Clergy

Rector: Revd David Commander is the Rector of the Benefice of Benenden and Sandhurst. He originally trained and worked as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer for 28 years. He served his curacy at St James's, Tunbridge Wells, before moving to Benenden in October 2013.  He and his wife, Helen, have two daughters, two grandsons, a grandaughter, and an extremely friendly dog, Barney.

T: 01580 240658    M: 07710 416978    revdavidcommander@gmail.com   

The Rectory, The Green, Benenden, Kent TN17 4DL

Associate Priest: Though she was born in London, Rev. Rosemary Kobus van Wengen has spent most of her adult life abroad, teaching in schools and universities in Uganda and The Netherlands. She was ordained in 2001 in Canterbury Cathedral, and since then has served as a non-stipendiary priest (now ‘retired’, with Permission to Officiate) in Benenden and Sandhurst. Besides a passion for parish ministry her interests include art and literature, handwork and gardening.  rosemaryvanwengen@gmail.com

Associate Priest: Rev. Ylva Blid-Mackenzie was born and raised in Sweden, moving  to Kent in 1996. She finished her theological studies at St Augustine's College in May 2020 and then served her Title  Post in Benenden and Sandhurst with the Revd. David.  She trained as a Landscape Architect and runs Madrona Nursery with her husband Liam. They have three sons, two border collies and some chickens.

T: 01233 820100    M: 07766 711957    rev.ylva@gmail.com

Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 3rd August - the Seventh Sunday after Trinity - and for the week ahead:

Scripture:

You must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!  (Colossians 3.8-11)

Reflecton: 

The Collect for this Sunday asks God to  ‘increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same’.  In a world full of conflicts between religions about ancestry, dress, diet, language, modes and routines of worship and so much more, it’s refreshing to find St Paul encouraging people in just the same situation all those years ago to focus on what really counts. What is true religion about?

Our daily bread is having all our basic needs met. And in asking God to forgive our sins we also promise to do likewise to those who have hurt us in any way. A tall order, but a fair one.

The ‘time of trial’ is the testing that we may not withstand, and so we ask God to spare us.

By praying this Prayer we can shape our lives, always turning towards God who is pure Goodness, knowing that we will both have our material and spiritual needs met by our loving Father in the light of God’s eternal Kingdom.

David Harmsworth

“Services” and Prayer:

Please make use of the beautiful quiet space in St. George's Church any day for individual private prayer; prayer resources are available. 

UPCOMING SERVICES AT ST GEORGE'S

SUNDAY 3rd August - The Seventh Sunday after Trinity:

8am - Holy Communion 

10 am - All Age Communion

5 pm - Choral Evensong 

SUNDAY 10th August - The Eighth Sunday after Trinity:

8 am - 1662 BCP Holy Communion 

10 am - Morning Worship

SUNDAY 17th August - The Eighth Sunday after Trinity: 

8 am Holy Communion

10 am Sung Eucharist

SUNDAY 24th August - The Ninth Sunday after Trinity:

8 am - Holy Communion 

10 am - Morning Worship

SUNDAY 31st August - The Tenth Sunday after Trinity:  NB A 'Fifth' Sunday of the month:  Benefice services apply -

8 am Holy Communion at St Nicholas Sandhurst 

10 am - Benefice Holy Communion 

Mid-week Communion: Every Tuesday at the Mission Church, Back Road, Sandhurst TN18 5JU

Morning Prayer takes place at St George's at 8am on Monday and Friday and at the Mission Church, Back Road, Sandhurst TN18 5JU at 8am on Tuesday and Wednesday each week. (NB During the school holidays Wednesday Morning Prayer is at St George's.)