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 https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/today-we-have-set-table-lord-gifts-harvest
There’s a Place at the Table: An Invitation https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/theres-place-table-invitation
It Takes a Variety of Ingredients to Make Bread https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/it-takes-variety-ingredients-make-bread
Pjila'si! Welcome! Willkommen! Bienvenue! https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/pjilasi-welcome-willkommen-bienvenue
Eating at the Table of Love: Communion Prayer https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/eating-table-love-communion-prayer
Weaving the Yarn – A Communion Prayer https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/weaving-yarn-communion-prayer
Hymns on GatheringWorship.ca
Sanctus (Capozzoli) https://gatheringworship.ca/music/sanctus
Rhythms of the Spirit https://gatheringworship.ca/music/rhythms-spirit
Wheat in the Fields https://gatheringworship.ca/music/wheat-fields
For Thanksgiving
Days of the Week – A Thanksgiving Prayer https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/days-week-thanksgiving-prayer
When We Need You, Bless Us: Prayers of the People for Thanksgiving Sunday https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/when-we-need-you-bless-us-prayers-people
The Orchards Are Full, the Crops Are Being Harvested https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/orchards-are-full-crops-are-being-harvested
Star of Gratitude: Thanksgiving Participation https://gatheringworship.ca/services-and-rituals/star-gratitude-thanksgiving-participation
Yesterday, We Received with Gratitude https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/yesterday-we-received-gratitude
The Leaves Are Changing Colour as the Fall Season Unfolds https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/leaves-are-changing-colour-fall-seas…
Hymns on GatheringWorship.ca
Grain: A Hymn https://gatheringworship.ca/music/grain
With a Thanks-Giving Spirit https://gatheringworship.ca/music/thanks-giving-spirit
Everything Is Connected https://gatheringworship.ca/music/everything-connected
In the Softness of the Morning
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 https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/world-cries-war
Take Us to the Food Bank, Loving God https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/take-us-food-bank-loving-god
Yearning God, When Did We See You Hungry and Give You Food? https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/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 https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/patient-god-its-true-we-dont-want-you-disrupt-our-peace
For Reformation Day – October 31
We Are in a Between Time, Between the Past and the Future https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/we-are-between-time-between-past-and-future
God Is Our Refuge, a Stronghold to Keep Us Safe https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/god-our-refuge-stronghold-keep-us-safe
For All Saints’ Day – November 1
We Are in the Long Line of Faithful People:
in English https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/we-are-long-line-faithful-people-who-turn-you
and in French https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/nous-faisons-partie-de-la-longue-lignee-de-croyants
A Long Line of Faithful People https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/long-line-faithful-people
On All Hallows’ Eve, We Will Turn on the Porch Lights https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/all-hallows-eve-we-will-turn-porch-lights
An Email to Lydia https://gatheringworship.ca/services-and-rituals/email-lydia
Empowering God,, Lord of Below the Stairs and Behind the Scenes https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/empowering-god-lord-below-stairs-and-behind-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:
Complete Weekly Services for Pentecost 2, 2026 https://gatheringworship.ca/worship-column/complete-weekly-services-pentecost-2-2026
Complete Prayers for Worship for Pentecost 2, 2026 https://gatheringworship.ca/prayer/complete-prayers-worship-pentecost-2-2026
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. https://gatheringworship.ca/form/submit-content. 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
