THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - From Daniel – 16th January 2026
Holding the Plough: Faith, Work, and Hope in Our Community
Last Sunday morning I had the privilege of speaking at the Plough Service at All Saints Church, Bolton Percy, a traditional service held to pray for, and acknowledge, the daily work of our farming communities. The prayers, hymns, and poems shared at that service were both uplifting and thought provoking, and the respectful procession of an ancient hand-plough into the church to be blessed movingly represented the importance of the farming community in our daily lives.
Thinking about that Plough Service, I realised its history draws us together at a moment that is both ancient, and deeply present. Although rooted in rural life, its message actively invites us all to reflect on God’s blessing over the land, our labour, and our shared life as a community. While many of us do not work in the fields, the symbolism of the plough can still speak powerfully into who we are and how we live.
At its heart, a plough service is about beginnings. Traditionally held at the start of the agricultural year, it asks God’s blessing on the soil before it is turned and sown. Scripture often returns to this image of preparation and hope. The prophet Hosea urges, “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord” (Hosea 10:12). Before growth can come, the ground must be opened. Spiritually this challenges us now, in January, to ask what in our own lives needs turning over so that God’s grace can take root.
The plough also reminds us of vocation and faithful work. In the book of Genesis, humanity is placed in the garden “to till it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Work, whatever it may be, is not a punishment but a calling. In our community this can take very many forms – teachers and carers for example, shop workers, volunteers, and health care workers, to name but a few. The message of the plough service honours all honest labour, recognising that each role contributes to the flourishing of the whole community in which we live.
Jesus himself used the image of the plough when speaking about commitment: “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). These words are not meant to discourage, but to focus us. Following Christ calls for perseverance, especially when the work is slow, tiring, or unseen. Just as a ploughman, or woman, must keep their eyes fixed ahead to cut a straight furrow, so we are invited to keep our gaze on Christ, trusting him with the outcome of our efforts.
Community lies at the centre of the plough service message. Farming has never been a solitary task; it depends on shared knowledge, mutual help, and trust in forces beyond human control. Likewise, the life of our church is shaped by cooperation and care for one another. St Paul reminds us, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). We must each play our part, but it is God who brings the fruit from our collective labour.
Finally, a plough service speaks of hope. To plough a field is an act of faith. The labour comes long before the harvest, and much remains uncertain - weather, health, circumstances etc. Yet we can trust in God’s promise that whatever our work, be it secular or spiritual, when offered to him it is not in vain. As the psalmist writes, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy” (Psalm 126:5).
The message of the plough is that we are always a part of our community’s future - the work we will do, the relationships we will nurture, and the faith we will carry into 2026, and beyond. This January, may we go forward with willing hands, open hearts, and the confidence that God walks with us in every furrow we plough.
Daniel Khan (Licenced Lay Minister)