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

Reflection: Sunday 5th October and for the week ahead:

Collect for Trinity 16
Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear the prayers of your faithful people who call upon you; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them.

Reflection:
This Collect reminds us of the need for prayer to guide our decisions. Knowing that God hears us and cares about us, we pray that He will guide our actions. Of the various possibilities that lie open to us, we have to make a choice, to choose between what is easiest or most appealing and what is right. But that’s not all! Having established what we ought to do we may or may not actually decide to do it. And so we pray for strength, spiritual and physical, to do what we know is right.

Show me your ways, Lord, guide me in your truth and teach me

(Psalm 25.4-5)

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

Sunday 5th October - The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity:

8am - Holy Communion 

10 am - All Age Communion

5 pm - Choral Evensong 

Sunday 12th October - The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity:

8 am - 1662 BCP Holy Communion 

10 am - Morning Worship

Sunday 19th October - The Eigteenth Sunday after Trinity: 

8 am Holy Communion

10 am Sung Eucharist

Sunday 26th October - Bible Sunday: 

8 am - Holy Communion 

10 am - Morning Worship

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.)