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It was wonderful to see so many at our "Mud and Glory" service as we gathered to celebrate both Plough Sunday and the Baptism of Christ; the sight of the plough standing right next to our stone font served as a powerful reminder: our faith isn't a museum piece. It belongs exactly there—in the grit, the soil, and the daily rhythms of life here in Thurston.
We often talk about how much Thurston is changing with new developments and digging, but on that Sunday, we took a moment to celebrate the vibrant "now." Whether it’s the early morning joggers on the pavements, the bustle at the Co-Op after the trains pull in, or the laughter shared over a pint at the Fox or The Victoria, this is the "soil" where God is at work.
Whether you are a newcomer still figuring out the bin collection or a local who remembers when the Granary was the village's heartbeat, you are the soul of this community.
We reflected on the fact that when Jesus was baptised in the Jordan, it wasn't a sterile, calm event. The Jordan was a working river—muddy and unpredictable. By stepping into those waters, God sent a clear message: "I am not a God who stays on the sidelines. I am a God who gets into the thick of it with you."
The most moving part of the message for me was the reminder of our shared identity. In a world that defines us by our mortgages, our jobs, or our age, God speaks a different truth over us: "You are my Child, the Beloved." You don't have to ‘earn’ this through a year of hard work; you are already enough before the first furrow is even turned.
So, what does "ploughing" look like for us in Thurston today? We saw it in the examples shared during the service:
The volunteers helping neighbours navigate new technology.
The vital work of the Thurston Relief in Need charity.
The simple, radical act of caring for the person living next door.
Ploughing is about breaking up the hard ground of our own hearts—softening the bits of us that have become tired or cynical—so that the "Unbound Love" we talk so much about can actually take root and grow.
As we blessed the plough, we also blessed the reality of our lives. God doesn't want a ‘polished’ church version of you. God wants the real, gritty, Thurston version of you—the one dealing with school runs, heating bills, and the quiet joys of a walk across our Suffolk fields.
Let’s carry that blessing into the month ahead. May we be a village where grace flows as freely as the waters of the Jordan.
Peace and every blessing,
Fr Ben
The Rev'd Fr Benjamin Edwards
Vicar of Great Barton & Thurston
