When? Sunday closest to 10 October - World Homeless Day
Homelessness Sunday is held on the Sunday before World Homeless Day, and is hosted by the ecumenical charity Housing Justice. The theme in 2023 is “Love and Justice”. Churches are encouraged to bring our call to love and justice before God in worship, praying for people impacted by homelessness and committing to work for justice for everyone.
Housing Justice will be providing a range of resources for churches running their own Homelessness Sunday service on this theme via their website. These will include prayers, hymns and resources, pre-recorded sermons from the former Archbishop of Wales, the most Reverend Bishop John Davies, and from Deacon Tessa Bennett of King’s Cross Methodist Church. All-age worship resources have also been compiled, available here (PDF) as well as on the Housing Justice website.
You could explore also some of these resources before Homelessness Sunday:
Coming Home (2021) is the report of the Archbishops’ Commission on Housing, Church and Community which re-imagines housing policy and practice, providing a Christian vision for 'good' housing, based around five core values
More than Bricks and Mortar? (2019) is a resource from the Joint Public Issues Team which gives key information, suggests action, and provides questions for reflection
A Place to Call Home (2017) is a series of six bible studies for group discussion around a range of housing issues
If you want to explore some practical responses, in advance of Homelessness Sunday, the Methodist Homelessness and Housing Gathering will take place on Zoom on Thursday 5 October 2023, 11.30am – 1pm. This will include updates on increasing the Methodist Church's involvement in affordable housing schemes, and presentations from Housing Justice and Agile Homes, as well as reflection and prayer. For more information, email the Revd Ian Rutherford on ianr7@hotmail.co.uk.
Hymns on homelessness
The best place to explore different options is our selection of Social Justice – themed hymns (parts 1 & 2).
Particularly apt hymns for this Sunday include:
I will speak out for those who have no voices by Dave Bankhead et al (StF 702), which also works effectively as a responsive prayer, and
In an age of twisted values by Martin Leckebusch (StF 703)
If we claim to love our neighbour by Andrew Pratt (website only), which begins with a stark challenge:
If we claim to love our neighbour
while the hungry queue for food,
are we prey to self-deception?
Also helpful are:
Bernadette Farrell’s perennially popular but challenging Longing for light, we wait in darkness (StF 706)
‘Come, now, you blessed, eat at my table’ by Ruth Duck (StF 695)
God of justice, Saviour to all by Tim Hughes (StF 699)
Beyond the Justice and Peace section of Singing the Faith there are other striking texts to be found e.g. Allan Dickinson’s Where can we find you, Lord Jesus our Master? (StF 672) and Damien Body’s engagement with tough issues of prostitution and poverty in Dressed up on the kerbside (website only).