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

Assistant 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

Assistant 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 21st April - The Fourth Sunday of Easter - and for the week ahead:

Scripture:

¹¹ ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’     John 10:11-18

Reflection: 

The picture that Jesus paints is vivid. The wolf comes, the hired hand runs away, the sheep are snatched and scattered. We can feel the violence, the fear of the hired hand and the sheep, the destructive force of the wolf.

Who is the wolf for you? Is it the devil? Is it your own fear? Is it outside forces over which we have no control?

Whoever, or whatever is scaring you and sending you to flight, learn to listen instead to the voice of your good shepherd, Jesus Christ. He knows you, and he loves you. He has laid down his life for you, that’s how much he loves you!

He lays down his life for his sheep, but he does so willingly, without compulsion or coercion. And this is how we recognise his love. It is free and freely given, and it sets us free. Free to give ourselves to love, to one another and to life itself.

Revd Ylva

“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 APRIL:

Sunday 7th - Second Sunday of Easter

8 am Holy Communion

10 am  All Age Communion

5 pm Choral Evensong

Sunday 14th - Third Sunday of Easter

8 am 1662 BCP Holy Communion

10 am Morning Worship

Sunday 21st - Fourth Sunday of Easter

8 am Holy Communion

10 am Sung Eucharist

Sunday 28th - Fifth Sunday of Easter

8 am Holy Communion followed by breakfast at the Memorial Hall

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 Mondays and Fridays and at the Mission Church, Back Road, Sandhurst TN18 5JU at 8am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays