Sailors’ Society has launched its 2026 Sea Sunday resources for churches – available to download from their website here Sea Sunday – Sailors’ Society. Sea Sunday is set aside in the Church calendar as a time to pray for our seafarers and to give thanks for their crucial work. Whilst the day is officially marked on the second Sunday in July (12 July 2026) you are free to celebrate anytime in the year. Whether you have just a few minutes or an entire service to highlight Sea Sunday, they are delighted to share our free-to-use resources and help shine a light on the lives of seafarers.
Hidden behind port walls or away at sea, most of us don’t give seafarers a second thought. But this invisible workforce is vast – 1.9 million men and women – and so is its impact on our lives. Over 90% of everything we own and use is brought to us by sea: fuel, food and drink, items for homes, schools, hospitals etc. To do this, seafarers face a life that separates them from their families for up to a year and a job that can be gruelling and dangerous. They are there for them 24/7 and 365 days of the year, whenever they need us and wherever they are in the world.
The theme for Sea Sunday 2026 is ‘With them in every storm’. This year has been particularly challenging for seafarers, including the 20,000–22,500 civilian seafarers who have been stranded in or near the Gulf with crew facing dwindling provisions, fatigue and acute psychological stress. Whilst we all hope and pray for an end to the conflict and sustained peace in the Middle East, they know that the trauma for those affected will continue long after the conflict has ended and we will continue to be there for them and their families for however long we are needed.
The chosen reading for Sea Sunday 2026 is from St Mark’s Gospel and the miracle story of Jesus calming the storm. This reading illustrates the work we do in calming the storms in the lives of seafarers and their families around the world. As a Christian global charity our team of chaplains and crisis responders are available day and night and every day of the year for any storm that may befall them. This year Sea Sunday is allowing us to share with your congregations some of the lived stories behind the news headlines, illustrating the work we do to support seafarers and their families.
For more than 200 years, Sailors’ Society has given spiritual, welfare and educational support to seafarers and their families. We hope our new worship resources will help you celebrate Sea Sunday, either on 12th July or any other day, remembering the world’s seafarers. The material is provided free of charge, but they would be very grateful if you would consider a donation to the charity to help us continue to bring hope and transformation into the lives of seafarers and their families. You might like to add the QR code below to your service sheet, newsletter or print it out for the service.