: America, Christianity, Discernment, Humanism, Justice, Military, Responsibility, Secular, Self-Respect, Service -
Did you know that there are trillions of little tiny creatures living inside your bodies? They’re called microbiota, and they're SOOO tiny that to them, you and your body… are like a planet. To my microbiota I am Planet [your name]. You are Planet [name of child present]. You are Planet [name of...Time for All Ages | By Carolyn Fisher | August 10, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Activism, Body, Climate Justice, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Humanism, Nature, Responsibility, Secular -
Note: these words were written for a Sunday following a significant national tragedy Far too often, we are forced to confront the terrible things that people can do to each other. When these things happen, all we can do is come together in places like this church to remind ourselves that there is...Offering | By Elena Westbrook | August 8, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Brokenness, Community, Disaster or Crisis, Purpose, Secular, Solidarity, Trauma, Unitarian Universalism, Unity -
In a world ravaged by violence, by hatred, by conflicts that seem eternal and insoluble, sometimes the only thinbg we can do is be still for a moment to remind ourselves what is real: the sun that rose this morning, the dirt under our feet, the air whispering in and out of our lungs....Opening | By Elena Westbrook | August 8, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Mindfulness, Presence, Sacred, Simplicity, Spiritual Practice
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Let every moment be a prayer. With every sip of trea, let your lips move in thanksgiving. Be fully present to every stroke of the hairbrush, every cup of milk you pour for the children....Meditation | By Elena Westbrook | August 8, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Buddhism, Mindfulness, Presence, Simplicity, Spiritual Practice, Spirituality, Taoism -
When all around us voices are raised in anger, hatred spilling into the streets and sparking more hatred, sometimes the best we can do is to sink our hands into the soil. Let the fights over abstractions ebb away, flow like water into the earth....Invocation | By Elena Westbrook | August 8, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Despair, Earth, Earth-Centered, Hope, Imagination, Nature, Worry -
Kids, I want you to do something special: I want you to put on your backpacks, if you brought them, leaving the back pocket open just enough for us to drop in a small gift...and I want you to stand up on your pews....Blessing | By Jen Crow | August 2, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Backpack Blessing, Caring, Character, Children, Courage, Family, Growth, Individualism, Integrity, Journey, Parents -
Jesus was a teacher, long ago, of love and compassion.Time for All Ages | By Erika Hewitt | August 2, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Calling, Caring, Choice, Christianity, Love, Presence, Responsibility, Sacrifice -
Based on Dedications led by the Revs Janne and Rob Eller-Isaacs, Unity Church-Unitarian, St. Paul, MN Let us enter into a space of dedication and hope, of promise and love, as we bless these young members of our community. I invite (children and caretakers) to the chancel. (Children’s names), by...Blessing | By Bill Neely | August 2, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beauty, Child Dedication, Children, Community, Earth, Earth-Centered, Family, Fathers, Generations, Mothers, Parents, Relationships -
A Free Retelling of the Shevirat haKeilim (from the Kabbalah) At the beginning of time, before anything else at all existed, Love was all there was, and it filled up everything in the whole universe. But Love got bored and lonely. There was no one to be in love with....Story | By Amy Petrie Shaw | August 1, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Anti-Oppression, Choice, Good, Healing, Judaism, Justice, Meaning, Purpose, Transformation -
Do not be alone right now. Gather together. Gathering together grows courage: in ourselves and in others who see the numbers swelling. It is a small thing, but right now it is an important thing....Affirmation | By Karen G. Johnston | August 1, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 6th Principle (World Community), Community, Direct Experience, Justice, Power, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Purpose, Responsibility, Solidarity, Unity -
Each person (mostly children but some adults will have brought their backpacks too) comes forward with their backpack and stands in a group. The prayer follows, then worship associates give each person a “luggage tag” bearing a flaming chalice logo. Spirit of Life and Hope and Love, for many of...Blessing | By Maureen Killoran | August 1, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Backpack Blessing, Beginnings, Caring, Challenge, Children, Community, Courage, Fear, Friendship, Joy, Love, Unitarian Universalism -
God of all known by many names, Holy one. It’s in sorrow that I implore your intercession in removing the darkness that has descended upon this land. Heartbroken and filled with pain, we are on the precipice of descending into our lowest form of baseness in despair. Lift the veil of hatred, envy...Prayer | By Addae Ama Kraba | August 1, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Activism, America, Brokenness, Christianity, Courage, Despair, God, Healing, Justice
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we were erased and still we loved we were shamed and still we loved we were expelled and still we loved we were laughed at and still we loved we were hunted and still we loved we were sacrificed and still we loved we were marketed and still we loved we were legislated and still we loved we were...Poetry | By Becky Brooks | August 1, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), America, Anti-Oppression, Direct Experience, Healing, Identity, Inclusion, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Love, Pride Sunday, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Solidarity -
We gather today in the presence of the old old story of death defeated by emptiness, of hope and newness triumphant over fear and separation. We come, hearts heavy with pain and anxiety, spirits flattened by exhaustion and apathy, vision darkened by strife and violence. We come seeking connection...Opening | By Ian W. Riddell | July 30, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christianity, Connections, Easter, Hope, Strength, Unitarian Universalism -
Come one, come all! Come with your missing pieces and your extra screws Come with your hard edges and your soft spots Come with your bowed heads and upright spines Come all you flamboyant and drab verbose and quiet fidgeting and lethargic All you with large vision and tender hearts All you with...Opening | By Ian W. Riddell | July 30, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Body, Hospitality, Humanism, Inclusion, Limitations, Unitarian Universalism -
Come hoof and trunk and tail and horn and paw and wing and claw; Come bird and reptile, mammal born all full of nature’s law. Bring bark and crow and ribbit, too and silent stare and hiss; Bring purr and trill and warble, too and voice no ear can miss....Opening | By Ian W. Riddell | July 30, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Animal Blessing, Animals, Earth-Centered, Gratitude, Nature, Secular -
Come, come, whoever you are. Do you hear that voice calling you, calling us? That voice which calls us together here today in this room made holy by our presence and by the sacred breath we share in our singing and speaking and silence....Invocation | By Ian W. Riddell | July 30, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Awe, Community, Connections, Direct Experience, Hospitality, Interdependence, Sacred, Unity, Wonder -
In the first episode of "Call the Midwife"—a British show about post-WWII midwives—the main character Jenny Worth is just starting as a midwife in the East End of London. She experiences a moment of disgust and overwhelm at witnessing the awful experience of one of her expectant mothers. She...Reading | By Forrest Gilmore | July 28, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Compassion, Humanism, Integrity, Justice, Poverty, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Purpose, Service, Spiritual Practice