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 13th October Twentieth Sunday after Trinity - and for the week ahead:

Scripture

'Jesus said again ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’' (Mark 10.24-25)

Reflection

No wonder that Jesus’s disciples were ‘astounded’ and wondered what chance anyone had if it would be hard for the rich and successful. Of course, Jesus was not condemning the rich because they were rich (or us, if we have more than enough to live on). The point he was trying to drum into his student disciples was about priorities. If our priority in life is wealth creation, then it will be hard to combine that with principles like treating others just as we wish to be treated. ‘Hard’, note, Jesus does not say ‘ impossible’. The same applies to any other goal which might cause us to neglect the needs of others.

David Harmsworth

“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 IN OCTOBER:

Sunday 6th - Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

8 am Holy Communion

10 am  All Age Communion

5 pm Choral Evensong

Sunday 13th - TwentiethSunday after Trinity

8 am 1662 BCP Holy Communion

10 am Morning Worship

Sunday 20th - Twentyfirst Sunday after Trinity

8 am Holy Communion

10 am Sung Eucharist

Sunday 27th - 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.)