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Kids on a swing, hanging from a mighty oak tree.

April 22. Unitarian Universalism’s seventh principle: “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part” makes this a day to celebrate religiously. Themes can include: earth-centered spirituality; connecting to the divine through nature; caretaking of the environment; the interdependent web. Another day to celebrate these themes is Arbor Day, the date of which varies from state to state.

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The Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth envisions a world in which reverence, gratitude, and care for the living Earth are central to the lives of all people. Their purpose is to inspire, facilitate, and support personal, congregational, and denominational practices that honor and sustain the Earth and all beings. They affirm and promote the seven principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association, including: "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part."

a very bright and elongated meteor in the night sky, over a dark horizon

From Tapestry of Faith Curricula

Unitarian Universalist Perspectives

Young woman holds plastic earth ball at rally for environmental justice in Louisville, KY, June 2011.

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 71

  • Our planet appears suspended in space, lit by a blue halo.
    Help us brainstorm powerful, theologically-grounded rituals for Earth Day.
    January 3, 2024 | From WorshipLab
    Tagged as: Climate Justice, Earth Day, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • From the ground level, the camera points up at a tree canopy beneath a blue sky.
    Is it not a marvel?
    Poetry | By Jennifer Pratt-Walter | September 20, 2023 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Animals, Awe, Body, Earth, Earth Day, Nature, Wonder
  • A person's hands scoop green material into a full compost bin, filled with flowers, eggshells, and colorful vegetable matter.
    The miracle of grace is available to us even when it has been left untended.
    Reflection | By Jennifer Hundley-Batts | May 3, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Abundance, Direct Experience, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Food, Grace, Nature, Patience, Stewardship, Summer Solstice, Worship
  • A tiny chickweed seedling still has the cap of its seed pod, while the tiny seedling next to it is unfurling its tiny green leaves.
    Remind me that life is magical and mysterious.
    Reflection | By JD Stillwater | April 19, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Animals, Awe, Beauty, Direct Experience, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Nature, Stewardship, Wonder, Worship
  • A low angle photo to give an unusual perspective of the wild daisies which appear every spring along the West Coast in South Africa.
    May we open our hearts to the abundance of creation.
    Prayer | By Vanessa Rush Southern, Alyson Jacks | August 8, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Balance, Connections, Earth Day, Easter, Hope, Joy, Vernal Equinox, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • A spring of green leaves rests on a cut of tree trunk, revealing many rings of growth
    May we reconnect to our life-giving, breath-freeing connection
    Prayer | By Leslie Takahashi | May 1, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Beauty, Climate Justice, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Nature, Responsibility, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • the silhouette of a person, taken from some distance, under a bright night sky with the Milky Way stars in bright colors.
    Spirit of Life, spirit of earth, spirit of all that breathes and all that is: we love you.
    Prayer | By Laura Horton-Ludwig | May 3, 2021 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Nature, Responsibility, Stewardship, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • Acorns, pine cones, and leaves arranged on a white surface, photographed from above.
    A seed knows how to wait. Most seeds wait for several years before starting to grow; a cherry seed can wait for a hundred years with no problem. What exactly each seed is waiting for is known only to that seed. Some unique trigger-combination of temperature-moisture-light and many other things is...
    Reading | By Hope Jahren | January 9, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Child Dedication, Climate Justice, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Environment, Growth, Humanism, Nature, New Child, Patience, Secular
  • A pair of cedar waxwings together on a branch
    My church is a ring of alders tilting toward a living pond, backed by the punctuation of tall firs fondling the morning breeze. In my chapel, redwing blackbird unravels her liquid song in the cattails. The thick mud smell is an incense, a beaver-felled tree is my pew. I toss my donation, red...
    Poetry | By Jennifer Pratt-Walter | January 2, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Animals, Connections, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Environment, Imagination, Interdependence, Nature, Spirituality, Wonder
  • In front of a green forest, a person claps their hands together, scattering dirt everywhere.
    The dictionary defines soil as: “the upper layer of earth in which plants grow, or a black or dark brown material typically consisting of a mixture of organic remains, clay, and rock particles.” But I like to think of soil as a community. There are three main mineral components of soil: clay,...
    Time for All Ages | By Ariel Aaronson-Eves | November 13, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Climate Justice, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Interdependence, Stewardship
  • A buttery yellow full moon half-covered by lacy leaves and branches.
    Leader: For our earth, our ancient mother, blue-green planet of the galaxy, harbinger of lives beyond measure, we honor you with our humble presence, we bow with humility and gratitude. All: We pledge to transform our lives....
    Litany | By Kate R. Walker | August 27, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Climate Justice, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Nature, Responsibility, Transformation
  • Foamy waves wash up on craggy rocks, made red by the sun, in Morrazo, Galicia (Spain)
    Love our Earth. Take action to consume less, use less energy, respect water; And be cooperative, collaborative and creative community – like the moss and the mushrooms. Our children’s lives depend on us.
    Closing | By Denise Cawley | June 20, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Climate Justice, Commitment, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Environment, Food Justice, Interdependence, Privilege, Respect, Responsibility, Simplicity, Six Sources
  • An arc of Earth's surface, blue oceans and swirling white clouds, taken from space
    We pray to you, Mother Earth, with gratitude For your holding and sustaining love For the air, water, and soil that feed us For the mountains and rivers and oceans that calm our spirits For loving and supporting all beings and all creation. We pray to you, Mother Earth, with humility Help us to...
    Prayer | By Lucy Bunch | June 20, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Abundance, Beauty, Connections, Courage, Discernment, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Interdependence, Paganism, Strength
  • A gold and green painting of conifers, mountains, and a sun.
    We gather here to remember this is our home, but not just ours....
    Meditation | By Laura Bogle | April 16, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Generations, Indigenous Peoples Day, Nature, Responsibility, Stewardship
  • People praying in the Tirta Empul temple (Bali, Indonesia), submerged to the waist in water and bowing before fountains that are pouring out water.
    Water unites us. All water is one water, shape-shifting as it goes on and on in its unending cycle. The stream we gather by unites us with all the waters of the world, for all of life depends on water. That's why this common, everyday element on which our very lives depend is sacred. In our...
    Affirmation | By Mel Hoover, Rose Edington | August 21, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Body, Climate Justice, Direct Experience, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Gratitude, Interdependence, Nature, Responsibility, Stewardship, Unitarian Universalism, Water Communion
  • Against a pink and orange sunset, the silhouetted bodies of about 20 people
    It would be a quieter holiday, no fireworks or loud parades, no speeches, no salutes to any flag, a day of staying home instead of crowding away, a day we celebrate nothing gained in war but what we’re given — how the sun’s warmth is democratic, touching everyone, and the rain is democratic...
    Poetry | By John Daniel | April 5, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Awe, Earth, Earth Day, Humanism, Imagination, Interdependence, July 4th, Nature, Secular, Wonder
  • Foamy waves wash up on craggy rocks, made red by the sun, in Morrazo, Galicia (Spain)
    A: Because the tides are rising B: So must we C: Rise! A: to this moment C: Rise! B: to this day C: Rise! A: to this life B: This place in the web A: That is yours, and ours. C: Rise! B: Because the earth remains A: Our only home C: And we B: Fellow travelers A: Its only hope C: For healing B:...
    Opening | By Gretchen Haley | February 15, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Awe, Beauty, Climate Justice, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Gratitude, Nature, Responsibility
  • Ocean water swirls as it crashes against flat wet rocks.
    Prelude Chalice Lighting by Laura Horton Ludwig [For this service, the chalice was a large pillar candle in a clear glass bowl of water.] Call to Worship Welcome to this Earth Day worship service! Like so many days, this day holds wonder and sorrow....
    Complete Service | By Diana Smith | July 4, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Beauty, Climate Justice, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Humanism, Nature, Responsibility, Secular
  • Tiny green shoots grow from a grid of seedling pots
    This hands-on ritual could be used to celebrate Earth Day, a Solstice, or an Equinox. Before the service begins, set up a table or two (or more) with several stations for people to plant seeds....
    Ritual | By Diana Smith | July 4, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Abundance, Autumnal Equinox, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Food, Nature, Summer Solstice, Vernal Equinox, Water Communion
  • A field in Mongolia of dirt, deeply cut by cracks. The phenomenon, called a “dzud," is a drought in the summer and an extremely cold winter.
    Leader: [if applicable: In addition to our own beloved dead], we take the time to acknowledge all those already lost as the world feels the effects of global warming and climate change. Thousands of people, as well as animals and plants, die every year from the effects of global climate change....
    Litany | By Erica Baron | October 19, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), All Souls Day, Anti-Oppression, Brokenness, Climate Justice, Despair, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Humanism, Nature, Pain, Remembrance Day, Responsibility, Trauma