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 8th December - The Second Sunday of Advent - & for the week ahead:

Collect:

..the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”(Luke 3. 2-6)

Reflection

How ready are you for the coming of Christ? In our Gospel reading we are challenged by John the Baptist to ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight’ in other words - prepare your hearts for the coming of our Lord Jesus, get your house in an orderly fashion, clear away all the rubbish, make a new start by owning up to the fact that we have got it wrong and take steps to change our ways by being there for others, caring for the sick, feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless, welcoming the refugee.

This Sunday in Advent is a time in which we should all hear the words of John the Baptist and search within ourselves and ask the difficult questions which he posed. Are we prepared to be challenged about ourselves and our ideas and our behaviour. When John the Baptist told people to make straight paths for God, he meant that we should be constructing a different type of society, and that we should be constructing within ourselves hearts which care for others.

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 IN DECEMBER

Sunday 1st - First Sunday of Advent

8 am Holy Communion

10 am  All Age Communion

5 pm Advent Service of Light

Sunday 8th - Second Sunday of Advent

8 am 1662 BCP Holy Communion

10 am Morning Worship

Sunday 15th - Third Sunday of Advent 

8 am Holy Communion

10 am Sung Eucharist

Tuesday 17th

7.30 pm Parish Carol Service

Friday 20th 

2.30 pm Benenden Primary School Christmas Service  

Sunday 22nd - Fourth Sunday of Advent

8 am Holy Communion 

10 am Morning Worship

Tuesday 24th - CHRISTMAS EVE

3 pm Crib Service

11.30 pm First Communion of Christmas 

Wednesday 25th - CHRISTMAS DAY

8 am Holy Communion

10am Morning Worship followed by Holy Communion

Sunday 29th - First Sunday of Christmas

10 am Benefice Holy Communion

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.)