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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- Advent (11)
- Animal Blessing (2)
- Backpack Blessing (3)
- Bridging Ceremony (7)
- Building/Space Dedication (2)
- Child Dedication (20)
- Children's / Religious Education Sunday (9)
- Children's Sabbath (7)
- Christmas Eve / Christmas (15)
- Coming of Age (9)
- Coming Out (1)
- Disaster or Crisis (3)
- Earth Day (2)
- Father's Day (22)
- Graduation Recognition (1)
- Homecoming / Ingathering (3)
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday (1)
- Meditation Practices (1)
- Memorial Day (2)
- Military Service (2)
- Mother's Day (25)
- New Child (6)
- New Member Ceremony (1)
- Prayer Practices (1)
- Pride Sunday (1)
- Quinceañera (4)
- Teacher Dedication (5)
- Teacher Recognition (6)
- Valentine's Day (1)
- Veterans Day (2)
- Water Communion (1)
- Winter Solstice / Yule (2)
- Youth Sunday (2)
- Abundance (1)
- Acceptance (8)
- Aging (3)
- Anger (2)
- Animals (3)
- Anti-Oppression (4)
- Awe (5)
- Balance (1)
- Beauty (3)
- Beginnings (3)
- Belief (1)
- Birth (5)
- Body (7)
- Bridging (1)
- Brokenness (3)
- Caring (12)
- Challenge (2)
- Change (5)
- Character (2)
- Choice (2)
- Coming-of-Age (8)
- Commitment (7)
- Community (19)
- Compassion (3)
- Conflict (2)
- Connections (5)
- Contemplation (1)
- Courage (4)
- Death (3)
- Despair (3)
- Disaster (2)
- Discernment (2)
- Diversity (2)
- Division (1)
- Doubt (1)
- Earth (5)
- Education (4)
- Ending (1)
- Environment (2)
- Equity (1)
- Failure (2)
- Faith (4)
- Family (51)
- Fathers (34)
- Fear (2)
- Forgiveness (6)
- Friendship (5)
- Gender (2)
- Generations (35)
- Generosity (2)
- God (3)
- Grace (1)
- Gratitude (8)
- Grief (4)
- Growth (14)
- Healing (8)
- Health (1)
- History (3)
- Home (2)
- Hope (7)
- Identity (6)
- Imagination (1)
- Inclusion (3)
- Individualism (1)
- Integrity (4)
- Interdependence (2)
- Journey (3)
- Joy (7)
- Justice (2)
- Leadership (5)
- Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer (4)
- Letting Go (3)
- Limitations (1)
- Listening (1)
- Living Our Faith (3)
- Love (30)
- Meaning (1)
- Men (4)
- Military (2)
- Mindfulness (1)
- Money (1)
- Mothers (33)
- Multiculturalism (1)
- Mystery (1)
- Nature (5)
- Oppression (1)
- Pain (2)
- Parents (55)
- Peace (4)
- Playfulness (4)
- Power (2)
- Presence (1)
- Psychology (1)
- Purpose (3)
- Reconciliation (1)
- Relationships (27)
- Respect (1)
- Responsibility (4)
- Reverence (1)
- Sacred (1)
- Sacrifice (2)
- Sadness (1)
- Salvation (3)
- Searching (2)
- Self-Care (1)
- Self-Respect (2)
- Service (3)
- Solidarity (1)
- Strength (2)
- Teamwork (2)
- Tradition (4)
- Transformation (4)
- Trust (1)
- Truth (1)
- Violence (4)
- Vision (1)
- War (2)
- Wholeness (3)
- Winter (1)
- Wisdom (1)
- Women (4)
- Wonder (5)
- Work (2)
- Worth (1)
- Young Adults (1)
- Youth/Teens (5)
- (-) Children (108)
- AJ van Tine (1)
- Alex Haider-Winnett (1)
- Alexis Capen (1)
- Amy Jones (1)
- Amy Petrie Shaw (1)
- Amy Williams Clark (1)
- Amy Young (1)
- Anonymous (1)
- Barbara Child (1)
- Becky Brooks (3)
- Bill Neely (1)
- Charlie Dieterich (1)
- Cheryl Strayed (2)
- Christian Schmidt (1)
- Christine Robinson (1)
- Christopher Buice (1)
- Claudene (Deane) Oliva (2)
- Elizabeth Harding (1)
- Elizabeth Mount (1)
- Emmy Lou Belcher (1)
- Erica Shadowsong (1)
- Erika Hewitt (1)
- Evin Carvill Ziemer (3)
- Gary Kowalski (3)
- George A Tyger (2)
- Gwen Matthews (1)
- Jade C. Angelica (1)
- Jane Rzepka (1)
- Janet H. Bowering (1)
- Jason Shelton (1)
- Jaynn Truran (1)
- Jay Wolin (1)
- Jen Crow (1)
- Jonalu Johnstone (1)
- Jules Jaramillo (1)
- Julia Ward Howe (1)
- Karen G. Johnston (1)
- Kate Howard (1)
- Kathleen Green (1)
- Kathleen McTigue (1)
- Kathy Schmitz (1)
- Katie Lee Crane (1)
- Katie Romano Griffin (1)
- Kendyl L. R. Gibbons (3)
- Ken Nye (1)
- Kirk D Loadman-Copeland (1)
- Kristin Grassel Schmidt (1)
- Kristin Kany (1)
- Lauren Wyeth (1)
- Leah Ongiri (2)
- Lilia Cuervo (1)
- Lindasusan Ulrich (1)
- Lindsay Bates (1)
- Lisa Bovee-Kemper (1)
- Lisa Doege (2)
- Loraine Bottorff McNeill (1)
- Lyn Cox (1)
- Mandie McGlynn (1)
- Marcus Liefert (1)
- Marisol Caballero (1)
- Maureen Killoran (3)
- Megan Foley (1)
- Misha Sanders (1)
- Monica Dobbins (1)
- Myke Johnson (2)
- Nathan Ryan (1)
- Orlanda R Brugnola (1)
- Patrick T O'Neill (1)
- Paul S Sawyer (2)
- Peter Friedrichs (1)
- Peter Morales (1)
- Quinn Gormley (1)
- Raquel V. Reyes (1)
- Robert F Kaufmann (1)
- Robert Walsh (1)
- Robin Tanner (2)
- Rod Richards (1)
- Ruben Piirainen (1)
- Ruth E Gibson (1)
- Ryan Urie (1)
- Sarah C Stewart (1)
- Shari Woodbury (2)
- Susan Maginn (1)
- Suzelle Lynch (1)
- Tania Márquez (1)
- Taryn Strauss (1)
- Teresa Honey Youngblood (1)
- Tess Baumberger (3)
- Yolo Akili (1)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 108
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Spirit of the divine masculine, grant us the strength to nurture in ourselves, and in every young person we have the privilege to know, the gifts of patience, curiosity, and compassion.Prayer | By AJ van Tine | February 29, 2024 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Character, Children, Coming of Age, Coming-of-Age, Community, Gender, Growth, Identity, Youth/Teens, WorshipWeb, Worship
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Fear not, the angels would text me. Hallelujah, I’d write back.Reflection | By Marcus Liefert | December 20, 2023 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Advent, Awe, Children, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Direct Experience, Family, Hope, Parents, Wonder, Worship
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Let us open all our senses and let our synapses spark one connection after another.Welcome | By Shari Woodbury | December 12, 2023 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Birth, Child Dedication, Children, Connections, Joy, Playfulness, Wonder, WorshipWeb, Worship
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We hold space for all that Father's Day may mean to us.Prayer | By Amy Jones | April 13, 2023 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children, Father's Day, Fathers, Parents, WorshipWeb, Worship
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We give thanks to the Sacred, woven in and among us, for the teachers, youth advisors, youth mentors, and parents in our community.Ritual | By Elizabeth Harding | October 17, 2022 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Caring, Children, Family, Leadership, Relationships, Teacher Recognition
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We have a holy obligation to bring about paradise on this earth; each generation helps us do that.Reflection | By Nathan Ryan | June 15, 2022 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Children, Father's Day, Fathers, Generations, Hope, Mothers, Parents, Purpose, Secular, Unitarian Universalism, Worship
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Happy kids are safer kids, because happy kids have adults they can ask for help.Reflection | By Quinn Gormley | March 2, 2022 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Acceptance, Anti-Oppression, Children, Coming Out, Direct Experience, Humanism, Identity, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Parents, Pride Sunday, Secular, Worship
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Each Advent, my empathy for Mary’s situation returns.Reflection | By Taryn Strauss | December 8, 2021 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Advent, Children, Choice, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Discernment, Women, Worship
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Sometimes it feels like Father’s Day is more about enshrining a myth than it is about facing the realities of fatherhood.Meditation | By Ryan Urie | July 26, 2021 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children, Direct Experience, Family, Father's Day, Fathers, Generations, History, Parents, Secular, WorshipWeb, Worship
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We cannot begin to find ourselves without love.Opening | By Elizabeth Mount | April 12, 2021 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Body, Children, Connections, Father's Day, Humanism, Interdependence, Love, Mother's Day, Parents, Relationships, Secular, Trust, WorshipWeb, Worship
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It can be a lonely time for those of us whose arms are empty.Meditation | By Amy Williams Clark | March 18, 2021 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Children, Direct Experience, Grief, Mother's Day, Mothers, Searching, Secular
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This is a "love saves" story.Reflection | By Paul S Sawyer | December 9, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Advent, Anger, Children, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Compassion, Direct Experience, Humanism, Living Our Faith, Love, Psychology, Relationships, Respect, Responsibility, Self-Respect, Worship
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This year, the Advent season seems particularly seized by a spirit of the expected, the longing.Reflection | By Robin Tanner | December 2, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: #COVID19, Advent, Children, Christianity, Hope, Living Our Faith, Parents, Purpose, Worship
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Make sure, both at Christmastime and in other times, that you ask for that which you really want.Homily | By Megan Foley | December 1, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Abundance, Advent, Belief, Children, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Direct Experience, Discernment, Generosity, Humanism, Listening, Meaning, Secular, WorshipWeb, Worship
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One day, I’ll have to care for my mother as she once cared for me. I’m not ready to handle the truth that our relationship must change.Reflection | By Erica Shadowsong | September 9, 2020 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Caring, Child Dedication, Children, Coming of Age, Coming-of-Age, Direct Experience, Fear, Generations, Growth, Humanism, Love, Mother's Day, Mothers, Parents, Secular, Worship
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[Written for two voices, here set for Worship Association (WA) and Minister (M)] WA: Perhaps some here have outgrown mystery. Maybe you have doubts about Santa, Or have forgotten the magic of a newborn child. M: One might easily lose touch with awe, In the struggle to do it all, Or simply to...Opening | By Shari Woodbury | January 8, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Advent, Awe, Children, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Mystery, Tradition, Unitarian Universalism, Winter Solstice / Yule, Wonder
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Today we kick off Religious Education classes with [over number registered] children and youth in our congregation. [Number of volunteers] adult volunteers carry the sacred privilege and responsibility of journeying beside them on our behalf....Ritual | By Lauren Wyeth | January 7, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Children, Community, Education, Leadership, Service, Teacher Dedication, Teacher Recognition, Teamwork, Unitarian Universalism, Youth/Teens
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Sometimes grief sends notice ahead of time; sometimes, it shows up as an unwelcome, uninvited guest.Reflection | By Monica Dobbins | October 30, 2019 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Acceptance, Bridging Ceremony, Change, Children, Direct Experience, Grief, Growth, Humanism, Letting Go, Mother's Day, Parents, Secular, Transformation
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Minister: The cultural and ethnical diversity in our region shapes our mission of providing religious education that is meaningful and relevant to our members and community. Our faith is a living one, co-created by the promises we make and keep. It is enlivened when we lift up all of the voices,...Ritual | By Katie Romano Griffin, Tania Márquez | September 18, 2019 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children, Direct Experience, Homecoming / Ingathering, Leadership, Unitarian Universalism
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I was a foster parent long before I was a mom, and an inside look at families "in the system" reveals pretty quickly that love and parenthood are two different qualities, and the relationship between them is neither straightforward nor guaranteed....Meditation | By Lisa Doege | September 9, 2019 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Children, Love, Mothers, Parents, Relationships, Valentine's Day