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 13th September - The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity - and for the week ahead:

Scripture:

Then Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but I tell you, seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22)

Reflection: 

Jesus’s disciples, Peter, probably thought he was being very generous in suggesting that forgiving someone who wronged him seven times was a good thing. Just think about how we react when someone does something to wrong us. They do it once, and you can find it in your heart to forgive them. They do it again….it’s getting harder to forgive. They do it a third time….can you forgive, or do you want nothing to do with them?! (Or even, if we’re honest, seek some sort of revenge?!) So Peter’s forgive seven times is very magnanimous! But Jesus’s response is: seventy-seven times. (Or in other versions, “seventy times seven times”.) The number actually isn’t important; the message from Jesus is a really tough one….keep forgiving them…again, and again, and again………..and again! Don’t stop.

Sometimes Jesus’ teaching is really tough. Whoever thinks being a Christian is easy, well, think again! (And again, and again, and again!)

Revd David

UPCOMNG SERVICES:

Sunday 6th September August - The Ninth 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 13th September -  The Fifteenth 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 20th September -  The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

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

10 am - Sung Eucharist - at Benenden Primary School

Sunday 27th September - HARVEST - The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity

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

11 am - HARVEST - at Benenden Primary School followed by Harvest Lunch 

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.)