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

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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15

  • May love guide you on your journey forward
    Benediction | By Caitlin Cotter Coillberg | October 18, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Ministerial Transition, Ministry, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • Let it be said by generations to come that when the pain of our separation was revealed, we moved closer to the promised land of our beloved community.
    Benediction | By Anya Sammler-Michael | March 22, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: #COVID19, Challenge, Compassion, Disaster or Crisis, Integrity, Living Our Faith, Seven Principles, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • May you rejoice in the unknown. May you hug uncertainty to you tight.
    Benediction | By David Breeden | November 24, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Weddings and Commitment Ceremonies, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • Let us honor our ancestors by doing the work of living boldly, loving mightily, and creating heaven on earth.
    Benediction | By Leia Durland-Jones | November 16, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: All Souls Day, Family, Generations, History, Memorial Services
  • Beloved, as we depart this holy space nourished and renewed, let us live into our dreams and expand our circle of justice to encompass all of creation. Let us love one another and the earth, for as a body is animated through the relationships among its many parts, so God is made manifest among us...
    Benediction | By Mandie McGlynn | October 20, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Christianity, Communion (Christian)
  • I invite you to rise in body or in spirit, and join hands with your neighbors. Hands touch hands. These hands you hold now, once held _________’s hands. Hand by hand we touch those who are here with us, and those who are no longer with us. And hand over hand, we touch all of humanity. Let our...
    Benediction | By Matt Alspaugh | April 6, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Connections, Death, Memorial Services, Relationships
  • Night has fallen. Stars beckon in an indigo and velvet sky Somewhere a baby is being born. Tonight, the world lazes in a love of goodness while glories stream from heaven afar God is meeting us, tonight, where we are. So be not afraid, and be of good cheer, We wish you, each and all, very Merry...
    Benediction | By Tom Schade | January 18, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Awe, Beauty, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Love, Tradition, Wonder
  • This was written for Christmas Eve, or other occasions when people are each holding a candle. The spirit of the holy dwells in each of us. The spirit of love dwells in each of us. May the flames in our hands remind us that Eternal Love dwells in our hearts....
    Benediction | By Renee Ruchotzke | January 1, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Awe, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Community, Connections, Immanence, Love, Spirituality, Unitarian Universalism, Wonder
  • My friends, when you go from here know that our hearts are always in a holy place, for we are always connected to one another. Know that deep down, our hearts beat in one universal rhythm. May we each find the sacred space to hear it.
    Benediction | By Israel Buffardi | September 22, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Arts & Music, Community, Connections, Love, Music Sunday, Sacred, Unity, Valentine's Day
  • Let us go out into the world singing. Let us go out into the world singing songs that proclaim liberty. Songs that turn ashes into garlands Songs that bind up the afflicted and those who mourn. Songs that, like oaks, have roots that go deep and stand strong. Let us go out into the world singing....
    Benediction | By Dawn Skjei Cooley | March 1, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Activism, Arts & Music, Christianity, Compassion, Music Sunday, Transformation, Vision, Wholeness
  • There is too much hardship in this world to not find joy, every day There is too much injustice in this world to not right the balance, every day There is too much pain in this world to not heal, every day Each of us ministers to a weary world....
    Benediction | By Darcy Roake | February 20, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 5th Principle (Conscience & Democracy), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Challenge, Coming of Age, Commitment, Community Ministry Sunday, Empathy, Graduation Recognition, Healing, Justice, Justice Sunday, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism, Wholeness
  • Dear God, Spirit of Life and Love, An Eagle Scout Court of Honor marks the end of one journey, a journey of participating in Scouting. Now a new journey begins with a commitment to better Scouting where all may participate. Bless all of N's future endeavors....
    Benediction | By Aaron Stockwell Wisman | January 12, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Integrity, Scout Sunday, Service, Teamwork, Work
  • Tonight in this community, we have shared stories, sung carols, opened our hearts to the beauty of music. Tonight we have turned to one another, lighting each other’s candles in the dark. Tonight we have dared to hear a message of hope spoken once again against the challenge of the world. It is...
    Benediction | By Maureen Killoran | December 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Acceptance, Caring, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Community, Courage, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb
  • May we honor and hold gently our past. May we live fully our present. May we hope toward and build our future, Living our mission [insert congregation's mission statement]: "To be a spiritual community To welcome all To nurture one another To work for justice And to care for the earth." May these...
    Benediction | By Karen Lewis Foley | February 24, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Building/Space Dedication, Caring, Challenge, Change, Direct Experience, Earth-Centered, Environment, Faith, Hospitality, Joy, Justice, Secular, Service, Seven Principles, Strength, Unitarian Universalism, Worship
  • We shall overcome. When we can truly celebrate the diversity of contributions and talents offered by all people, we shall overcome hatred and prejudice and oppression. When we can truly extend our hands to one another in loving acceptance, we shall overcome the past that haunts us now. Living in...
    Benediction | By Jonalu Johnstone | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Anti-Oppression, Black History / Whitney Young / James Reeb, Change, Commitment, Juneteenth, Justice, Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, Multiculturalism, Race/Ethnicity