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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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15
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May love guide you on your journey forwardBenediction | By Caitlin Cotter Coillberg | October 18, 2022 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Ministerial Transition, Ministry, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb, Worship -
New lyrics for #358 to correct its original ableism.Music | By Kendyl L. R. Gibbons, Cynthia Landrum | March 30, 2022 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Arts & Music, Installations, Ministerial Transition, Ordinations, WorshipWeb, Worship -
We light this chalice to honor our work, to celebrate our community, and to bring hope and determination to our mission in the wider world....Chalice Lighting | By Chrystal Hogan | September 14, 2018 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Leadership, Ministerial Transition, Ministry, Purpose, Service, Teamwork, Vision, Work
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We light our chalice this morning in the spirit of gratitude, Thankful for years of ministerial service to this church, For celebrations of life and death, dedications, and communions, For leading worship, grounding our congregation in spiritual practice, Helping us to navigate the wonders and...Chalice Lighting | By Nick Wilbourn | August 3, 2018 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Ending, Gratitude, Leadership, Ministerial Transition, Ministry, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism -
I light this chalice for all the times you have lit this chalice; For every time you struck the match Or flicked that zapper thing Or empowered a nervous parishioner to do the same. I light this chalice for all that you've done: For all you've fostered and cultivated and nudged; For all you've...Chalice Lighting | By Celia Thurston | June 12, 2018 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Community Ministry Sunday, Leadership, Ministerial Transition, Ministry, Relationships, Service, Unitarian Universalism -
This Releasing of Covenant was created to end the final worship service of a settled ministry. Minister: For [number] years you have offered me your free pulpit and the freedom of creativity in worship, gifts for which I’m grateful. I hereby return the ministry of worship to your able hands. Use...Ritual | By Tess Baumberger, Erika Hewitt | August 5, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Change, Ending, Forgiveness, Leadership, Letting Go, Ministerial Transition, Unitarian Universalism -
This has been published with "they" pronouns; please use the most fitting pronoun in your own setting. Minister: I call (intern name) to the pulpit. Congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Church of (name), we have begun a new thing by bringing (intern) into our midst, to learn the practice of...Ritual | By Michelle Buhite | October 12, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beginnings, Commitment, Community, Growth, Leadership, Ministerial Transition, Purpose, Relationships, Service, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism -
First Reader: We come to you with our hopes and our fears. Will you lead us in building a welcoming religious community, tolerant and appreciative of our differences, loving and compassionate of heart, courageous and independent in spirit? Ministers: We will....Responsive Reading | By Phyllis L. Hubbell | May 14, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Authority, Commitment, Community, Installations, Leadership, Ministerial Transition, Ministry, Relationships, Responsibility, Service, Trust
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Leader: We light our Chalice in honor of all those who have served in our ministry. People: May the Chalice be to us a symbol of the sharing of faith and hope which they have brought. May the flame remind us of the giving of their lives and love upon the altar of service and truth.Chalice Lighting | By Peter Scott Lee | May 14, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Community, Faith, Gratitude, Installations, Love, Ministerial Transition, Ministry, Ordinations, Remembrance Day, Sacrifice, Service, Truth, Unitarian Universalism -
Let us be attendant now upon hope, faith, and love. Let us know ourselves to be in the presence of the Source and Ground of these things and everything, everything known and unknown, everything known and to-be-known, everything known and never-to-be-known. Here, in the conjunction of past and...Meditation | By Richard F. Beil | May 14, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Faith, Honesty, Hope, Installations, Justice, Love, Ministerial Transition, Peace, Sacred, Service, Solidarity, Transcendence
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Lay Leader: Our church family is constantly changing. People come and go. Babies are born. Children grow up. People commit themselves to one another. Loved ones and friend among us come to the end of their lives. Individuals move into our community and church life. Others leave us, moving away to...Ritual | By Chip Roush | March 19, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Community, Ending, Leadership, Letting Go, Ministerial Transition, Service, Unitarian Universalism
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Please note: this ritual was preceded by the departing minister's homily, in which she looked back at the installation service and the promises they had made to each other as minister and congregation. She then continued as follows....Ritual | By Tess Baumberger | March 9, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Ending, Leadership, Letting Go, Ministerial Transition, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Unitarian Universalism
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This ritual, for use within a worship service, calls for the voices of two lay leaders—such as the Board President and a worship associate—although a single lay leader could just as easily read both parts. Lay Leader 1: The life of our religious community is fluid, ever changing with new lives,...Ritual | By Sandy Hoyt, Suzanne Reitz | March 6, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Ending, Leadership, Letting Go, Ministerial Transition, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Relationships, Service, Unitarian Universalism
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Spirit of Life, known to us in beginnings and endings, In possibilities and promises We give thanks for all that has led to this moment, And all that is yet to come. We give thanks for those who mentored us— The women and men in our lives who were our teachers, Who said the turning words of...Prayer | By Kathleen Rolenz | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Commitment, Generations, Installations, Leadership, Ministerial Transition, Purpose, Service, Unitarian Universalism, Vision, Work
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Minister: The life of our religious community is fluid, ever changing with new lives, new visions, new possibilities and new ministries. [Length of time] ago we welcomed our intern minister, [Name]. And we have been changed....Ritual | By Kayle Rice | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Ending, Gratitude, Letting Go, Ministerial Transition, Service, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism