We begin our Gathering Time with lighting a candle and our leader stating "Jesus is the light of the world .... let us worship him."
We have a really nice table as the focus of our gathering time. We sing one song (the same one each week so the kids really get to know it).
We have offering (2 different kids each week get to pass the plates), prayer, Lord's Prayer, then off to their workshops. It lasts 10 minutes ... it's very enjoyable and short (so as not to bore anyone).