Harbours of Hope: The Church Alongside Seafarers
Sea Sunday is a moment each year when churches around the world come together to pray for seafarers, give thanks for their vital work, and support The Mission to Seafarers’ life‑changing frontline ministry.
Seafarers are essential to everyday life, yet many work unseen, facing long periods away from home, isolation, and often dangerous conditions. Sea Sunday offers churches the opportunity to pause, reflect, and respond — standing alongside the men and women who keep our world moving.
Thanks to the prayer, generosity, and involvement of churches worldwide, The Mission to Seafarers is able to offer care, connection, and hope in ports across the globe. In 2025 alone, support through Sea Sunday and beyond helped us to:
- Make over 48,000 ship visits
- Provide shore leave transport for more than 150,000 seafarers
- Grow vital programmes such as our Family Support Network and SafeTALK suicide prevention training
These moments of care — a visit on board, practical help ashore, or someone to listen — can make a profound difference to seafarers far from home.
For Sea Sunday 2026, our theme is “Harbours of Hope: The Church Alongside Seafarers”, inspired by Matthew 25. This theme celebrates the local church as a place of welcome, refuge, and hope — a community offering both spiritual and practical safety to those who work at sea. It invites congregations to reflect on how they can stand alongside seafarers through prayer, hospitality, generosity, and justice.
To help you plan and lead Sea Sunday with confidence, we’ve created a wide range of free downloadable resources suitable for worship, teaching, and outreach.
Available resources include:
- Sermons and all‑age talks
- Children’s resources
- Ready‑to‑use prayers, liturgies, and small‑group material
- Creative fundraising ideas
- Posters and digital resources for promotion
These resources can be used on Sea Sunday itself or at any point in the year that fits your church calendar.
