Holidays and Ceremonies

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 2021-22 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

Displaying 51 - 60 of 1640 (items for multiple occasions are listed more than once).

Advent

Reading

  • News of the Infinite (WorshipWeb)
    by Gary Kowalski
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Awe, Direct Experience, Science, Wonder
  • Wait Like the World Is About to Turn (WorshipWeb)
    by Annie Gonzalez Milliken
    Tagged as: Activism, Anti-Oppression, Change, Christianity, Direct Experience, Empathy, Race/Ethnicity, Unitarian Universalism
  • Waiting For Now (WorshipWeb)
    by Mandie McGlynn
    Tagged as: Beginnings, Change, Christianity, Contemplation, Ending, Faith, Growth, Hope, Journey, Justice, Paganism, Patience, WorshipWeb
  • Waiting to Be Born (WorshipWeb)
    by Tess Baumberger
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Birth, Christianity, Hope, Letting Go, Patience, Unitarian Universalism
  • Blue Christmas: This, Too, Belongs (WorshipWeb)
    by Kari Kopnick
    Tagged as: Balance, Challenge, Compassion, Despair, Empathy, Grief, Worship, WorshipWeb

Reflection

  • God has a fondness for what is fragile (WorshipWeb)
    by Jan Richardson
    Tagged as: Brokenness, Christianity, God, Immanence, Relationships, Vulnerability
  • God Is Present (WorshipWeb)
    by Robin Bartlett
    Tagged as: Christianity, Despair, God, Hope, Inclusion, Presence
  • A Holy Impatience (Braver/Wiser)
    by Robin Tanner
    Tagged as: #COVID19, Children, Christianity, Hope, Living Our Faith, Parents, Purpose, Worship
  • A Village of Strangers (Braver/Wiser)
    by Laura Shay
    Tagged as: Community, Worship
  • An Adequate Christmas (Braver/Wiser)
    by Jake Morrill
    Tagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Balance, Challenge, Choice, Courage, Direct Experience, Family, God, Self-Care, Spiritual Practice, Spirituality
An unlit chalice on a church altar
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