The UUA has no required sacraments or ordinances. Because the UUA is non-creedal and encompasses a wide theological spectrum, individual congregations make their own decisions about ritual observances. Some UU congregations with a more Christian orientation observe Communion as a meal of remembrance or a celebration of human community, without the doctrinal frameworks of Real Presence, transubstantiation, or symbolic reenactment. Others observe no sacramental rites at all.

Baptism is not practiced in the traditional sense in most UU congregations. Many UU churches practice a ceremony of 'child dedication' or 'flower communion' — rituals that celebrate a child's entry into the community without the theological freight of sacramental baptism. Adults who join UU congregations may participate in a membership ceremony, but this is a communal covenant rather than a sacrament.

The diversity of UU ritual practice reflects the broader theological diversity of the movement. Some congregations draw heavily on Christian liturgical traditions; others are inspired by Buddhist, Jewish, pagan, or humanist practice; others create entirely original rituals. The UUA's 'Singing the Living Tradition' hymnal and more recent worship resources reflect this eclectic approach, drawing on many traditions without privileging any.