Hope and Blessing in the Year Ahead - a New Year message from Bishop Martin
Happy New Year! We say it with sincerity, yet we know 2026 will not be easy for many. Some will face unemployment and the crushing sense of being left behind. Others will battle addiction or endure the pain of a violent home. Families will struggle under the weight of debt, and countless people will suffer prejudice simply because of the colour of their skin. Many will live with illness—mental or physical—or walk the difficult road toward life’s end. Against such realities, “Happy New Year” can sound like a fragile hope.
But in the Bible, “happy” and “blessed” share the same meaning. In Luke 6:20, Jesus declares: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you and exclude you, for surely your reward will be great in heaven.” These words remind us that those who suffer are not forgotten—they are seen by God with love, and counted as blessed.
I see this lived out every day as Bishop of Dudley. I chair a charity called CHADD which offers safety and dignity to victims of domestic abuse. The Goodsoil Project in Worcester helps people overcoming addiction by growing crops and rebuilding lives. The Black Country Foodbank served half a million meals last year—with grace and kindness. These organisations, born from faith and compassion, bring light into the darkest places. Volunteers often tell me that in serving others, they themselves feel blessed.
So as we step into 2026, let’s turn hope into action. How can you make a difference in your community? How can you help build a kinder, stronger world? When you do, you’ll discover something profound: blessing flows both ways. And then, perhaps, “Happy New Year” will be more than a wish—it will be a reality.
Happy New Year!
Bishop Martin
