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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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 -
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
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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 WorshipWebTagged as: Caring, Christianity, Compassion, Easter, Empathy, Ministry, Service, WorshipWeb, Worship -
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 WorshipWebTagged as: Calling, Challenge, Commitment, Compassion, Courage, Grace, Gratitude, Healing, Installations, Ministry, Ordinations, Vulnerability, 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 -
Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson, is a novel that takes the form of a letter or journal that a dying, elderly Congregationalist minister in Gilead, Iowa, writes to his 7-year old son in 1956 – written so that one day the boy will know something about his father’s life and character. In this passage...Reading | By Marilynne Robinson | March 10, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Animal Blessing, Animals, Awe, Calling, Christianity, Faith, Leadership, Ministry, Ordinations, Power, Sacred, Unitarian Universalism, Wonder -
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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Ministry is all that we do—Together Ministry is that quality of being in community that affirms human dignity— beckons forth hidden possibilities, invites us into deeper, more constant, reverent relationships, and carries forward our heritage of hope and liberation. Ministry is what we do...Meditation | By Gordon B McKeeman | May 14, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Community, Courage, Dignity, Hope, Installations, Ministry, Ordinations, Relationships, Reverence, Service, Solidarity, Unity
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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 -
With our words we have given our mind's consent to the letter of this covenant. Now let us come together in the spirit of covenant, laying on our hands, and offering our heart's consent. As we begin, join me in placing your hands over your heart. Feel its precious beating....Blessing | By Keith Goheen | April 22, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Commitment, Compassion, Hospitality, Installations, Ministry, Ordinations, Presence, Relationships, Reverence, Service, Spirituality, Tradition, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb -
Let us be in the spirit of prayer. In this precious moment in which we set apart and ordain a woman to our ministry, we pause to give thanks for this religious community of free spirits of which we are a part....Prayer | By William E Gardner | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Commitment, Leadership, Ministry, Ordinations, Responsibility, Service
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Gracious and loving Lord, in perfect assurance of Your presence here we pray your fulfillment of these blessings upon this minister who has been called from among these people to assume the office of pastor, preacher, prophet and servant. God, we pray that you will utterly possess N. in all of...Prayer | By Victoria Weinstein | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: God, Ministry, Ordinations