Universalist Holidays and Holy Days - Unitarian Universalism includes aspects of many of the world’s religions. Holidays from various religions are celebrated.
Most Unitarian Universalist congregations celebrate the Christian holidays Christmas and Easter, the Jewish holidays Passover and Yom Kippur, and the Pagan Winter Solstice, among other holidays.
Flower Communion - usually takes place in the spring near the time of Easter. In this ceremony, members of the congregation are asked beforehand to bring a flower to the Sunday service. Upon entering the sanctuary, each person places his or her flower on the altar or in a shared vase. The flowers are blessed by the minister or congregation during the ceremony, and the sermon usually reflects upon the flowers’ symbolism. At the end of the service, each person brings home a flower other than the one that he or she brought. “The significance of the flower communion is that as no two flowers are alike, so no two people are alike, yet each has a contribution to make. Together the different flowers form a beautiful bouquet. Our common bouquet would not be the same without the unique addition of each individual flower, and thus it is with our church community: it would not be the same without each and every one of us. Thus this service is a statement of our community.” The Flower communion service was originally created in 1923 by Unitarian minister Norbert Capek, who founded the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia. The service was later brought to the United States by his wife, Maya.
Water Communion - Members bring a small amount of water from a place that is special to them. During the appointed time in the service, people one by one pour their water together into a large bowl. As the water is added, the person who brought it tells why this water is special to them. The combined water is symbolic of the shared faith coming from many different sources. It is often then blessed by the congregation, and sometimes is later boiled and used as the congregation’s “holy water” in child dedication ceremonies and similar events.
Unitarians – were Christians who did not believe in the Holy Trinity of God (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). Instead, they believed in the unity, or single aspect, of God. Although people have held Unitarian beliefs since the time of Jesus’s death, religious groups did not form around these ideas until the mid-1500s in Transylvania and the 1600s in England. Religious authorities at this time saw early Unitarians as heretics and often persecuted them. Important figures from this period include John Biddle, Francis David, Michael Servetus, King John Sigismund and Faustus Socinus. Unitarianism emerged in America in the early 19th century, stressing importance of rational thinking, each person’s direct relationship with God, and the humanity of Jesus.
Worship - Unitarian Universalist congregations offer worship services on Sunday mornings—and often, at other times during the week as well—and warmly welcome visitors to join in worship. Worship services usually begin with the lighting of the Flaming Chalice and include both instrumental and vocal music, a prayer or meditation, readings, and a sermon. Many worship services include either an intergenerational segment, such as a “Moment for All Ages” in the service. The sermon, which generally last for fifteen to twenty minutes, may be about theology, social issues, holidays, or issues of importance to the life of the congregation. Services may also include announcements and a time for worshippers to share their joys and concerns.
Many congregations collect money in offering plates or baskets during the service. Visitors are welcome to donate during the offering, which is usually accompanied by music, but do not need to do so. Following the service, there is often a “social hour” or other casual gathering where visitors can get to know one another and members of the congregation.
