For many Unitarian Universalists, the resurrection narrative is often more metaphorical than literal. Many kinds of resurrection can be emphasized: rebirth of nature; resurrecting dreams and hopes; resurrecting dead relationships. In a general sense, the ultimate triumph of life over death. Hallelujah!

From Tapestry of Faith Curricula

Unitarian Universalist Perspectives

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 21

  • May we open our hearts to the abundance of creation.
    Prayer | By Vanessa Rush Southern, Alyson Jacks | August 8, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Balance, Connections, Earth Day, Easter, Hope, Joy, Vernal Equinox, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • Easter is a holiday of miracles.
    Opening | By Peggy Clarke | March 31, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Belief, Christianity, Easter, Hope, Love, Nature, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • Jesus had no political power. He lived his whole life in the shadow of the Roman empire, and that empire killed him. Yet Jesus healed the sick, he listened, he moved among the ordinary people, in the lowly places.
    Reflection | By Myke Johnson | April 8, 2020 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #COVID19, 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Calling, Caring, Christianity, Democracy, Easter, Evil, Good Friday, Healing, Hope, Power, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Responsibility
  • "After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it....
    Homily | By Heide Cottam | February 13, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Awe, Christianity, Easter, Faith, Hope, Living Our Faith, Love, Mystery, Reverence, Strength, Transformation
  • Rejecting literal readings of what we insist is only a myth, we look to nature and religions close to the earth for alternative stories of the season. Explaining away troublesome details—the empty tomb, Jesus' appearance to the women and the disciples—we tell a story that appeals to reason.
    Meditation | By Lisa Doege | June 18, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Christianity, Easter, Gratitude, Hope, Reason, Transformation
  • today is a story day of a man who was loved dying washed with herbs wrapped in scented cloths laid to rest in a cave tomb a rock marking the place a story of followers weeping in surprise when they are told not to be afraid that the rock is rolled away and the cave tomb is empty and somewhere up...
    Invocation | By Lois Van Leer | June 18, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Belief, Christianity, Easter, Hope, Presence
  • Hallelujah! As the spring sun coaxes lilies and bluebonnets from the soil, Let us celebrate that even after murderous betrayal, After days and nights suspended in torture, When all the world has gone dark and we cried out, “Why have You forsaken me?”—even then, there is a sunrise. Even then,...
    Opening | By Elena Westbrook | May 31, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Challenge, Christianity, Easter, Hope, Humanism, Joy, Spring, Unitarian Universalism
  • We live inside paradox. Humans generally don’t like to admit it—we much prefer tidy, stable, comprehensible, logical ways of getting through the day—but paradox is woven into the fabric of this particular universe we inhabit. Light is both a particle and a wave Imaginary numbers describe the...
    Opening | By Lindasusan Ulrich | October 2, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Agnosticism, Balance, Brokenness, Christianity, Easter, Faith, Hope, Mystery, Unitarian Universalism
  • At last, we are here. After a long winter, we can say enthusiastically and without second thought, alleluia! Alleluia, spring is here in all her glory. New life begins, the earth and its creatures are resurrected from their dens of hibernation and dark slumber....
    Opening | By Jeanne Lloyd | August 11, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Beauty, Christianity, Earth, Earth-Centered, Easter, Gratitude, Hope, Joy, Reverence, Spring, Transformation
  • Spirit of Hope, settle into our bones on this Easter morning. Remind us once again that the dawn light is never a gamble; If there ever was a sure bet, it is the sunrise. Even stones crumble even grief changes and shifts and death is a mystery that is certain but not solid; But hope is like the...
    Prayer | By Julia Hamilton | April 14, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Agnosticism, Awe, Earth, Earth-Centered, Easter, Faith, Hope, Mystery, Nature, Trust, Unitarian Universalism, Wonder
  • 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 WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Christianity, Connections, Easter, Hope, Strength, Unitarian Universalism
  • For all those who celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, may this day be another affirmation of divine love and promise; For all those who see the eternal story of new spring and life beginning anew, may you breathe deeply of a season of promise and hope. For all who are experiencing despair or...
    Closing | By Alex Holt | April 4, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Acceptance, Beginnings, Christianity, Courage, Direct Experience, Easter, Hope
  • If we lived in another climate Our souls might speak other languages We might speak oasis or permafrost, dry season or monsoon But our souls speak spring Our souls speak green shoots pushing through last year’s leaves Our souls speak flower buds stretching to sun Our souls speak mud puddle and...
    Opening | By Evin Carvill Ziemer | March 23, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Direct Experience, Earth, Earth-Centered, Easter, Growth, Hope, Nature, Passover (Pesach), Spring, Vernal Equinox
  • The light green shoots of blossoms-to-have-been are out of sight under the drifting snow. Gale force winds are rattling the old house. The temperature is far below freezing. Nature is not cooperating with preparations for Easter. The storm evokes the spiritual quality of Good Friday more than...
    Meditation | By Robert Walsh | January 10, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Choice, Despair, Easter, Good Friday, Healing, Hope, Justice, Living Our Faith, Love, Peace, Spring, Unitarian Universalism, Winter
  • Dear God: Good Friday is gone—a dark day on the calendar, A time of suffering—with more losses than gains, And more pain than we thought we could bear. We are tired of crying, We are tired of burying, We are tired of mourning. But Easter is here—and we who survived are prepared For the turning...
    Meditation | By David O. Rankin | May 28, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Beginnings, Death, Easter, Grief, Hope, Joy, Love, Pain, Sorrow, Transformation
  • “[God] has written the promise of the resurrection not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” —Martin Luther Words of Welcome & Opening Words Good morning! [General words of welcome.] The Unitarian Universalist minister Max Coots once wrote: “We need a celebration that speaks the...
    Complete Service | By Erik Walker Wikstrom | April 15, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Christianity, Easter, Hope, Spring, Unitarian Universalism, Wholeness
  • This can be read by a single voice, or the congregation can be invited to speak, responsively, the phrase "Jesus is resurrected." Jesus is resurrected— because his message of love, justice, healing, and liberation transcends time and space. Jesus is resurrected— because in his story we hear our...
    Litany | By Kimberley Debus | April 9, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Christianity, Easter, Faith, Hope
  • Let us contemplate the Spirit together: Spirit of Life and Love, Justice and Peace: Six weeks ago our Christian neighbors held their rite of ashes, and this past week they scattered palms from which next year’s ashes will be made, and commemorated the death of the ancient leader whose ministry...
    Prayer | By Paul R Beedle | April 9, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Christianity, Connections, Easter, Hope, Interdependence
  • Let us contemplate the Spirit together: Spirit of Life and Love, Justice and Peace: Day in and day out wait weary tasks, burdens we lift again, worn paths we wear some more, Want, and means worn thin, and fatigue— Pain and grief, coldness of heart, bitter and weary days&mdash Where we know...
    Prayer | By Paul R Beedle | April 9, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Abundance, Balance, Easter, Healing, Health, Hope, Strength
  • Spirit of life, we come together this Easter morning to rejoice in your ongoing creation around us and within us. We come to rejoice, but we come with burdens of sorrow and pain, of shame and fear, of false obligation and false pride. On this Easter morning may we discover a joyous and courageous...
    Meditation | By Ruth E Gibson | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Calling, Character, Creativity, Easter, Hope, Power