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 6th September - The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity - and for the week ahead:

Scripture:

Romans 13.8-10. (6.9.26)
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Reflection: 

Paul devotes most of his Letter to the Christians in Rome to thoughts about the Law, based on the Commandments given to Moses, but endlessly expanded and complicated by later scholars to cover every detail of life. Imagine the burden of anxiety, fearing that one might offend, however inadvertently, against any one of these man made Laws. But by showing love to all our fellow human beings, says Paul, we achieve the peaceful and just society which the Law cannot bring about. All we need is to love all our fellow human beings. Simple? Easy? No! But this love is not a feeling. an emotion, but a deliberate commitment to a compassionate and unselfish way of life, following the teaching and example of Christ.

Revd Rosemary
Jesus said: This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you (John 13.35)

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.)