What's New, October 2026
Autumn blessings, Gathering community!
As you prepare for Thanksgiving and other upcoming services, check out the links to prayers and more provided below, remembering that in the northern hemisphere, fall is our yearly reminder that it is natural to simply let some things change and to enjoy the beauty in the transformation.
As I watch my garden slowly whither in the frost and my heart protests at the dying petunias, I know it is a natural progression that will lead to the spectacular fall colours. In the same way that I dump everything out of the junk drawer to clean it, fall often feels like Creation making a mess in order to clean up and prepare for the new life that will come in the spring. Yes, there are some gorgeous things in there, but it is also very chaotic and hard to prepare for. (I could be going for a walk in a jean jacket and pass someone in beach shorts beside another in a parka, and we would all be appropriately dressed for the weather we expected.)
And like every other fall, we are reminded to accept that death is a part of life; transformation is a part of beauty. Change can be challenging (in fall and in the fall seasons of our lives). What helps me through these environments and seasons of change are grounding rhythms, routines, and rituals. For me, nothing roots me more than the rhythm created in the ebb and flow of worship. The Spirit calls us and then we call on the Spirit. We open ourselves to receive, and then we are opened to give. This rhythm is beautiful in both its simplicity and in its complex impact on our lives. In fall, we are reminded of the changing nature of life, and we are also reminded of what roots us.
Thank you for what you do in worship leadership to keep people rooted during these ever-changing times.
Alydia
For World Communion Sunday
- Today We Have Set the Table of the Lord with Gifts of the Harvest
- There’s a Place at the Table: An Invitation
- It Takes a Variety of Ingredients to Make Bread
- Pjila'si! Welcome! Willkommen! Bienvenue!
- Eating at the Table of Love: Communion Prayer
- Weaving the Yarn – A Communion Prayer
Hymns on GatheringWorship.ca
For Thanksgiving
- Days of the Week – A Thanksgiving Prayer
- When We Need You, Bless Us: Prayers of the People for Thanksgiving Sunday
- The Orchards Are Full, the Crops Are Being Harvested
- Star of Gratitude: Thanksgiving Participation
- Yesterday, We Received with Gratitude
- The Leaves Are Changing Colour as the Fall Season Unfolds
Hymns on GatheringWorship.ca
For World Food Day
World Food Day is Friday, October 16. You may choose to mark the day on Sunday, October 18.
- The World Cries War
- Take Us to the Food Bank, Loving God
- Yearning God, When Did We See You Hungry and Give You Food?
- Patient God, It’s True. We Don’t Want You to Disrupt Our Peace
For Reformation Day – October 31
- We Are in a Between Time, Between the Past and the Future
- God Is Our Refuge, a Stronghold to Keep Us Safe
For All Saints’ Day – November 1
- We Are in the Long Line of Faithful People: in English and in French
- A Long Line of Faithful People
- On All Hallows’ Eve, We Will Turn on the Porch Lights
- An Email to Lydia
- Empowering God, Lord of Below the Stairs and Behind the Scenes
For the Fall Season of Worship
The Revised Common Lectionary moves us through the gospel of Matthew and invites reflection on themes of fairness and forgiveness, justice, and generosity. It also continues the journey with Moses as the Hebrew people flee enslavement and are shaped by their journey in the wilderness. We encounter Joshua and Deborah. The church year ends with Matthew’s familiar, but often misinterpreted parable of the sheep and goats, a parable about how we live as disciples in the here and now, not a description of the afterlife.
As requested by our subscribers, we provide these two documents for easy access until the end of the Pentecost 2 season:
All of the prayers and services for this season are also added individually into GatheringWorship.ca and available for future reference. Be sure to tag as Favourites the ones you like the most and will want to use in the future.
We appreciate that you do not share these files with other churches or colleagues who don't subscribe to Gathering. Please explain to them why you use Gathering and invite them to subscribe.
Please take a moment and send along your original worship ideas, prayers, and services to Gathering. Just send them as is, and we will do the editing! Gathering works best when we share our resources and inspiration! Your contributions make Gathering the rich resource it is supporting worship leaders across Canada!
It is such a blessing and a privilege to plan and lead worship. May you count the blessings of worship this fall season!
Susan
