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
Displaying 2421 – 2440 of 3319
Changing a filter will refresh results (and remaining options) immediately. Searching by keyword requires use of the "Search" button.
-
In this quiet hour may our spirits be renewed. In this gathering of friends may we be ready to extend ourselves to those in need, and with trust to receive the hand that is offered. In this community of ideals may we remember the principles that guide us and reflect upon those things that give...Opening | By Gary Kowalski | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Service, Spirituality, Unitarian Universalism -
Deep calls unto deep, joy calls unto joy, light calls unto light. Let the kindling of this flame rekindle in us the inner light of love, of peace, of hope. And "as one flame lights another, nor grows the less,” we pledge ourselves to be bearers of the light, wherever we are.Chalice Lighting | By Gordon B McKeeman | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Calling, Caring, Commitment, Community, Covenant, Hope, Journey, Joy, Love, Peace -
For holy days on which we recall the old stories, we light the flame. For Passover which reminds us of the courage and strength of those seeking freedom in the past, we light the flame. For Easter which reminds us that love is our greatest challenge, we light the flame....Chalice Lighting | By Dillman Baker Sorrells | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Challenge, Christianity, Community, Courage, Easter, Freedom, History, Judaism, Love, Passover (Pesach), Sacred, Searching, Strength, Tradition, Unitarian Universalism -
Easter gets its name from the Teutonic goddess of spring and the dawn, whose name is spelled Oestre or Eastre. (The origin of the word east, the direction of the rising sun, comes from various Germanic, Austro-Hungarian words for dawn that share the root for the word aurora, which means “to...Reading | By Adrianne Ross | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Easter, Paganism, Vernal Equinox -
May means Mother’s Day. I’m going to trust Hallmark and daddies and six year-olds and grown-up kids who are mommies themselves to honor the mothers among us as they deserve to be honored—with brass bands, flags flying, breakfast in bed (and kitchens cleaned up afterwards). I wish for those...Reading | By Katie Lee Crane | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children, Family, Fathers, Mother's Day, Mothers, Parents -
Emmanuel means "God is with us." Who is your Emmanuel? Who is your "God is with us," the one you were promised, the one you have been waiting for? For the ancient prophet Isaiah, he was a boy soon to be born who would guide the people of Judah back to peace and harmony with God....Meditation | By Sarah Movius Schurr | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Beauty, Belief, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Direct Experience, God, Listening, Searching, Tradition, Transcendence, Winter Solstice / Yule, Wonder -
Dear God, hear and bless Your beasts and singing birds; And guard with tenderness Small things that have no words...Prayer | By Anonymous | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Animals, Awe, Children's Sabbath, Compassion, God, Nature
-
In this familiar place, listen: to the sounds of breathing, creaking chairs, shuffling feet, clearing throats, and sighing all around Know that each breath, movement, the glance meant for you or intercepted holds a life within it....Prayer | By Barbara J Pescan | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Body, Community, Connections, Presence, Silence, Unitarian Universalism
-
For dragonflies, butterflies, Caterpillars on leaves, Lizards, wild turkeys, and tigers and deer, We give thanks! For sunset and seashells And starfish and sand, Octopus, jellyfish, and hammerhead shark, We give thanks!...Prayer | By Gail Forsyth-Vail | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Animals, Children, Earth, Earth-Centered, Gratitude, Nature
-
Spirit of life, help me remember that all animals belong. Bless the bats for eating mosquitoes. Bless the crows and buzzards for cleaning up the dead, and bless even the snakes, who keep the mice out of the rice. Each of them is important. And each does good in its own way. Blessed be.Prayer | By Eliza Blanchard | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Animals, Earth-Centered, Purpose, Service
-
In English This is a prayer for all the travelers. For the ones who start out in beauty, who fall from grace, who step gingerly, looking for the way back. And for those who are born into the margins, who travel from one liminal space to another, crossing boundaries in search of center. This is a...Spanish | Meditation | By Angela Herrera | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Home, Journey, Multiculturalism, Multiculturalism, Partner Church Observation, Vision -
As we leave this hallowed place, may our feet remember its feel, So that wherever we walk, we know ourselves to be on hallowed ground. May we know that we are kin with every soul, every star, every stone and leaf of grass. And may our words be gentle and our touch be kind. Blessed be.Closing | By Amy Zucker Morgenstern | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Connections, Reverence
-
Introduction to a New Orleans Jazz Funeral Welcome to a new tradition for our church—a New Orleans-style jazz funeral for the old year. This service offers opportunities for reflection on the past year, a chance to “bury” whatever that was negative or hurtful to us in 20xx, and looks forward...Ritual | By Melanie Morel-Ensminger | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Hope, Letting Go, Memorial Services, Mourning, Multiculturalism, Multiculturalism, Remembrance Day, Wholeness
-
Spirit of Life and love known by many names and worshipped in a rainbow of ways Infinite Mystery, Spark of Ah-ha and Ahhh and Awe Conspiring energy of interdependent co-arising Be with us now. Surround us. Push us forward. Pull us together....Meditation | By Tandi Rogers | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Courage, Grace, Love, Mystery, Unitarian Universalism
-
Am I a guest here. Here in this House. Are you? Are we guests here. Here in this House. And, whose House do we inhabit? In the small world of our lives the borders between us: easements, fences, gates, hedges—serve to delineate, to separate us. To remind us of where my property begins and ends.Reading | By Alicia R. Forde | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anti-Oppression, Anti-Oppression, Direct Experience, History, Immigration, Immigration, Indigenous Peoples Day, International, Responsibility, Secular -
Let us pause, and breathe, and be in touch with the sacred presence that permeates all, including this room, now. Web of All... of life, death, and renewal: We open our hearts to those who suffer as a result of the wildfires.Meditation | By John Gibb Millspaugh, Sarah Gibb Millspaugh | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Courage, Despair, Disaster or Crisis, Faith
-
Jefferson Unitarian Church Golden, CO Mothers Day, May 13, 2007 Three weeks ago my wife, Phyllis, and I participated in our all church social action weekend. What a magical day that was! We chose to help out building the new community garden at 32nd Avenue just this side of I-70....Sermon | By Peter Morales | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 6th Principle (World Community), Child Dedication, Children, Commitment, Health, Parents, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Relationships, Teacher Dedication, Teacher Recognition
-
We pray for the children, For the voiceless, for the innocent, for the vulnerable, for the least powerful among us, and those most in need of our protection....Meditation | By Gary Kowalski | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children's / Religious Education Sunday
-
In the midst of a world marked by tragedy and beauty there must be those who bear witness against unnecessary destruction and who, with faith, rise and lead in freedom, with grace and power. There must be those who speak honestly and do not avoid seeing what must be seen of sorrow and outrage, or...Meditation | By Rebecca Ann Parker | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Healing, Leadership, Love, Transformation, Unitarian Universalism, Wisdom -
Voice 1: Go forth in solidarity Voice 2: Your presence in [destination] is a clear statement to the residents: they are not alone; you stand with them in their struggle. Know also that all of [your congregation] stands with you....Reading | By Ali Woodworth | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Service