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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Sometimes I offer to make a deal with God. “I’ll tell you about my resistance to prayer,” I say, “If you’ll explain the Holocaust.” God declines to comment, and the lawyers make their prepared statements on his behalf. I kind of hate when he does that. I love God best, I confess, when I...Poetry | By Bob Janis-Dillon | June 15, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Doubt, Forgiveness, God, Playfulness, Searching, Spiritual Practice -
Spirit of life and death, Thou who art as present to us in our suffering As in our wellbeing, Abide with us in this permeable time Between dusk and dark. Soothe the secret pains we carry. Bless us with the courage to move toward our grief And not away. When all is hidden— When we find ourselves...Prayer | By Celie Katovitch | June 12, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Brokenness, Christianity, Direct Experience, Doubt, Faith, God, Good Friday, Grief, Hope, Mourning, Shadow -
Chalice Lighting #434 in Singing the Living Tradition: May we be reminded here of our highest aspirations, and inspired to bring our gifts of love and service to the altar of humanity....Image | By Ellen Rockett | June 11, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Awe, Community, Connections, Direct Experience, Earth-Centered, Mystery, Relationships, Unitarian Universalism, Unity, Wonder -
These words are taken from "We Need One Another," by George Odell: Reading #468 in Singing the Living Tradition.Image | By Ellen Rockett | June 11, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Caring, Compassion, Connections, Generosity, Humanism, Relationships, Secular, Service, Unitarian Universalism -
This Buddhist metta meditation is the text of hymn #1031 (in Singing the Journey), put to music by Ian Riddell and Mark Hayes.Image | By Ellen Rockett | June 11, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Buddhism, Kindness, Love, Peace, Relationships, Self-Care, Spiritual Practice -
Later there were mutterings at the bar, and throughout the law courts, that Jesus only showed at the gay pride parade to love the jewel, but not the quality, to love the potluck, but not the food, to love the vessel, but not the wine, to love the hot rod, but not the driver, to love the baby, but...Poetry | By Bob Janis-Dillon | June 9, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Anti-Oppression, Christianity, Inclusion, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Pride Sunday -
They will march, walk, wheel, dance, shimmy and shake Block upon block of undulating color, flesh, banners, signs, clothing or lack thereof Hands raised, hands linked, apart, together Singing, shouting, chanting, silent, Joyous, tearful, nervous, afraid, proud, defiant, angry, happy, delirious,...Reading | By Lois Van Leer | June 9, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Anti-Oppression, Direct Experience, Inclusion, Joy, Justice, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Pride Sunday, Sexuality, Transgender Day of Remembrance -
This quote, from Peter Mayer's hymn "Blue Boat Home" (Singing the Journey #1064) was created for use & sharing on social media.Image | By Ellen Rockett | June 9, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Awe, Connections, Journey, Joy, Relationships, Wonder -
This image, containing words from Peter Mayer's hymn "Blue Boat Home" (Singing the Journey #1064), was created for use on social media.Image | By Ellen Rockett | June 9, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Awe, Earth, Earth-Centered, Stewardship, Wonder -
Your body is welcome here, all of it. Yes, even that part. And that part. And yes, even that part. The parts you love, and the parts you don’t. For in this place we come with all that we are All that we have been, And all that we are going to be. Our bodies are constantly changing, cells die and...Opening | By Sean Neil-Barron | June 5, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Body, Connections, Direct Experience, Diversity, Intimacy, Joy, Sacred, Self-Care -
These words, by composer Sarah Dan Jones, are from hymn #1009 in Singing the Journey.Image | By Ellen Rockett | June 5, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Body, Direct Experience, Humanism, Love, Peace, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Secular, Spiritual Practice, Unitarian Universalism -
We light this chalice for our children and youth, and for us: celebrating the flame of faith lit in each of us, honoring the light each of us bring into the world, rejoicing in the community we create together.Chalice Lighting | By Christian Schmidt, Alexis Capen | June 4, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Child Dedication, Children, Children's / Religious Education Sunday, Community, Direct Experience, Faith, Family, Generations, Inclusion, Interdependence, Reverence, Worth, Youth Sunday, Youth/Teens -
A line from hymn #346 in Singing the Living Tradition: "Come, Sing a Song with Me" by Carolyn McDade...Image | By Ellen Rockett | June 4, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Connections, Hope, Humanism, Relationships, Secular, Unitarian Universalism -
“It’s hard to know when to respond to the seductiveness of the world and when to respond to its challenge. If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between the desire to improve the world and...Meditation | By Richard S. Gilbert | June 4, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Activism, Balance, Guilt, Individualism, Joy, Justice, Salvation, Service, Suffering, Wholeness -
When we are overwhelmed with the world And cannot see our way clear, When life seems a struggle between tedium and apathy Or frenzy and exhaustion; When today seems a punishment and tomorrow a torment, May we find the courage of patience. May we recognize courage in ourselves and our companions;...Meditation | By Richard S. Gilbert | June 4, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Courage, Despair, Direct Experience, Fear, Pain, Patience, Solidarity, Strength, Stress, Suffering
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“Each morning we must hold out the chalice of our being to receive, to carry, and give back.”—Dag Hammarskjold Each morning we hold out our chalice of being To be filled with the graces of life that abound— Air to breathe, food to eat, companions to love, Beauty to behold, art to cherish,...Meditation | By Richard S. Gilbert | June 4, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Abundance, Beauty, Generosity, Grace, Self-Care, Service
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For the sound of bow on string, Of breath over reed, Of touch on keyboard; For slants of sunlight through windows, For shimmering shadows on snow, For the whisper of wind on my face; For the smooth skin of an apple, For the caress of a collar on my neck; For the prickling of my skin when I am dee...Meditation | By Richard S. Gilbert | June 4, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beauty, Body, Fall, Friendship, Gratitude, Growth, Nature, Spring, Summer, Winter -
In the midst of the whirling day, In the hectic rush to be doing, In the frantic pace of life, Pause here for a moment. Catch your breath; Relax your body; Loosen your grip on life....Meditation | By Richard S. Gilbert | June 4, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Acceptance, Balance, Direct Experience, Letting Go, Limitations, Mindfulness, Peace, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Self-Care, Stress, Wholeness, Work
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Night has its own kind of beauty, different than the beauty of day. Night is a time of sleep and dreams and inward visions, A time of pause within activity. Darkness is an invitation to imagining and storytelling, And to using ears instead of eyes to listen to the world in its stillness....Meditation | By Gary Kowalski | June 3, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Balance, Beauty, Death, Earth-Centered, Imagination, Listening, Mystery, Searching, Silence, Solitude, Summer Solstice, Vision, Winter Solstice / Yule -
Ever since I graduated from college, I have had a recurring dream. My wife has had it, too, as well as a lot of other people I know. In my dream, it is time to take an exam and I am unprepared. I have not gone to classes all semester. I failed to do the reading....Meditation | By Gary Kowalski | June 3, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Calling, Choice, Commitment, Fear, Freedom, Identity, Purpose, Responsibility, Stewardship, Worry