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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The flaming chalice was first used by the Unitarian Service Committee as a symbol of life-saving refuge for people fleeing persecution in Europe. As we light this chalice, we invoke the love that called people to put their lives at risk to save others. May we be vessels of life-saving welcome.Chalice Lighting | By Michael J. Tino | July 28, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Commitment, Community, Ethics, History, Justice, Justice Sunday, Relationships, Salvation, Unitarianism -
He's not where he is supposed to be. He should be practicing sprints in the desert sun with all the other aspiring Marines, but instead he is here, retreating into the quiet shade of the chaplain's office, the one person who won’t yell at him. Since he was seven years old, he wanted to be a...Reading | By Susan Maginn | July 10, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Calling, Choice, Direct Experience, Humility, Military, Psychology, Sacrifice, Secular, Service, Work, Young Adults, Youth/Teens -
This welcome was written for a Sunday after a national crisis. Whether you’re here because worshiping with us is part of your routine or whether you feel like our country has been stopped in its tracks and it’s impossible to return to normalcy, on this morning we gather to proclaim that we...Welcome | By Erika Hewitt | July 10, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Anger, Balance, Connections, Despair, Direct Experience, Disaster or Crisis, Hope, Humanism, Mourning, Pain, Purpose, Relationships, Transcendence, Unitarian Universalism -
I'm on my way to a job where I am the only black person in my office. I work with people who either don’t know or don’t care about Alton Sterling or Philando Castile. They are going to ask me “How are you this morning?” and the simple truth is that I can’t be honest. I can’t say that...Reflection | By Shane Paul Neil | July 10, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, Activism, America, Anti-Oppression, Compassion, Direct Experience, Pain, Race/Ethnicity, Solidarity -
I understand participation in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) as a spiritual practice or discipline. While the word discipline may want to make us run and hide, a spiritual practice or discipline is meant to help us find our center. Approaching my participation in the CSA as a spiritual...Reading | By Nicole Janelle | July 10, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Community, Contemplation, Direct Experience, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Family, Food, Food Justice, Gratitude, Nature, Spiritual Practice, Summer Solstice, Table Grace, Wonder -
There is no algebra for death. No life lost cancels out another. The idea that there is some other side to the equation is a lie perpetrated by centuries of war and revenge. There is no other side. You cannot subtract and equalize the equation. There is an addition of loss, grief upon grief upon...Poetry | By Lynn Ungar | July 8, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Activism, Community, Division, Grief, Solidarity, Unity -
The days that come and carry away your spirit, your spark — bow down. Lay your head on the hard earth and let your brokenness join the death that is stirring there. Life rebels against death, takes the very dust of our bones and reweaves it into glory. You were made for Life, and Life does not...Prayer | By Audette Fulbright Fulson | July 8, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Activism, Brokenness, Despair, Disaster or Crisis, Grief, Hiroshima Day, Justice, Justice Sunday, Solidarity, Transgender Day of Remembrance, Trauma -
That first breath must be delicious. It must be more tantalizing, more intoxicating than any drug, fragrant like no flower will ever be enticing like no body scent. It must be all of this, and more yet without words or memories, how do we know? That first glorious rush of air wants us to keep...Poetry | By Adam Lawrence Dyer | July 8, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Awe, Body, Identity, Purpose, Wonder -
Spirit of Life and Love, I come before you black and brown and red and yellow and alabaster, I come longing for the simpler days that truly never were our lot. And I am an American. Hear these voices, as in the complexity of our days, I am Humanist and Christian, Muslim and Jew, Pagan and Atheist...Meditation | By Maureen Killoran | July 1, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, America, Diversity, Identity, July 4th -
"There is a Love holding us." From Rebecca Parker's text, which Elizabeth Norton wrote as a hymn, "There Is a Love."...Image | By Ellen Rockett, Rebecca Ann Parker | June 23, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Hope, Love, Presence, Transcendence -
"When we hear our voices each other's words, then our heart is in a holy place." from #1008, "When Our Heart Is in a Holy Place," in Singing the Journey.Image | June 23, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Arts & Music, Community, Unitarian Universalism, Unity -
No hot house flowers, these, bred for perfection, dyed and trimmed, and arranged to order, clothed in ribbons and bows. Not these. No, these are hardy, raw and wild. Grown under the sky, they’ve weathered the wind and the rain and the heat. These drew nutrients from the neighborhood soil and...Meditation | By Lisa Doege | June 22, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Abundance, Beauty, Direct Experience, Earth-Centered, Flower Communion, Humility, Nature, Spring, Vulnerability, Wonder -
In colors bright and essence sweet, like flowers we blossom when we meet.Doxology | By Lisa Doege | June 22, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beauty, Community, Direct Experience, Earth-Centered, Flower Communion, Nature -
These fun images of the Unitarian Universalist logo, rendered as a doodle in UUA colors, may be used on social media or in worship. Weatherproof stickers of the small version will be distributed at General Assembly (June 22-26) but are also available by mail from your WorshipWeb Curator.Image | By Ellen Rockett, Jennie Freiberger | June 20, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Identity, Seven Principles, Unitarian Universalism -
“We forgive ourselves and each other and begin again in love,” from A Litany of Atonement, by Rev. Robert Eller-Isaacs.Image | By Ellen Rockett, Robert L. Eller-Isaacs | June 20, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Forgiveness, Love, Relationships, Unitarian Universalism -
Spirit of Life and Love, known by many names and yet fully known by none, be with us in this hour of grief. Be with us as we reach out to one another in comfort. Be with us as we come to terms with our sadness, anger, and despair. Hold us in the embrace of eternal love...Prayer | By Lyn Cox | June 17, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Anti-Oppression, Earth-Centered, Generations, Grief, Healing, Justice, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Love, Mourning, Resilience, Solidarity, Terrorism, Unitarian Universalism -
Today, and forever, I grieve the loss of life. I grieve for the people who died in [name of most recent shooting]. I grieve for their families, friends, and co-workers. I grieve for those who were there and feel both lucky and guilty that they survived while others died. We have witnessed another...Prayer | By Keith Kron | June 16, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: America, Anti-Oppression, Disaster or Crisis, Grief, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Pride Sunday, Solidarity, Violence -
I am sad. I am mad. I am afraid. These small words keep repeating in my head and heart. We give voice to our grief because of the lives stolen in Orlando: gay and lesbian and trans lives. Latino and Latina lives. Beloved, cherished lives. We give voice to our prayers for lasting comfort for their...Prayer | By Karen G. Johnston | June 14, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: America, Anti-Oppression, Courage, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Love, Pride Sunday, Terrorism, Unitarian Universalism -
"Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance."...Quote | By Vernā Myers | June 14, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Anti-Oppression, Diversity, Hospitality, Inclusion, Justice, Solidarity -
Image | By Melissa Gibson | June 14, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Anti-Oppression, Diversity, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Multiculturalism, Pride Sunday, Solidarity