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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Prayers to be said on the four Sundays of Advent while lighting the Advent candle wreath.Prayer | By Elizabeth Mount | March 29, 2024 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Christianity, Hope, Joy, Love, Patience, Peace, WorshipWeb, Worship -
Let this year be a clean slate for new beginnings.Prayer | By Addae Ama Kraba | March 29, 2024 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Beginnings, Courage, Creativity, Empathy, New Year, Peace, WorshipWeb, Worship -
There in the deep sack of night, a tiny Hope was born.Poetry | By Jennifer Pratt-Walter | March 29, 2024 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Awe, Beginnings, Birth, Earth-Centered, Hope, Joy, Love, Peace, Sacred, Winter Solstice / Yule, WorshipWeb, Worship -
We pause on this night of mystery, to tell the stories, to sing the songs, and to bring more light into the world.Chalice Lighting | By Linda Hart | December 13, 2023 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christmas Eve / Christmas, Mystery, Peace, Personal Stories, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule, WorshipWeb, Worship -
We pray for those with power to create peacePrayer | By Lara Cowtan | November 13, 2023 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Disaster or Crisis, Peace, Violence, War -
The circle of evergreens reminds us that life and love will never end.Ritual | By Rosemary Morrison | January 26, 2023 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Christianity, Hope, Joy, Love, Peace, Spiritual Practice -
We feel the season turning. The early sunset glancing through the red-tinged leaves. The newspaper arriving in the cool morning air. The flock of migrating swallows. A feeling of being on the edge of something new. These are the Days of Awe. A time to welcome a new year and a time to make the old...Opening | By Ben Soule | January 7, 2019 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Awe, Conscience, Contemplation, Judaism, Mindfulness, Peace, Reconciliation, Rosh Hashanah, Sacred, Wonder, Yom Kippur, Worship -
Each week until Christmas, we light a new candle on the Advent wreath, a circle of evergreens.Ritual | By Megan Visser | November 13, 2018 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Hope, Peace -
We come this day, called by war By the suffering we inflict and endure When minds across borders fail to reason and compromise. We come this day, called by loss, The deaths of those who serve in our name, Those whose lives end before their natural course In service to a cause greater than their own.Opening | By Heather K Janules | May 29, 2018 | From WorshipWebTagged as: America, Grief, Humanism, Memorial Day, Military, Peace, Secular, Violence -
May this time of waiting inspire our courage.Ritual | By Erika Hewitt | December 2, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Buddhism, Christianity, Patience, Peace, Spiritual Practice, Spirituality -
Fire consumes, and casts a bright light. May our chalice flame consume our regrets for the past, our fears about the future, and our worries about today. May it light for us a path of joy and peace.Chalice Lighting | By Debra Burrell | November 21, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Beginnings, Direct Experience, Ending, Fear, Joy, Letting Go, New Year, Peace, Presence, Regret -
We gather with a hunger for reconciliation. What is done cannot be undone. What is done next must now be done with care. We gather because we are hopeful, Because we have visions and dreams of a brighter future. That there may be more than vision in this room, These are the wounds we must heal...Prayer | By Anne Barker | August 22, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Beginnings, Community, Forgiveness, Healing, Indigenous Peoples Day, Listening, Peace, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism, Unity -
In this time of long nights and short days, let us seek the light within … by contemplating, through our mind’s eye, the image of a candle flame. Notice how the soft, quiet, and gentle flame tamely rises from the wick. Yet, just by touching a dry twig, it has the power to become a raging bonfire...Meditation | By Sam Trumbore | January 1, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Direct Experience, Imagination, Mindfulness, Peace, Presence, Secular, Spiritual Practice, Unitarian Universalism, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule, Wonder -
If ever there were a time for a candle in the darkness, this would be it. Using a spark of hope, kindle the flame of love, ignite the light of peace, and feed the flame of justice.Chalice Lighting | By Melanie Davis | December 22, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Calling, Despair, Hope, Justice, Justice Sunday, Peace, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Secular, Unitarian Universalism, Worry -
When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to...Affirmation | By Howard Thurman | December 6, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Community, Hope, Justice, New Year, Peace, Purpose, Redemption, Service, Twelfth Night / Epiphany, Work -
Out of the flames of fear We rise with courage of our deepest convictions to stand for justice, inclusion and peace Out of the flames of scrutiny We rise to proclaim our faith With hope to heal a fractured and hurting world Out of the flames of doubt We rise to embrace the mystery, wonder and awe...Chalice Lighting | By Sara Eileen LaWall | January 11, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Awe, Courage, Doubt, Faith, Fear, Fire Communion, Healing, Inclusion, Justice, New Year, Peace, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Unitarian Universalism, Vision, WorshipWeb -
This prayer's author suggests that for each paragraph of the prayer, an accompanist (on piano or some other instrument) softly play the hymn that's indicated at stanza's end. For clarity, these instructions are included below....Prayer | By Lisa Doege | January 11, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Arts & Music, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Humanism, Immanence, Joy, Justice, Peace, Privilege, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb -
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 WorshipWebTagged as: Choice, Despair, Easter, Good Friday, Healing, Hope, Justice, Living Our Faith, Love, Peace, Spring, Unitarian Universalism, Winter -
Beloved Children of the Oneness of many names, you who cover the land in numbers greater than the stars, I petition you, I pray to you, because you are the fruit of God’s promise to the World; because each of you holds a piece of the truth of all that is; because the vision of Beloved Community...Prayer | By Jan Taddeo | December 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 6th Principle (World Community), Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Justice, Justice Sunday, Multiculturalism, Peace, Reconciliation, Reverence, War, WorshipWeb -
In a world so filled with brokenness and sorrow It would be easy to lose ourselves in never ending grief, To be choked by our outrage To be paralyzed by the enormity of suffering, To feel our hearts squeeze tight with hopelessness....Meditation | By Alice Anacheka-Nasemann | December 8, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 6th Principle (World Community), Brokenness, Despair, Hiroshima Day, Hope, Justice, Justice Sunday, Love, Meditation Practices, Peace, Terrorism -
A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more. ~ Matthew 2:18 I read those words aloud from the pulpit once a year, on Christmas Eve: a night when we celebrate the birth of hope and possibility and...Meditation | By Lisa Doege | December 3, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Advent, Birth, Brokenness, Children, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Hope, Judaism, Parents, Peace, Violence
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December eighteenth, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (1962). Amid the anxiety of the Cuban missile crisis, Unitarian Noel Regney wrote the text for “Do You Hear What I Hear?” as a protest song. The music was composed by his then-wife, Gloria Shayne Baker. The song's allusions to the Bible stories of...Image | By Ralph Yeager Roberts | November 23, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, America, Arts & Music, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Peace, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Unitarianism, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule -
In honor of those who have served, And those who continue to serve, At home and abroad, for peace and in war, We light our chalice, And we offer our thanks.Chalice Lighting | By Cynthia Landrum | November 11, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: America, Conflict, Death, Freedom, Gratitude, Memorial Day, Military, Military Service, Peace, Sacrifice, Secular, Service, Veterans Day, War -
For all who die in war We lift up our hearts For all who live in suffering in the aftermath of violence We lift up our hearts For all who give their lives in smoke and flame We lift up our hearts For all who go on in honor of the dead We lift up our hearts For all who have served We lift up our...Prayer | By Amy Petrie Shaw | October 30, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), All Saints Day, All Souls Day, Brokenness, Buddhism, Christianity, Conflict, Direct Experience, Islam, Judaism, Memorial Day, Pain, Peace, Reconciliation, Religion, United Nations Day, Veterans Day, War, WorshipWeb -
Today I have too many friends who are dying. Sometimes at a memorial service I feel dissatisfied, and I’m the preacher in charge. I realize I can’t figure out how to preach my view of resurrection. I know that people would want to hear it, I’m not worried about offending or confusing anyone. I...Meditation | By Meg Barnhouse | May 28, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Death, Direct Experience, Family, Friendship, Happiness, Honesty, Intimacy, Love, Memorial Services, Nature, Peace, Truth -
I sit alone, planning the rest of the day. Last night, I was joking and smoking, in broken Pashto, with the resident contingent of the AUP.* I introduced them to the beauty of Dominican tobacco, hand-rolled and perfectly aged. They all seemed to enjoy this symbol of Western democratic values, the...Meditation | By George A Tyger | May 18, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Connections, Direct Experience, Diversity, Generosity, Gratitude, International, Islam, Kindness, Military, Military Service, Peace, Unity, Veterans Day, War -
“You sargin or commandant?” a young Afghan lieutenant asks as he points to the cross on my chest. I try to explain what a chaplain is. In the end, he suggests Army mullah, and I agree. Not the most accurate description, but the most meaningful for him. Chaplain has little meaning for him.Meditation | By George A Tyger | May 17, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, America, Community, Connections, Direct Experience, Diversity, Humanism, International, Memorial Day, Peace, Secular -
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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Ground of all being, Great Nurturing Spirit, This morning especially, we give thanks For beautiful days right in between spring and summer, For flowers and green trees and freshly cut grass and lazy lakeside afternoons, For the sound and sight and heart-swell of being together in this place made...Prayer | By Kristin Grassel Schmidt | April 17, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children, Direct Experience, Family, Father's Day, Fathers, Love, Men, Parents, Peace, WorshipWeb -
Nature provides ready metaphors for peace and justice. Jesus' peaceful kingdom is described as a mustard seed that grows into a large bush, providing shelter to all. the Hebrew prophet Amos cried for justice to roll down like water, and we sing, "I've got peace like a river" and "strength like a...Reading | By Stephen M. Shick | March 17, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Justice, Nature, Peace, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Vision, Climate Justice
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Holy Unnamable One, Wholly Unknowable One, Again we have read the story. Again we have sung the tale. Again we wonder at our place in it. Is it ours to tell? How can it beours to live?...Prayer | By Lisa Doege | March 16, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Birth, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Direct Experience, Hope, Listening, Mystery, Peace, Privilege
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My prayer today is that I learn to stay a war atheist— my prayer today for each of us, for everyone in this nation, in this world, is that we all learn to be war atheists. I don’t believe in war anymore. My prayer today is that I never again succumb to fear, fear which seduces me to believe that...Meditation | By Jessica Purple Rodela | March 2, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Hiroshima Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, Memorial Day, Nonviolence, Peace, Remembrance Day
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NOTE: All or part of this ritual can be used to bless a sacred space. We blessed our newly renovated sanctuary for the qualities and attributes we were trying to create with our renovations. Between each blessing, we sang a hymn, had a children’s story, took the offering, had a choir anthem, and...Blessing | By Sandra Fees | February 18, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Building/Space Dedication, Community, Creativity, Diversity, Generations, Hospitality, Inclusion, Integrity, Love, Peace, Responsibility, Unitarian Universalism
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Please speak the response when you hear: "...this season brings forth many feelings" Response: We find comfort in naming these feelings; we find some peace in being together All around us are bright lights and merry messages Yet in our heart not all is joyful There is grief with the loss of...Reading | By Debra Faulk | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christmas Eve / Christmas, Despair, Grief, Pain, Peace, Sorrow -
In prayer, we call to mind the peacemakers.Meditation | By Eric Cherry | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 6th Principle (World Community), Compassion, Courage, Despair, Disaster or Crisis, Faith, Fear, Healing, History, International, Nonviolence, Peace, War -
Like most traumatic scars, the ones that are found in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are permanent: reminders of the terrible damage human beings can inflict. Similar scars can be found in the hearts and souls of people around the world who understand this terror: scars of grief, sadness, fear and even...Prayer | By William G. Sinkford | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: America, Direct Experience, Hiroshima Day, Interdependence, Multiculturalism, Peace, Purpose, War -
We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied to a single garment of destiny. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. There are some things in our social system to which all of us ought to be maladjusted....Reading | By Martin Luther King, Jr. | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Black History / Whitney Young / James Reeb, Interdependence, Juneteenth, Justice Sunday, Love, Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, Multiculturalism, Peace, Power
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Arise, then, women of this day! Arise, all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be of water or of tears! Say firmly: "We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies, "Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. "Our sons shall not be...Reading | By Julia Ward Howe | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children, Mother's Day, Parents, Peace
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Out of wood and stone, out of dream and sacrifice, the people build a home. Out of the work of their hands and hearts and minds, the people fashion a symbol and a reality. May this house be truly a place of meeting: meeting in warmth and joy and openness; meeting in courage and love and trust....Blessing | By Eileen B Karpeles | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Building/Space Dedication, Business Meetings, Courage, Generations, Hope, Inclusion, Love, Peace, Sacrifice, Silence, Sorrow, Trust
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(Hungarian first—English follows) Hol hit—ott szeretet Where there is faith there is love Hol szeretet—ott béke Where there is love there is peace Hol béke—ott áldás Where there is peace there is blessing Hol áldás—ott Isten Where there is blessing there is God Hol Isten—ott...Meditation | By Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christianity, Faith, God, History, Love, Partner Church Observation, Peace, Unitarianism
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Spirit of Life, You call us to embody equity and freedom in our lives.Meditation | By Eric Cherry | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 6th Principle (World Community), Compassion, Courage, Disaster or Crisis, Human Rights, International, Leadership, Oppression, Peace, Power, Solidarity, Suffering, Wisdom -
Spirit of life, we come together this Easter morning to rejoice in the ongoing song of life that is within us and around us....Meditation | By Kathleen Rolenz | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: America, Easter, Justice, Love, Peace, War
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[In this difficult time of war and destruction,] We call to our minds today the life of a man of peace, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We pray that like Dr. King, we may have the courage to live our convictions even in the face of overwhelming opposition....Prayer | By Paul S Sawyer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Anti-Oppression, Children, Commitment, Equity, Justice, Living Our Faith, Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, Peace, Prophetic Words & Deeds, War -
Spirit of Life whom we have called by many names in thanksgiving and in anguish— Bless the poets and those who mourn Send peace for the soldiers who did not make the wars but whose lives were consumed by them Let strong trees grow above graves far from home Breathe through the arms of their...Prayer | By Barbara J Pescan | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Conflict, Generations, Memorial Day, Peace, Service, War -
Advent, adventus, means waiting. And the holiday season is nothing if not waiting—to get done the chores; to find the right gift; to find time for quiet moments; to accept that our loved ones will not be as we wish them to be....Chalice Lighting | By David Breeden | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Forgiveness, Generosity, Hope, Justice, Love, Patience, Peace, Strength, Winter, Wisdom -
Let us join our hearts and minds together in the spirit of prayer: O Holy One, that unites all who are estranged and challenges all who preach division and exclusion, We see that unity so often in the eyes of a child, who sees neither race or creed in any eyes that look back, but only whether tho...Prayer | By Kathleen Rolenz | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Connections, Generations, God, Memorial Day, Military Service, Peace, Veterans Day, Violence, War
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Eternal God, Source of All Creation, we would give substance to our thankfulness by resolving to make right use of the gifts we have received from thy bounty. With thy gift of the senses we would fashion and preserve a world of beauty for all....Meditation | By Robert Walsh | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Abundance, Beauty, Compassion, Discernment, Gratitude, Justice, Peace, Responsibility, Searching, Thanksgiving, Truth
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Somewhere across the world,...Meditation | By Kathleen Rolenz | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christianity, Easter, Peace