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.
Search Words for Worship Services
Toggle to filter resultsAvailable filters:
Changing a filter will refresh results (and remaining options) immediately. Searching by keyword or changing the number of items per page requires use of the "Search" button.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 69
-
A script for commissioning an affiliated community minister.Ritual | By Elizabeth Harding, Susan Frances, Eileen Wiviott | November 20, 2023 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Community Ministry Sunday, Covenant, Leadership, Ministry, WorshipWeb, Worship -
Let us bless these candles with our tender hopes for the coming year.Ritual | By SarahRuth Davis | May 10, 2023 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christmas Eve / Christmas, Presence, Spirituality, WorshipWeb, Worship
-
Today we celebrate the new name that reflects a truth long-hidden, now revealed.Ritual | By Karen G. Johnston | March 9, 2023 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Caring, Identity, Inclusion, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Life Transition, Naming Ceremony, Self-Respect, Transformation, WorshipWeb, Worship -
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 give thanks to the Sacred, woven in and among us, for the teachers, youth advisors, youth mentors, and parents in our community.Ritual | By Elizabeth Harding | October 17, 2022 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Caring, Children, Family, Leadership, Relationships, Teacher Recognition -
We scatter these remains to the earth returning creation unto itself.Ritual | By Marian Stewart | May 28, 2022 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Death, Memorial Services, WorshipWeb, Worship -
I am afraid and exhausted from the constant fear. I don’t know who to trust for information about the virus.Ritual | By Kate Landis | March 16, 2021 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #COVID19, Brokenness, Death, Direct Experience, Disaster or Crisis, Grief, Healing, Hope, Secular, Solidarity, WorshipWeb, Worship -
You are sacred, and that energy runs through your hands, through the hands of all Unitarian Universalists. You are part of that interdependent network.Ritual | By Austen Petersen | September 10, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #COVID19, Backpack Blessing, WorshipWeb, Worship -
Let’s breathe and remember that it is not the device that has value; the value is found in the connections which the device allows us to sustain.Ritual | By Dayna Edwards | August 30, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Backpack Blessing, Beginnings, Secular -
Minister: At this time, we would like to introduce a special ritual. The holidays can be an especially poignant time of year. Alongside the joy in these present moments, we may recall fond memories of past celebrations with our loved ones....Ritual | By Shari Woodbury | May 5, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Connections, Direct Experience, Family, Grief, Spiritual Practice -
Today we kick off Religious Education classes with [over number registered] children and youth in our congregation. [Number of volunteers] adult volunteers carry the sacred privilege and responsibility of journeying beside them on our behalf....Ritual | By Lauren Wyeth | January 7, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Children, Community, Education, Leadership, Service, Teacher Dedication, Teacher Recognition, Teamwork, Unitarian Universalism, Youth/Teens -
This ritual begins by lighting a candle from the chalice, and placing it in position. A list of supplies is at the end of this resource. One: Fire. Source of warmth and life for our ancestors; and for humans still today....Ritual | By Amy Brooks | January 3, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Direct Experience, Disaster or Crisis, Earth, Fear, Grief, Solidarity, Unitarian Universalism, Climate Justice -
Note: This was written and led by co-ministers to celebrate the installation of a third minister in a different congregation. Please change pronouns as necessary. Leader 1: What a joy it is to be here today… and to celebrate the shared ministry of this congregation. It is, indeed shared ministry,...Ritual | By Wendy Bartel, Lynn Gardner | November 6, 2019 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Commitment, Covenant, Installations, Interdependence, Leadership, Service, Unitarian Universalism
-
Minister: The cultural and ethnical diversity in our region shapes our mission of providing religious education that is meaningful and relevant to our members and community. Our faith is a living one, co-created by the promises we make and keep. It is enlivened when we lift up all of the voices,...Ritual | By Katie Romano Griffin, Tania Márquez | September 18, 2019 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children, Direct Experience, Homecoming / Ingathering, Leadership, Unitarian Universalism
-
This was written as a blessing for pouring out the Water Communion waters onto a memorial garden. Like water that swells rivers and fills the ocean, the memories of those we have loved rush through us. Sometimes they are quiet, almost as if we have forgotten—and then suddenly, they flood our...Ritual | By Amy Zucker Morgenstern | September 4, 2019 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Direct Experience, Generations, Grief, Humanism, Imagination, Interdependence, Nature, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Remembrance Day, Secular, Water Communion -
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 -
Set up for this ritual: It's especially meaningful to have a congregant bake bread for communion. (If that’s not possible, store bought bread will do.) Cut the bread into cubes and place in baskets lined with napkins. Have a basket of gluten-free crackers available as well. To hold the juice, one...Ritual | By Sheri Prud’homme | October 22, 2018 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Body, Brokenness, Christianity, Food, Grief, Healing, Spiritual Practice, Thanksgiving, Transformation, Wholeness -
First Sunday of Advent Minister: Unitarian Universalism is a faith with roots in Christianity. Some UUs today identify as Christians, others don’t; yet during the season of Advent we all have something we can find illuminating, comforting, challenging, or fulfilling by reinterpreting old...Ritual | By Lyn Cox | October 15, 2018 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent -
In a few moments, there will be a splendid party celebrating (name)’s passage into young womanhood. At that time, she will receive a series of traditional gifts, symbolizing the duties as well as the privileges of her new status....Ritual | By Kendyl L. R. Gibbons | March 20, 2018 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children, Coming-of-Age, Friendship, Quinceañera, Relationships, Women -
Presentation of quinceañera by parents: (Minister’s name), I, (parent), and I, (parent), present to the congregation of [congregation's name] and of our family and friends, our daughter, (name), upon the occasion of her 15th birthday. Today we acknowledge her transition from the role of our...Ritual | By Kendyl L. R. Gibbons | March 20, 2018 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Quinceañera