New Year messages from our bishops

Bishop John and Bishop Martin have put together messages for the start of 2021. 

Bishop John’s New Year Message 2021

I don’t suppose many of us have ever looked forward to a new year more than now. From most perspectives 2020 has been a disaster and, if you are anything like me, you will be relieved that it is coming to an end.

My hope for 2021 is not that we shall be able to go back to the way we were before this dreadful year. I hope, rather, that good will come out of all the untold suffering of 2020. As a Christian, I believe in a God who brings good out of bad, just as he brought resurrection, new life, out of crucifixion.

The beginning of the pandemic brought home to us how precious is the NHS.  Before Christmas I broke my leg badly whilst cycling and the wonderful care I received during my week as an inpatient at the Alex in Redditch reminded me again of what an invaluable thing the NHS is. I give heartfelt thanks to those who devote themselves to it.

The NHS was designed as a sort of institutional answer to the question Jesus is asked in the Parable of the Good Samaritan: ‘Who is my neighbour?’ The answer is that everyone is my neighbour. When the NHS cares for someone it is done on behalf of us all. 

I pray that out of the ruins of 2020 there will emerge in 2021 a better society characterised by that sort of care.    

Happy New Year!

Bishop John

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New Year message from the Bishop of Dudley

Happy New Year! Its hard to believe that just 12 months ago we were all gathering in large groups, enjoying time with friends and family, singing Auld Lang Syne with no thought of pandemics, lockdown, social distancing, facemasks, sanitizer and all the other things that made 2020 so difficult, complicated and anxiety producing. And that’s without thinking of all the economic disruption, loss of jobs and loss of hope, of exam chaos for the young and new illness and sometimes death for the old and vulnerable.

If ever we needed a Happy New Year this is it! I wish I could say everything will be wonderful from now, but I can’t. We still don’t know what Brexit will mean… Covid is still with us though we do now have vaccines, thank God, and they will roll out this year. The old and vulnerable will soon be safer, and all of us can dream of a life when we can meet and gather together once more.

In Dudley, we’re planning to do this ‘As One’, through a new campaign which will build on the amazing Black Country community spirit, demonstrated in lockdown. We need to stand As One for a land without food poverty, where people of every race and language can live free and fulfilled lives. There will be much to do. Let’s do it As One!

Bishop Martin