London, UK - The Church of England today publishes new prayers for people affected by redundancy as the recession bites and thousands of employees embark on the new year not knowing if they will have a job at the end of it.
The prayers are launched on Epiphany, the Christian festival which marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas and the Bible story of the presentation of Christ in the temple.
The Church has written the prayer for redundancy and another for those affected by "survivor guilt" when their colleagues are sacked in recognition that the end of the season of goodwill will this year be a baptism of misery for many.
To add to the woes of people in the City in particular, the militant atheist professor Richard Dawkins has also chosen the Christian Feast of the Epiphany to launch the London "atheist bus campaign".
From today any commuters still fortunate enough working in London will be cheered on their way by buses carrying posters bearing the slogan: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." The fundraising campaign for the atheist buses, run with the British Humanist Association, has been so successful that they are likely also to be rolled out in other cities around Britain.
The Church of England was unperturbed by the buses and emphasised the figure from the Government's 2001 census that showed that more than seven out of ten people count themselves as Christian.
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, who is seeing the effect of the downturn on farmers in his northern province, told The Times: "As we face the unprecedented global financial turbulence and economic downturn, it is crucial that the Church offers the opportunity for prayer, reflection, and care. Let us all bear each other's burdens as God in Jesus Christ has for us. We are bidden to pray and care without ceasing."
The prayers are launched at the start of a year in which the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has forecast that at least 600,000 people could lose their jobs.
The "prayer on being made redundant" is intended to put into words the anxieties of those who are losing or who have already lost their jobs.
"Redundant - the word says it all - useless, unnecessary, without purpose, surplus to requirements," it begins, laid out on the page in the form of a step poem to add dramatic effect.
"Hear me as I cry out in confusion, help me to think clearly, and calm my soul," it continues.
The "prayer for those remaining in the workplace" seeks relief for those afflicted by guilt and increased workload as a result of redundancies suffered by former colleagues.
"It's hard to know what I feel: sadness, certainly, guilt, almost, at still having a job to go to, and fear of the future," it says.
It asks of God: "In the midst of this uncertainty, help me to keep going: to work to the best of my ability, taking each day at a time."
The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, Right Rev John Packer, Chairman of the Church of England's Stewardship Committee, said the prayers were an illustration of how the established Church is fulfilling its mission to be there at all times, for all people.
He said: "This is a pastoral initiative. We need to be on the look out to support those facing redundancy. Neighbourliness is so important in crisis situations, whether it's offering people new prayers to God, or by simply being there with a listening ear."
The prayers are the latest release from the Church of England website's instant liturgy office, christened the rapid response prayer unit by insiders.
Published on the Matter of Life and Debt section of the Church's website, they are being offered alongside earlier prayers about debt and war, as well as specialist advice on working out household budgets.
Vicars are being urged to print out the new prayers and distribute them in church.
According to recent surveys, up to two-thirds of UK adults pray. A Populas survey for The Sun in June 2005 found that 65 per cent of adults in Britain said they prayed. The British Social Attitudes survey, 1998, found that 66 per cent of adults pray.
The Rev Lynda Barley, the Church's head of statistics, said prayer was "one of the best kept secrets in modern Britain."