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: Remembrance Sunday, 9th November, and for the week ahead:

Alternative Collect for Remembrance Sunday
God, our refuge and strength, bring near the day when wars shall cease and poverty and pain shall end, that earth may know the peace of heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Reflection:
Remembrance matters. It is about community gathering, story telling, honouring those who have suffered and died in war and those who live with scars of mind and body because of what they have seen and experienced. The dead and the living are not forgotten by us because we come to remember, and neither has God forgotten.

For God, outside of time, all history is now, which means God sees and knows all the stories of horror and all the stories of bravery and courage, all the time. Many of these stories are lost to us, but not to God who always sees.

The dead are not forgotten, the suffering are not abandonded, there is hope in the here and now, through comradeship, the help of military charities, chaplains and aid agencies. And there is also hope in the Christian message that death is not the end - the promise of eternal life is there for all.

Lyn Hayes ALM

“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 2nd November - All Saints' Day

8am - Holy Communion 

10 am - All Age Communion

7.30 pm - Commemmoration of the Faithful Departed

Sunday 9th November - Remembrance Sunday 

8 am - 1662 BCP Holy Communion 

10.45 am - Service of Remembrance - followed by wreath laying at the War Memorial 

Sunday 16th November - The Second Sunday before Advent

8 am Holy Communion

10 am Sung Eucharist

Sunday 23rd November - The Sunday Next before Advent 

8 am - Holy Communion 

10 am - Morning Worship

Sunday 30th November - Advent Sunday

8 am - Holy Communion 

10 am - Morning Worship

5 pm, - Advemt Carol Service 

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.)