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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

Search Words for Worship Services

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 44

  • Roughly 100 white and reddish-brown mushrooms growing on a decaying tree trunk. Most are seen from above, emphasizing their round caps.
    It takes courage to bring our trust forward and invite another person to meet us there. This sometimes sure, often shaky, surrender is an opportunity to discover something deeper than the confines of our individual experience.
    Reading | By Adaku Utah | January 21, 2024 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Compassion, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Freedom, Growth, Interdependence, Nature, Relationships, Trust, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • A Black man's hand is holding a mirror, in which we see a partial reflection of his face. Our point of view is from over his shoulder, so in the foreground we see a slightly out-of-focus portion of the back of his head.
    In this heartbreak what we carry forth is our humanity in newly revealed form—our hearts tender and delicate.
    Prayer | By Vanessa Titang | December 12, 2023 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Brokenness, Community, Compassion, Disaster or Crisis, Grief, Healing, Trauma, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • A hand cupping a person's foot in the process of footwashing during a Maundy Thursday Mass.
    Let us imagine washing the feet of someone who has wronged us. Their feet, too, are calloused and muddy from the road.
    Responsive Reading | By Patty Willis | October 3, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Caring, Christianity, Compassion, Easter, Empathy, Ministry, Service, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • A candid black-and-white shot at night, looking through window of nearby pizza parlour. Two workers are seen from behind as they prepare food.
    There is no such thing as unskilled labor.
    Reflection | By Sarah Skochko | August 31, 2022 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), America, Compassion, Dignity, Human Rights, Humanism, Labor Day, Secular, Work, Worship
  • Against a blue sky, a branch with delicate yellow blossoms.
    Sing in our hearts all the stirrings of compassion for the oppressed, for those who are scared and hurting.
    Prayer | By Nica Eaton-Guinn | March 10, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Compassion, Disaster or Crisis, Justice, Living Our Faith, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • A lit taper candle burns against a blurred background of blue holiday lights.
    Grief is welcome, a sacred part of the mourning.
    Reading | By Kari Kopnick | March 1, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Advent, Balance, Challenge, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Compassion, Despair, Empathy, Grief, Winter Solstice / Yule, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • A close-up of the stacked hands of about five people, standing in a circle.
    Let it be said by generations to come that when the pain of our separation was revealed, we moved closer to the promised land of our beloved community.
    Benediction | By Anya Sammler-Michael | March 22, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: #COVID19, Challenge, Compassion, Disaster or Crisis, Integrity, Living Our Faith, Seven Principles, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • A whisk and dustpan filled with dry twigs, fallen spruce needles, and broken Christmas ornaments
    This is a "love saves" story.
    Reflection | By Paul S Sawyer | December 9, 2020 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Advent, Anger, Children, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Compassion, Direct Experience, Humanism, Living Our Faith, Love, Psychology, Relationships, Respect, Responsibility, Self-Respect, Worship
  • A pair of muddy arms reaches up to push a muddy foot, as if helping someone climb a wall.
    Years ago, I did one of those mud run obstacle races. There were eight physical obstacles on the course, but my biggest learning was that we all had a ninth obstacle.
    Reflection | By Laura Solomon | March 18, 2020 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #COVID19, Community, Compassion, Disaster or Crisis, Fear, Relationships, Self-Care
  • From several stories above street level, a large fabric rainbow is carried between contingents at a Pride parade
    Blessed are the wanderers, Seeking affirmation. Blessed are the worshipers, Praying from closets, Pulpits, pews, and hardship. Blessed are the lovers of leaving – Leaving family and familiarity, Leaving tables Where love is not being served. Blessed are those who stay....
    Blessing | By HP Rivers | May 28, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Acceptance, Anti-Oppression, Coming Out, Compassion, Diversity, Family, Gender, Humanism, Justice, Justice Sunday, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Love, National Coming Out Day, Pride Sunday, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Secular, Sexuality
  • Easter_eggs_purple_blue_teal_green_leaves_white_basket
    Let us imagine for a moment that our lives are like the baskets that our children will use after the service to collect colorful eggs and candy. And as we welcome that imaginative connection, let us pause for a moment to accept a blessing....
    Blessing | By Lucas Hergert | May 27, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Abundance, Awe, Beauty, Community, Compassion, Easter, Family, Generosity, Gratitude, Happiness, Joy
  • Several_lit_candles_black_background
    Ours is a spiritual community where we find and forge connection. We trust in the strength of our mutual support, knowing how it has sustained us, day after day, year after year. Today we hold in the light: _________ and we lift up: _________ Now you are invited to recall the names of persons or...
    Meditation | By Kelly Murphy Mason | March 27, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Compassion, Faith, Gratitude, Hope, Joy, Joys & Concerns, Love, Sorrow, Trust
  • A father and son nuzzle each other; the father looking up, holding his son aloft.
    What images comes to mind when I say, “Labor Day”? Chances are you think of the holiday weekend and celebrations with your loved ones, the Federal Holiday, Unions and the cause of a working wage and benefits, maybe the history of the struggle of working people to have a fair share of the profits...
    Reading | By Jennifer Willet | February 5, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Aging, Caring, Community, Compassion, Dignity, Disability, Economy, Education, Generations, Interdependence, Labor Day
  • On a church chancel, children dressed as sheep and cows kneel during a Christmas pageant
    [for 2-3 voices, alternating] On this eve of mystery and magic, let us enter into the Christmas story as if we were there on the holy night. What part will we play this year? Are you the mother, trusting your body to know what to do when the time of birth comes?...
    Opening | By Shari Woodbury | January 21, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Awe, Birth, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Compassion, Dignity, Faith, Family, Hope, Hospitality, Journey, Love
  • A close-up photo of the stacked hands, solidarity-style, of three people.
    This work isn’t all prayers and beautiful moments, nor is it laments and trauma. It’s not even both/and, because this work is something greater than you, greater than us, greater than the whole of those we serve. This work is a calling. And we’re doing it. Day after day, night after night,...
    Blessing | By Andrea Hawkins-Kamper | January 16, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Calling, Challenge, Commitment, Compassion, Courage, Grace, Gratitude, Healing, Installations, Ministry, Ordinations, Vulnerability, Worship
  • Opus sectile detail from the apse of St Mary's church in Balham, London: Mary cradles baby Jesus on her lap, holding a dove in one hand, while Joseph stands nearby holding a bundle of wheat for the cow in the background.
    The innkeeper isn’t part of most Nativity sets. No one sings carols about innkeepers. There don’t seem to be any paintings that include them. But we can imagine the scene: Bethlehem is crowded with people coming home for the census. It’s late at night when the innkeeper responds to a knock on...
    Reading | By Anne Dilenschneider | January 2, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Abundance, Anti-Oppression, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Compassion, Discernment, Empathy, Hospitality, Inclusion, Judaism, Kindness, Living Our Faith, Responsibility, WorshipWeb
  • lgbtiflag
    Let this banner be a symbol of hope, A blanket of protection for those who need it, And a cape of power for those who must be empowered. Let this flag be a standard of our conviction to embody all of these things, And to be the change we will upon the world. Let the will we weave to empower and...
    Blessing | By Alex Swift | August 3, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Activism, Commitment, Compassion, Courage, Healing, Hope, Humanism, Justice, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Love, Power, Pride Sunday, Secular, Unitarian Universalism
  • a view up from the floor of a cathedral to the ceiling, with stained glass windows on all sides
    This blessing was written in honor of two Unitarians, Martha and Waitstill Sharp, who during WWII dared to risk their own comfort in order to help save the lives of those in desperate need. As we gather together, May we remember When you share with me what is most important to you, That is where...
    Blessing | By Andrée Mol | November 30, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Abundance, Compassion, Courage, Direct Experience, Gratitude, Hospitality, Justice, Listening, Love, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Sacrifice, Salvation, Thanksgiving, Unitarianism
  • Above a sea of hands holding lit candles in the air, someone holds a sign with a rainbow heart: "One human family"
    To the refugee family seeking a safe place For their children’s dreams, say: I am with you in this. To the trans teenager longing for a world That accepts them for who they are, say: I am with you in this....
    Litany | By Phillip Lund | November 25, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Activism, Anti-Oppression, Brokenness, Caring, Compassion, Connections, Disaster or Crisis, Immigration, Justice, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Solidarity, Unitarian Universalism
  • a view from the ground, looking up, at the tops of evergreen trees with a starry sky above. A warm glow of campfire is reflected off of the trees' trunks.
    Go slow if you can. Slower. More slowly still. Friendly dark or fearsome, this is no place to break your neck by rushing, by running, by crashing into what you cannot see....
    Poetry | By Jan Richardson | October 22, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Advent, Christianity, Compassion, Discernment, Journey, Love, Searching, Shadow