Prayers
Prayer for families
Father God, as we gather here under your care and protection, we reflect on the thousands of families on the margins of society, in desperate need of the basics in life, things that we take for granted.
Families like Gemma and Dave and their two sons. They became homeless when their landlord sold the house they were living in.
Their local authority housed them in Bed and Breakfast, where they were all in one room, with nowhere to cook a meal or wash their clothes.
There are more families in temporary accommodation than ever before – including 100,000 children.
Gemma and Dave are now in more appropriate accommodation, but it is still temporary and far from their previous home, so their sons are having to start a new school.
Church Homeless Charity gave them a grant for the new school uniforms their sons need.
Lord, we pray for families who are struggling to pay their rent and feed their children, and particularly those who become homeless.
Bless the work of Church Homeless Charity. May people who are homeless experience the love of God in practice through the grants that they give.
Amen
Prayer for care leavers
Our Father, thank you for blessing us with families, at home and within your Church. We think of all the young people without the love and security of a family to support them physically and emotionally.
People like Mollie, a teenager who has never had a stable home.
Mollie’s mother died when she was young, and her father couldn’t cope with looking after her. For a while she lived with her nan, but she died too, and Mollie was taken into care. She had several foster placements, which were not very successful, and at 16 she was homeless.
Many young people who have been in care become homeless, because they do not have family support networks.
Mollie is now living in a scheme for homeless young people. She is studying for her A levels, and applying to read Astro-physics at University.
Church Homeless Charity paid for a laptop, and some extra tuition in physics, to help Mollie get the grades she needs.
Lord, we pray for children who are brought up in care, without the stability of a loving family. Bless the work of Church Homeless Charity. May people who are homeless experience the love of God in practice through the grants that they give.
Amen
Prayer for older people
Heavenly Father, let us reflect on those who find themselves homeless after losing their livelihood and the promise of retirement – those stuck in a desperate cycle, unable to regain the stability they once had.
People like Margaret, who lived above the pub where she worked, until she hurt her back and was no longer able to work. She lost her job and became homeless. For a while she survived by sleeping on friends’ sofas, night buses, and in church shelters until she got a place in a hostel.
But with no savings and very little from benefits, she did not have the funds to pay a rent deposit so she could not move out of the hostel.
Church Homeless Charity came to Margaret’s aid and paid her rent deposit so she could move into sheltered accommodation.
Lord, we pray for people at the end of their working lives, that they will find secure homes where they can be a valued part of the community.
Bless the work of Church Homeless Charity. May people who are homeless experience the love of God in practice through the grants that we give.
Amen
Prayer for veterans
Dear Lord, thank you for your loving kindness and for guiding us as we think about those without the stability of their own home.
People like John who served in the British Army and was injured by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. John struggles with PTSD and lives in temporary accommodation.
John had a spinal box fitted to help with the pain from his injuries, but he was finding it increasingly difficult to walk as the box needed adjusting.
On his benefits, he could not afford to go to London to see his specialist.
Church Homeless Charity paid for his travel and hotel in London to have his spinal box adjusted. Without this funding, John says he would be in a wheelchair.
Lord, we pray for people who have served in the armed forces, that they will find secure homes where they can be a valued part of the community.
Bless the work of Church Homeless Charity. May people who are homeless experience the love of God in practice through the grants that they give.
Amen
Prayer for refugees
O God, we turn our thoughts to those who have to leave their homes and livelihoods because of war, persecution or disaster.
People like Hassan, an asylum-seeker who came to the UK after receiving threats from politicians who were harming his family. Unfortunately, his first application for asylum was rejected, and he was evicted from Home Office accommodation and became homeless.
Hassan is too afraid to return to his home country so he is appealing against the Home Office decision, which will take several years. While he does so he is not allowed to work or rent anywhere to live, and he cannot claim benefits. He is living with a host who provides a room and food free of charge.
Church Homeless Charity gives Hassan £25 a week so he can buy essentials and personal items and not be entirely reliant on his host.
Lord, we pray for people fleeing violence, poverty and oppression. Bless the work of Church Homeless Charity. May people who are homeless experience the love of God in practice through the grants that they give.
Amen
Lent prayer
Heavenly Father, as we journey through this season of Lent, we remember those who walk a harder path – those without a place to call home, those who seek shelter from the cold, and those who hunger for food and for hope.
Lord, stir in our hearts a spirit of generosity. Help us to see Your face in those who are in need, to offer not only our prayers but our hands, not only our words but our love in action.
May this time of repentance and renewal deepen our compassion and call us to serve.
Through Christ, who gave everything for us, we pray.
Amen
You can find more resources for churches on our Resources page. Here you’ll find a range of downloadable materials to support you with:
- Helping homeless people in your community
- Starting the conversation with your congregation
- Fundraising and event planning
More ways to help…
- Subscribe to our newsletter – sign up to receive our seasonal newsletter and see how our work is changing lives.
- Share – download and share our resources with others We can all do our bit to help some of society’s most vulnerable people.
- Donate – donating to a non-profit homeless charity or organisation is a great way to ensure that support goes to the right people at the right time.