You could receive a free one-year subscription to GatheringWorship.ca* For five decades, worship leaders across the country have been sharing resources through Gathering, so we’re celebrating by giving to five contributors a free one-year subscription to GatheringWorship.ca. All you need to do is submit a prayer, hymn, worship idea, or...
“Come, almighty to deliver; let us all thy grace receive.” I find myself singing Charles Wesley’s hymn “Love divine, all loves excelling” (VU 333) each morning as I drive to work at the church. His words, penned in 1747, express the yearnings and deepest prayers of my heart, as I...
We invite you to take time to unite the youngest and oldest members of your congregation in the worship of God and the singing of our faith. Here are some ideas for including younger worshippers: 1. Encourage the children to be active participants in worship by making sure that they...
It is interesting to trace the life and work of The United Church of Canada and its worship resources since the union of the Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregational, and Union churches in 1925. Below is a timeline of hymn and song books used by the United Church (published by The United...
The dark and light dance together creating beauty and wonder in this piece. It was written as an alternative to counter the many uses of light as good and dark as bad. The verses go with the lighting of the Advent candles: hope, peace, joy and love. The tune is...
This Advent candle-lighting for two voices and the whole congregation is inspired by Psalm 104:19: “You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting." The litanies invite us to understand dark and light as partners in creation in a dance that blesses us...
Do you have a sense of the general literacy level of your congregation? If you take time to observe and reflect, you might get a feel for the comfort level for reading among the people you serve. Yet, be aware of your biases and the assumptions that might be shaping...
Sylvia Dunstan (1955–1993) served as Editor of Gathering from 1985–1988. In the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany 1986 issue, she writes: “The editor’s mother (a restaurateur/food and wine writer) was visiting recently and looked through Gathering . She was of the opinion that Gathering is badly in need of a food and wine column...
A Prayer for Students and Teachers As a new school year begins, we offer this prayer for students and teachers to use as they enter into the adventure of learning together. Loving God, Wise God, remind me that you are with me as I return to school. Give me delight...
By joining in this worship, Gracious God, we are making a choice, a choice to be part of your transforming love in this world. We are offering ourselves—body, mind, and spirit—to the mending and tending of your world. We are opening ourselves to be changed by your compassion working in...
