Vicars will soon be offering heavenly help for workers who have been made redundant.

The Church of England has published prayers to help people deal with the loss of their jobs.

The Rev Richard Alford, chairman of the Churches Together in Medway group, said the prayers would provide much needed support during hard times.

He said: “People who face redundancy turn to many different things, but Jesus is a sure way of helping them through their difficulties.

One prayer features the line: “Redundant – the word says it all – useless, unnecessary, without purpose, surplus to requirements.”

Another prayer has been written for those still at work but coping with the redundancies of their friends and colleagues.

Medway has been heavily hit with redundancies in the past six months.

A report published by the business pressure group the Institute of Directors last month predicts hard times ahead in 2009.

Two out of five hotels, retail, distribution and construction firms quizzed said they are planning to cut jobs next year in response to the economic downturn.