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UN Sunday

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UN Sunday 2009

"A Safe and Dignified Life for All"

UN Sunday Symbol

Following World War II, the United Nations (UN) was founded on 24 October 1945. The UN is a global association of governments that facilitates cooperation in international law, security, economic development, and social equality. With aims to protect human rights and achieve world peace, it is a center for governments to communicate and develop strategies to reach these ends. Since its founding, October 24 has been called United Nations Day. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recommending that the day be observed as a public holiday by Member States.

UN Sunday

In celebration of this annual event, the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO) invites congregations and individual UUs to deepen their understanding of the United Nations by devoting one service in October to reaffirming the connections between UU principles and vital issues dealt with at the UN. Usually, congregations organize a UN Sunday for the last Sunday in October, but any Sunday in October would work.

The theme for this year's UN Sunday packet is "A Safe and Dignified Life for All" with an emphasis on human rights. The UU-UNO offers the UN Sunday packet as a resource for congregations to plan a meaningful UN Sunday. The resource packet is available for download (PDF format) for your convenience.

What You Can Do

We encourage Ministers, Lay Leaders as well as Youth and Adult Envoys to take advantage of our prepared materials and/or develop your own ideas for a UN Sunday service. Often, a UU-UNO Envoy or even a special UN speaker presents the sermon. We especially encourage children and youth to participate in UN Sunday. Our UN Religious Education curriculum (UN Me) is available on request at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   Further, we urge congregations to organize related religious education sessions.

Additionally, we ask congregations to consider dedicating their UN Sunday offering to support the work of the UU-UNO (a not-for-profit organization) and to inform their members of the benefits of membership. The UU-UNO office exists to provide a unique UU perspective at the United Nations. We receive no funding from the UUA and depend on individual and congregational support. We hope to receive your support, your involvement, your engagement and your enthusiastic membership to change the world so that every person can enjoy a safe and dignified life.

The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office thanks participating congregations for their time and commitment to the values shared by both the UUA and the UN. As the activist Dorothea Dix said, “Where there is so much to be done, there must be something for me to do.” 

May each UN Sunday be inspiring to all.

  • Download: UN Sunday Material Check-List and Order Form (Download this form to order a hard-copy resource packet to be mailed to you or your congregation)