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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Uncertain as the world feels right now, love will bear whatever lies ahead.Reflection | By Julie Fanselow | November 4, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: America, Body, Brokenness, Democracy, Direct Experience, Healing, Health, Humanism, Marriage, Secular, Worship -
Hope continues, uncertain and true, like candlelight, ready to spark again.Chalice Extinguishing | By Kevin Jagoe | November 2, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Autumnal Equinox, Despair, Disaster or Crisis, Fall, Hope, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule, Worship -
Learning to love all of me—including the parts I used to be scared of—made the fear go away.Reflection | By Ndidi Achebe | October 28, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, Family, Mental Health, Race/Ethnicity, Self-Care, Self-Respect, Worship -
The history of conquest is a scourge on the human condition. A lingering one.Quote | By Imani Perry | October 27, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Anti-Oppression, Evil, Freedom, Greed, History, Humanism, Oppression, Poverty, Secular -
At the core of American racism is the belief that the things we the Blacks desire, the fact that we the Blacks desire, are perversions.Reading | By Imani Perry | October 27, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, America, Anti-Oppression, Challenge, Character, Imagination, Race/Ethnicity -
I do not believe the acts of oppressors are my people’s shame.Quote | By Imani Perry | October 27, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Culture, Direct Experience, Generations, History, Humanism, Identity, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Race/Ethnicity, Resilience, Secular, Self-Respect -
I was born nine years after four little girls were killed in Birmingham, Alabama, and two other boys later the same day.Reading | By Imani Perry | October 27, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, America, Anti-Oppression, Direct Experience, History, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Race/Ethnicity, Worship -
We teach girls to be likeable, to be nice, to be false. And we do not teach boys the same. This is dangerous.Reading | By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | October 22, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Beginnings, Character, Children, Coming-of-Age, Direct Experience, Education, Freedom, Gender, Generations, Humanism, Secular, Self-Respect, Worship -
Sometimes, there is no reprieve from the pain of this world. Sometimes, it is too big and too obvious to ignore.Reflection | By Helen “HP” Rivers | October 21, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Caring, Christianity, Connections, Family, Generations, God, Goddess, Paganism, Presence, Sorrow, Spiritual Practice, Worship -
The drug that says that whiteness is what matters most about white people is what makes so many of them think that is what must be protected at all costs.Quote | By Imani Perry | October 19, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, Anti-Oppression, Direct Experience, Race/Ethnicity -
Black men are not a species. They, you, belong to humanity.Reading | By Imani Perry | October 19, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, America, Character, History, Race/Ethnicity, Worship -
It is now, when we are called to act on our values, not to hide, not to fear, but to be bold and loud.Opening | By Tania Y Márquez | October 19, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Character, Courage, Direct Experience, Humanism, Justice, Living Our Faith, Responsibility, Secular, Worship -
Arm's length: What was once a defensive or suspicious expression has now become a gesture of care, an indication of love and protection.Reflection | By Karen G. Johnston | October 14, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Animals, Caring, Climate Justice, Direct Experience, Environment, Humanism, Interdependence, Nature, Worship -
We light this chalice to kindle a flame of warmth as a reminder of the connection that draws us in to a community that opens us up.Chalice Lighting | By Amy G. S. A. Brooks | October 14, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #COVID19, Autumnal Equinox, Winter Solstice / Yule, Worship -
Like the sun moving toward the shortest day, each moment arises—and is gone before we know it.Meditation | By Lori Gorgas Hlaban | October 13, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Autumnal Equinox, Balance, Earth, Earth-Centered, Nature, Worship -
Tip if you are video recording this story: you can have a clip of an adult stretching out their arm in one direction, then another clip of a different adult stretching out their arm in the other direction, so that when you edit it, it looks like they are stretching towards each other. It would be...Time for All Ages | By Karen G. Johnston | October 13, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #COVID19, 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Animals, Caring, Earth, Earth-Centered, Environment, Humanism, Nature, Responsibility, Worship
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I feel disoriented when I’m in a new place or situation and can’t figure out whether the rules are real or imaginary.Reflection | By Erika Hewitt | October 7, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Community, Direct Experience, Interdependence, Limitations, Living Our Faith, Secular, Self-Respect, Worship -
May this chalice light guide us toward the courageous and openhearted apology, toward repair of relationships in our lives.Chalice Lighting | By Joanna Lubkin | October 1, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Forgiveness, Judaism, Relationships, Sacred, Worship, Yom Kippur -
It’s important to honor the footprint others leave on our heart.Reading | By Lauren Robbins | October 1, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Brokenness, Change, Direct Experience, Discernment, Ending, Friendship, Humanism, Pain, Relationships, Secular, Self-Respect, Vulnerability, Worship -
In these days of so much uncertainty, may we choose honesty over comfort, love over complacency, and truth over convenience.Reflection | By Rachel Lonberg | September 30, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: #COVID19, Children, Direct Experience, Discernment, Fear, Parents, Secular, Trust, Truth, Worship