'Health+Care Sunday': Will you join us in prayer?

I wonder if you feel discouraged and anxious as we look at our struggling health and social care system and the potential changes to law around the corner.

I won’t list the worries and problems that might cause us sleepless nights. So instead, let’s turn to prayer. We want to see our churches pray for our health and social care services in the UK, and the Christians who work tirelessly to support and care for those in need.

On 19 October 2025 (or any Sunday that suits your church), we encourage churches to set time aside during a service to pray for those in the church family who work in the health and social care sector.

Health + Care Sunday, previously celebrated as Healthcare Sunday, is held on the Sunday closest to the date of St Luke’s Day (18 October), which is remembered by some church traditions. This year, Health + Care Sunday is on 19 October 2025.

Health + Care Sunday is an initiative of Christian healthcare organisations in the UK and Ireland - see the website for details of those involved and prayer resources.

Ernie, a carer, has written a prayer that we can pray together now. Let’s lift our eyes to Jesus. Let’s come to the throne of grace with confidence and give our worries to Him as He and we care deeply about the needs of those around us.

Ernie's prayer (that you can pray, too)

Holy and loving Father, Lord God of all creation, we worship You, we praise You, we bless Your Holy Name.

Heavenly Father, we have so much to be grateful for, so much to praise You for. Help us we pray, that in this earthly life, with all the trials and tribulations that this existence carries, that Your love would continue to inspire, continue to strengthen and continue to encourage. For the work You have called us to is not without challenges Lord, not without its hurdles and obstacles. Heavenly Father, You call us to be like Your beloved Son in this world, to be channels of grace, of love and peace.

Help us Lord, deepen our relationship with You, with Your Son Jesus. Help us to live in the Spirit, to be moulded and enabled by this indwelling power. And Lord we pray that in this holy work of care, of attending to the vulnerable, to the sick, to the dying and the suffering, in this holy work Lord, You would be present.

Heavenly Father, we pray for our hospitals and all those working there. Thank you for their dedication and skill. We pray Lord, that as they seek to satisfy competing demands, of increasing patient needs, of efficiency demands and financial restraints, that they would know Your peace. That even in this often-stressful environment, those in need of their help would see their compassion, would sense their love. And all that called them to this work, all that inspired them, would not be lost amid the pressures of day-to-day reality. Lord You are the great provider. In Your great provision alone, all that is needed is given. Draw near Lord, this day and always, and give we pray, for the glory of Your name.

Lord, we pray for all those in what may be considered the humblest of positions, the cleaner, the cook, the orderly, the porter, the carer, all those Lord whose work is too often overlooked and undervalued. May they too be recognised Lord for the many times, as Your faithful servants, they bring light and joy into the darkness of those suffering and in need. Lord, this world too often neglects those whose gifts are not recognised by academia, too often reject their value by labelling them as unskilled. Oh Lord the gifts You impart are of the highest value, to bring those gifts into this work Lord is of great benefit, to colleagues and patients alike. May this work always be a contemplative work, a work filled with contentment and joy. But we pray too Lord, that there would be fairness in our systems of care, respect and dignity, a consideration toward all, to the greatest and to the least. Lord, we ask all these things, that Your Name be glorified.

We pray Lord for managers, for those in the NHS, for those in private health care, in hospices, for those in care homes and community social care, for all those Lord with the great burden of managing people and finances. Lord, such a burden of responsibility and Lord, there are so many distractions, so many demands in such positions, so much that occupies the mind, that to be present to You Lord, to be mindful of Your promptings, can become increasingly difficult. Thank you for them. Lord we pray that You would engage, guide and influence the work of those in positions of great responsibility, that though they may not be at work on the front line, not face to face with those receiving the care that they influence and direct, that they would be ever sensitive in their work, ever mindful of the holiness of this work of care, ever conscious of the needs and dignity of those they manage and those for whom care is provided. Amid all this Lord, may Your Name be glorified.

And Lord, we pray for those who are suffering. Lord, the needs are manifold indeed. Physical and mental illness, victims of violence, accidental injuries, self-harm, disease, loneliness and old age. Lord the need is sometimes overwhelming. But the greatest need Lord, amid all this pain, this fragile existence and suffering, the greatest need Lord is for love, for Your love, at work in the world. Comfort them in their trials we pray.

Transform lives Lord, feed Your flock, that in this work we may bring comfort to the suffering, dignity and value to those who feel worthless, joy and light to those in darkness, and friendship to those experiencing loneliness and despair. Lord, we offer up our prayers to You now. Hear our prayers we pray, that Your Name be glorified forever and ever.

In Jesus we pray.

Amen.