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Unitarian Universalists use different terms for the words that begin a worship service, including call to worship, invocation, and opening words. These words invite the congregation from their separate lives and to the common place and time of the worship hour.

(In Unitarian Universalist worship if there are Opening Words there is generally not an Invocation, and vice versa.)

Search Words for Worship Services

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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4

  • In the snow, with only their upper body visible, a person holds a lit sparkler.
    If ever there were a time for a candle in the darkness, this would be it. Using a spark of hope, kindle the flame of love, ignite the light of peace, and feed the flame of justice.
    Chalice Lighting | By Melanie Davis | December 22, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Calling, Despair, Hope, Justice, Justice Sunday, Peace, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Secular, Unitarian Universalism, Worry
  • A speckled egg and leaves inside of a bird's nest
    When all around us voices are raised in anger, hatred spilling into the streets and sparking more hatred, sometimes the best we can do is to sink our hands into the soil. Let the fights over abstractions ebb away, flow like water into the earth....
    Invocation | By Elena Westbrook | August 8, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Acceptance, Despair, Earth, Earth-Centered, Hope, Imagination, Nature, Worry
  • Hands_holding_soil
    As frozen earth holds the determined seed, this sacred space holds our weariness, our worry, our laughter and our celebration. Let us bring seed and soul into the light of thought, the warmth of community, and the hope of love. Let us see together, hear together, love together. Let us worship.
    Chalice Lighting | By Laura Wallace | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Commitment, Community, Earth, Faith, Growth, Hope, Joy, Love, Sacred, Worry
  • a flame inside of a graceful chalice, on an altar
    For this one hour, Spirit of Life we let go. For this one hour, may we let go of our anxieties, our fears, our anger, our self-doubts, our regrets, our petty grievances, and our distractions....
    Chalice Lighting | By Paul Stephan Dodenhoff | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Anger, Doubt, Fear, Letting Go, Peace, Presence, Regret, Reverence, Transcendence, Worry