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 1st June - The Seventh Sunday of Easter - and for the week ahead:

Scripture:

‘When [the Romans] had brought Paul and Silas before the magistrates, they said, ‘These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.’ The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them... ‘ (Acts of the Apostles 16.20-25)

Reflection:

While the Gospels recount the earthly life and ministry of Jesus, Acts is all about what his followers did when Jesus was no longer physically present with them.

We read that after offending the Romans Paul and Silas, stripped, severely beaten and imprisoned, spent the night ‘praying and singing hymns to God’. No wonder the prisoners were listening to the them. How could they possibly make sense of it?

The absolute faith and endurance of the disciples is surely the greatest proof of the reality of the Resurrection. Nobody would endure such suffering if they were not totally certain of the truth of what they proclaimed. Though they no longer saw Jesus they knew his loving and sustaining Spirit with them in every part of their lives.

Let us pray that we too may know the presence of the Holy Spirit to give us courage and strength in whatever we are called to endure.

Revd Rosemary 

“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

THURSDAY 29th MAY - Ascension Day

7.30 pm - Benefice Holy Communion

SUNDAY 1st JUNE - The Seventh Sunday of Easter:

8am - Holy Communion 

10 am - All Age Communion

5 pm - Choral Evensong 

SUNDAY 8th JUNE - Pentecost 

8 am - 1662 BCP Holy Communion 

10 am - Pentecost Holy Communion

SUNDAY 15th JUNE - Trinity Sunday 

8 am Holy Communion

10 am Sung Eucharist

SUNDAY 22nd JUNE - First Sunday After Trinity

8 am - Holy Communion 

10 am - Morning Worship

SUNDAY 29th JUNE - Second Sunday After Trinity

8 am - Benefice Communion at St George's 

10 am - Benefice Communion at St Nicholas, Sandhurst

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.)