Worship Resources

Here are links to websites that can provide resources for congregations and individuals who need help with worship.

Worship Web Updates! - The Office of Worship and Music Resources is excited to announce that the expansion and evolution of the WorshipWeb is continuing with the development of four new resource pages. Since the creation of the WAMR office in 2008, the WorshipWeb has become much more than just a search engine for service elements—chalice lightings, readings, sermons, benedictions, and the like.

Take as an example the WorshipWeb’s Music Module. Here you can find information about copyright issues, where to find CDs of our hymns being performed (as well as CDs of just accompaniment for congregations looking for that!), and the wonderful resource listing UU composers who are working today creating new music for our movement. And now you can also find a listing of songbooks and other musical resources that are in use in a number of our congregations, along with purchase
information. This will greatly increase the repertoire of any congregation that is looking for something to sing beyond the “official” hymnals. (www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/music/158266.shtml.) The other new music related resource is a compilation of articles that have appeared in the wonderful InterConnections over the years with a focus on music ministries. (www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/music/158273.shtml).

We have also now begun building a new module dedicated to resources supporting Multigenerational Worship. You can get there from the WorshipWeb’s table of contents, or directly at www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/multigenerational/index.shtml. This module, too, has a collection of InterConnection articles that look at various aspects of childrens’ worship, youth worship, young adult worship, and how they can come together in true multigenerational worship — these can be found at www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/multigenerational/158272.shtml.

CLF offers a new service called Make Your Own Sundays for $129 a year. Select your theme, readings, children's story, sermon, songs, select holidays, formats or a season. Contact CLF at clf@clfuua.org or 617-948-6150 for details.

Looking for music options for services that fit themes for the month? Try Mary Grigolia's Song of the Month at http://www.marygrigolia.com/Songs_of_the_Month.html. Each month she posts several songs that fit themes for the month. An archive of past months is also available.

NEW! DVDs to use to help your congregation! Three new DVDs are now available from the UUA bookstore: "Ideas for Worship" - a DVD of stimulating segments taken from the first UUA Conference on Contemporary Worship.  This vital resource offers fresh ideas on worship that you can use in your congregation.  Visit the UUA Bookstore to learn more.

Worship Web is a constantly growing, ever evolving website that provides individuals, committees and congregations with assistance in developing worship services. You can find entire services, readings, prayers, sermons and also assistance in how to create a worship service at this site. New materials are being added as the site is developed, so you need to visit often.

www.uuintergenerational.org is a website with intergenerational worship service scripts available for UU congregations to use. Some of the services involve children and youth in the actual service, others are for adults to present for an intergenerational audience.

Small Group Ministry Resources. Many of our congregations have active small group ministry programs. The UU Small Group Ministry Network has a wealth of resources that are on or linked to at their website, www.smallgroupministry.net. If your congregation wants to learn more about this valuable program please check it out.

You can find podcasts of sermons from a number of congregations. Click here to visit our podcast page.

Looking for prayers from different faiths and countries? Try www.worldprayers.org, which contains many prayers from around the world and a prayer wheel.

The UUA's Lifespan Faith Development office puts out a packet of materials titled "FaithWorks" (originally it was the REACH packet). This packet of materials comes out twice a year and is divided into sections, including one on worship. Like Worship Web, you might find an entire service, a skit or play for children and youth to present, readings and songs on a particular theme. The files are available online and can also be downloaded as pdf files. The archives go back several years as well, so there is a great deal of material available. You can find FaithWorks at archive.uua.org/re/faithworks/index.html

Small congregations who need help creating a number of lay led services each month may want to check out the Church of the Larger Fellowship's Church on Loan program. This program provides small congregations, for a fee, the opportunity to borrow or download entire services created by UU ministers, including readings, hymns and a sermon. The program also has a number of other benefits including RE resources.

The new hymnal supplement, Singing the Journey, has a website devoted to information about the hymnal that also has sound files of the songs so music leaders can learn them. You can find the site at www.uua.org/publications/singingjourney/index.shtml

For resources for children's focuses and stories, there are a number of places to look. Try the Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University (OH), or the REC-Room for suggestions. There are also reviews of books included in the FaithWorks packet.

Trying to plan special holiday services? There are a number of calendars on line to help you determine when moving holidays occur as well as sites with suggestions for activities, readings and songs. Holidays on the Net has suggestions for many holidays including in depth descriptions, recipes, crafts and activities. To find out dates, try the Interfaith Calendar or Religious Tolerance site, a site that also offers explanations of the holidays and sacred days. For more calendar links, see the religious education resources page.

Need help with UU Christianity or a UU Christian Fellowship Group? The West Shore UUCF Chapter is willing to help. Click here for more information.