What's New, November 2026

November blessings, Gathering community!

We are into my favorite season: baking!

Even though I end up making the same cookies every year (sugar, gingerbread, and shortbread), I spend the first part of this month exploring new possibilities. I find I often do the same things with worship services. I love looking at new ideas for special days, and yet I often go back to a very similar format and program. On the surface, it might seem that my searches are a form of affirmation or confirmation bias; my trusted recipes are the best! But for me, this exercise is more of a humbling reminder that there are many amazing recipes out there, and while mine are beloved, they can also be replaced by other recipes that are equally loved.  

The Pentecost 2 issue of Gathering is filled with a perfect mixture of old and new recipes for worship and worship leadership. New settings of old prayers. Old ways to do new things. I hope that you are loving reading through it as much as we have enjoyed putting it together for you.

Below, Susan has prepared a list of some highlights for you as we cook up something special this season.

Worshipping with you,

Alydia

For Remembrance Day

for November 11 or the Sunday before

• Remembrance – A Candle-Lighting Litany 
• On Remembrance Day, We Give Thanks for Those Who Have Made Sacrifices 
• Remembrance Day Legion Ceremony Blessings 
• Remembrance Day Resources 
• A Wreath of Remembrance 
• We Shall Remember Them  
• Here We Gather at Love’s Table: A Hymn 
• In Flanders Fields: A Hymn 

For Peace Sunday

If you prefer a focus on peace for the Sunday preceding November 11, here are some resources for you:

• Receive the Breath of Reconciling Peace 
• In a Troubled World, We Need Peace 
• For Flashes of Peace, Moments When God’s Shalom Is Visible 
• Guardians of Hope 
• No More Enemy Aliens 
• The Song of Love Continues On: A Hymn 
• May We Go: A Sung Benediction 

For an Ordinary Season Communion

• Compassionate and Creative One: A Communion Prayer 
• Here in This Place: A Communion Liturgy 
• You Envision Your People: A Prayer for After Communion 
• You Have Drawn Us Gently into Your Arms of Love, O God: A Prayer for After Communion 
• Wheat in the Fields: A Hymn 
• Rhythms of the Spirit: A Hymn 

For Reign of Christ

• In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Declares, I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food 
• Until the Day of Your Coming, O Lord 
• Matthew 25:31-46 and “Behold the Face of Christ”: Scripture Reading 
• Digging Deeper: The Signs That Represent Christ 
• Rejoice, the Lord Is King (alternate words for the hymn) 

Getting Ready for Advent

• Incarnation Is Messy: An Advent Sermon Series 
• Hope Can Be Messy: Lighting the Advent Wreath 
• Incarnation as a Glorious Mess 
• A Time for Dreaming: An Advent Theme 
• An Advent Theme on Spinning 
• Advent Resources 
• Sneaking Christmas Carols During Advent 
• Reimagining Advent Calendars 

For the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (December 6) 

• Remembering Our Sisters; Praying for Peace 
• We Wake to a World of Beauty and Catastrophe
• Go Out from Here with God’s Love Wrapped Around You 

We appreciate that you do not share these files with other churches or colleagues who do not 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.

Thank you for the time, energy and love you put into worship preparation.

Susan