Edit Header for Worship Holidays Search
An unlit chalice on a church altar

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.

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

Search Words for Worship Services

Changing a filter will refresh results (and remaining options) immediately. Searching by keyword or changing the number of items per page requires use of the "Search" button.

Displaying 1 - 20 of 40

  • An illustration of Malvina Reynolds singing with her guitar under a "December 7" banner. Text says: "Malvina Reynolds was the 20th century Jewish Unitarian Universalist, a political activist, and a singer/songwriter best known for her song "Little Boxes." She also appeared on season four of Sesame Street as Kate. In 1970, Reynolds recorded the Hanukkah song, "Eight Candles." It has since become a holiday favorite.
    December seventh, "Eight Candles" (1970). Malvina Reynolds was a 20th century Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, socialist, songwriter, and performer who is best known for her song “Little Boxes.” In 1970 she recorded the Hanukkah Song “Eight Candles.” It has since become a holiday favorite.
    Image | By Ralph Yeager Roberts | December 11, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Advent, America, Christmas Eve / Christmas, History, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule
  • A Easter egg coloring page (with chalices) colored in
    Download your own copy of the Easter egg chalice coloring page!
    Image | By David Snedden | March 30, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Easter
  • On a teal background, a white cup of coffee and the message: "I love you more than fair trade coffee... almost."
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Food, Love, Playfulness, Valentine's Day
  • A white heart in a green circle. White text on red background: "You are the answer to my prayers... meditations, and/or moments of quiet reflection."
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Gratitude, Valentine's Day
  • A white message on red field, with text boxes: "Every day I thank (please check one) God, The Universe, The Unnamed, The Spirit, Earth Mother, All of the Above, None of the Above... FOR YOU
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Agnosticism, Atheism, God, Gratitude, Love, Paganism, Playfulness, Unitarian Universalism, Valentine's Day
  • A teal background with red heart and white text: "Will you join the committee of my heart?"
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Love, Playfulness, Valentine's Day, Work
  • On a red field, two white cartoon birds kissing with text: "I love you more than thoreau loved the woods"
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Valentine's Day
  • a red field with gray spider web and white text: "Let's let our interconnected WEBS interconnect, baby."
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Interdependence, Love, Playfulness, Valentine's Day
  • A silhouette of cupid on a red field with white text: "We go together like a flame and a chalice."
    Image | By Tim Atkins, Jessica Ferguson | February 9, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Valentine's Day
  • On a white field, six UU chalice logos make a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. A small caption reads "All of who you are is sacred. All of who you are is welcome." A second caption reads "Unitarian Universalism"
    Image | By Melissa Gibson | June 14, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Acceptance, Anti-Oppression, Diversity, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Multiculturalism, Pride Sunday, Solidarity
  • On a black field, six UU chalice logos make a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. A small caption reads "All of who you are is sacred. All of who you are is welcome." Another caption reads, "Unitarian Universalism"
    Image | By Melissa Gibson | June 14, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Anti-Oppression, Diversity, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Multiculturalism, Pride Sunday, Solidarity
  • On a white field, six UU chalice logos make a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. A small caption reads "All of who you are is sacred. All of who you are is welcome."
    Image | By Melissa Gibson | June 14, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Acceptance, Anti-Oppression, Diversity, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Multiculturalism, Pride Sunday, Solidarity
  • On a black field, six UU chalice logos make a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. A small caption reads "All of who you are is sacred. All of who you are is welcome."
    Image | By Melissa Gibson | June 14, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Acceptance, Anti-Oppression, Hospitality, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Pride Sunday
  • Vases of daffodils and hyacinth on altar.
    Laura Evonne Steinman created this coloring page (PDF) for children to use on Flower Ceremony Sunday.
    Image | By Laura Evonne Steinman | June 13, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Earth, Flower Communion, Nature, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarianism
  • a "doodle" drawing of a chalice, with "UU" at the center and stylized lines radiating outward
    Image | By Jennie Freiberger | February 1, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Arts & Music, Autumnal Equinox, Playfulness, Seven Principles, Thanksgiving, Unitarian Universalism
  • A coloring page of a vase filled with flowers.
    Image | By Cynthia Landrum | January 10, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Earth, Flower Communion, Nature, Spring
  • December twenty-fourth, The Flaming Chalice (1965). The Unitarian Service Committee adopted the flaming chalice as their logo in 1941.
    December twenty-fourth, The Flaming Chalice (1965). The Unitarian Service Committee adopted the flaming chalice as their logo in 1941. Years later, in 1965, at the West Shore Church in Cleveland, OH the youth led a Christmas service opened by ritually lighting a chalice....
    Image | By Ralph Yeager Roberts | November 23, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Advent, Christmas Eve / Christmas, History, Identity, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarianism, Universalism, Winter Solstice / Yule
  • December twenty-third, “Oh Holy Night” (1855). The first English translation of "Oh Holy Night" was by Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight, who tweaked the original French author's socialist themes and images to advance Dwight's own abolitionist cause
    December twenty-third, “O Holy Night” (1855). The first English translation of "O Holy Night" was by Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight, who tweaked the original French author's socialist themes and images to advance Dwight's own abolitionist cause. Not only was the French author a...
    Image | By Ralph Yeager Roberts | November 23, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Advent, America, Arts & Music, Christmas Eve / Christmas, History, International, Unitarianism, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule
  • December twenty-second, The First Unitarian Church Founded in Transylvania (1557). Despite recognition under the 1557 Act of Religious Toleration and receiving the king's patronage, the Unitarian church in Transylvania has faced frequent persecution.
    December twenty-second, The First Unitarian Church Founded in Transylvania (1557). Despite recognition under the 1557 Act of Religious Toleration and receiving the king's patronage, the Unitarian church in Transylvania has faced frequent persecution....
    Image | By Ralph Yeager Roberts | November 23, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Advent, Christmas Eve / Christmas, History, International, Unitarianism, Winter Solstice / Yule
  • Dec. 21: The Winter Solstice. The last harvest of the year is celebrated shortly before the winter solstice.
    December twenty-first, the Winter Solstice. (The point along the Earth’s annual solar orbit when the northern hemisphere is at its furthest point from the sun). The last harvest of the year is celebrated shortly before the Winter Solstice. In ancient times people would feast knowing the months...
    Image | By Ralph Yeager Roberts | November 23, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Advent, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Death, Earth, Earth-Centered, Nature, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule