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An unlit chalice on a church altar

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.

LEADER RESOURCE 2 Rituals to Welcome a New Child
a medieval window from the Burrell Collection in Glasgow, Scotland, depicting the Nativity
Islamic prayer beads or Subha inside the Süleymaniye Moque (Istanbul).
An altar filled with candles, photos, and flowers

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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19

  • A Black father lying on his back smiles lovingly at his child, who gazes back happily.
    We are not automatic lovers of self, others, world, or God. Love does not just happen.
    Quote | By Carter Heyward | February 7, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Choice, Commitment, Direct Experience, Love, New Member Ceremony, Relationships, Valentine's Day, Weddings and Commitment Ceremonies
  • A group of dancers, lit from above, blurred by being caught in motion.
    One: To become is a life long process. Nothing is constant, not even the self. We evolve in the midst of narratives meant only for some and ways of being made narrow by fear and power. We must, then, have the courage to listen to the truth of our own lives, to the wisdom that comes from within—...
    Litany | By enfleshed | January 21, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Change, Connections, Direct Experience, Growth, Humanism, Interdependence, Love, Relationships, Sacred, Transformation, Valentine's Day
  • The word "LOVE" in pink neon letters.
    Love cannot be bought or sold; it does not make a profit. Love does not hide from truth. Love dives deep. Love takes on flesh. Love is queer. Love is platonic. Love is erotic. Love is asexual. Love confronts evil. Love delights in pleasure. Love touches and weeps and flirts and feeds and creates.
    Affirmation | By enfleshed | January 21, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Anti-Oppression, Direct Experience, Forgiveness, Humanism, Intimacy, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Love, Relationships, Secular, Valentine's Day
  • Red helium heart-shaped balloons float into a blue sky
    I was a foster parent long before I was a mom, and an inside look at families "in the system" reveals pretty quickly that love and parenthood are two different qualities, and the relationship between them is neither straightforward nor guaranteed....
    Meditation | By Lisa Doege | September 9, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Children, Love, Mothers, Parents, Relationships, Valentine's Day
  • On a teal background, a white cup of coffee and the message: "I love you more than fair trade coffee... almost."
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Food, Love, Playfulness, Valentine's Day
  • A white heart in a green circle. White text on red background: "You are the answer to my prayers... meditations, and/or moments of quiet reflection."
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Gratitude, Valentine's Day
  • A white message on red field, with text boxes: "Every day I thank (please check one) God, The Universe, The Unnamed, The Spirit, Earth Mother, All of the Above, None of the Above... FOR YOU
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Agnosticism, Atheism, God, Gratitude, Love, Paganism, Playfulness, Unitarian Universalism, Valentine's Day
  • A teal background with red heart and white text: "Will you join the committee of my heart?"
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Love, Playfulness, Valentine's Day, Work
  • On a red field, two white cartoon birds kissing with text: "I love you more than thoreau loved the woods"
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Valentine's Day
  • a red field with gray spider web and white text: "Let's let our interconnected WEBS interconnect, baby."
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Interdependence, Love, Playfulness, Valentine's Day
  • A silhouette of cupid on a red field with white text: "We go together like a flame and a chalice."
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Valentine's Day
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    My friends, when you go from here know that our hearts are always in a holy place, for we are always connected to one another. Know that deep down, our hearts beat in one universal rhythm. May we each find the sacred space to hear it.
    Benediction | By Israel Buffardi | September 22, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Arts & Music, Community, Connections, Love, Music Sunday, Sacred, Unity, Valentine's Day
  • A rich assortment of chocolates
    This sermon refers to, and includes, the emerging ritual of a "chocolate communion." If you're seeking to incorporate our Unitarian Universalist values into such a ritual, we recommend providing an organic fair-trade product like the one...
    Sermon | By Sarah Movius Schurr | August 14, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Body, Commitment, Direct Experience, Diversity, Food Justice, Humanism, Love, Relationships, Valentine's Day
  • A person's hands, reaching up from the bottom of the frame, making a heart shape with their fingers.
    What makes us human beings so uniquely wonderful in this puzzling universe is that we never give up on love. Against all odds, with no guarantee of being loved in return, out of the hate and hurt so often handed us, in the face of the sad suffering history has let us see, we go on loving....
    Quote | By David Richo | May 19, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Beginnings, Connections, Courage, Direct Experience, Hope, Love, Meaning, New Child, New Year, Relationships, Respect, Self-Respect, Valentine's Day, Wonder
  • Unitarian Universalist Association Chalice
    This ritual was used as a Time for All Ages on Valentine's Day, but could be used on any number of Sundays—whether there are children and youth present or not. Although the spoken roles here are named as Minister and Religious Educator, any two (or more) worship leaders could facilitate this...
    Ritual | By Lyn Cox | February 26, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Arrogance, Caring, Humanism, Love, Service, Unitarian Universalism, Valentine's Day, WorshipWeb
  • Two young children hugging at the bottom of a playground slide
    Love is the aspiration, the spirit that moves and inspires this faith we share. Rightly understood, love can nurture our spirits and transform the world....
    Chalice Lighting | By Maureen Killoran | February 26, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Body, Challenge, Community, Direct Experience, Faith, Generosity, Healing, Love, Mourning, Power, Spirituality, Transformation, Valentine's Day, WorshipWeb
  • Two women, one Unitarian Universalist and one Muslim, smile at each other.
    We arrive from many different experiences and backgrounds. Some of us have trouble speaking; others are so young that they’re still learning to talk. Some of us speak English as a second language, and others of us can speak several foreign languages....
    Opening | By Erika Hewitt | February 8, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Business Meetings, Community, Conflict, Connections, Direct Experience, Integrity, Interdependence, Intimacy, Living Our Faith, Love, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Relationships, Unitarian Universalism, Valentine's Day
  • Niagra Falls, at night, with the falls lit up by brightly colored lights
    I want not dainty bone china-cupped, oh-so-polite, pinky-extended sips, but guzzle-by-the-gallon, drink-from-the-fire-hose- two-hundred-eighty-psi- Niagara-Falls volumes, and inch-thick slices of hearty multi-grain-hard-crusted- with-stick-in-your-teeth-seeds-bread (none of that bland supermarket...
    Poetry | By Peter Friedrichs | February 4, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Body, Direct Experience, Love, Playfulness, Sexuality, Valentine's Day
  • people in prayerful poses at GA 2017
    We give thanks for love, Agape and Eros, Chocolates and pillow talk, And all of cupid’s arrows. For unrequited yearning And the grand passion burning, For quiet appreciation And platonic contemplation. For lovers, too, we offer thanks: Those gay and straight, near and dear, Gender metamorphic or...
    Meditation | By Gary Kowalski | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Intimacy, Love, Sexuality, Valentine's Day