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

Reflection: Sunday 4th October - The Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity - and for the week ahead:

Scripture:

“Not that I have already obtained this [resurrection from the dead] or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)

Reflection:

These verses are quite a complicated way of conveying a simple message; that we should try to live like Jesus, and for Jesus, that we may obtain eternal life. But what struck me in this section was about forgetting the past and pushing on to the future. Too often we can recall negative past experiences of ourselves or others that inhibit our dreams and goals. Or we remember how we acted previously in front of people, so vow never to see them again out of embarrassment. The key remedies that are missing from these verses are grace and faith. Grace comes from God, He knows us and our faults and how much we messed up that one time, but we can step forward again knowing that He thinks just the same of us as He did before, and others are likely to behave in the same way. Nothing is ever as bad as we recall it to be. And we should have the faith to press on, knowing that a path has been laid before us and all our route predestined, but we have to be confident enough to walk it. After all, what a prize awaits us at the end if we truly believe this. This week, know that you have grace and trust in your faith, it will shine out to others around you.

Victoria Bray    

UPCOMNG SERVICES:

Sunday 4th October - The Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity

8 am - Holy Communion - in the Chancel at St George'

10 am - All Age Holy Communion - at Benenden Primary School

5 pm - Evening Prayer - in the Chancel at St George's

Sunday 11th October -  The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

8 am - 1662 BCP Holy Communion - in the Chancel at St George's

10 am - Morning Worship - at Benenden Primary School

Sunday 18th October -  The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity

8 am - Holy Communion - in the Chancel at St George's

10 am - Sung Eucharist - at Benenden Primary School

Sunday 24th October The Twentyfirst Sunday after Trinity

8 am - Holy Communion - in the Chancel  at St George's

10 am - Morning Worship at Benenden Primary School

Extensive building work is currently underway at St George's. During this time all Sunday services will be held as follows:  8 am Sunday Holy Communion - in the Chancel at St George's. 10 am Sunday Services - at Benenden Primary School.   Special Services will take place at St Nicholas, Sandhurst, unless indicated otherwise. 

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

Morning Prayer takes place at the Rectory 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 the Rectory.)