Vicars letter

August 2020

Click for the Vicars letter from July 2020

Joyful July!

Sunday 5 July was a good day - a very good day - in St George’s Church. We were finally allowed, by the Government and the Church of England, to consider opening for public worship once again. The churchwardens and I considered it; we did our risk assessments; and we held our first act of public worship for 16 weeks.

What a joyful service it was. There were restrictions (and there continue to be restrictions); things are not ‘back to normal’, but we were praising God and we were together. The pattern going forward through July and August is an 8am or 10am Communion service at St George’s each Sunday (see opposite for details). We will review what happens in September later in the month.

The last main service to be held in St George’s, prior to the lockdown starting, was on 15 March. We were fortunate to have our Bishop, The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Bishop of Dover, come to preach and preside at that service. Much to my surprise, the week after we came out of lockdown we had our Archbishop, the Most Revd Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, come to preach and preside at St Nicholas Sandhurst.

Both of these services - with our Bishop and with our Archbishop - were joyful events, although I’m afraid we were not able to advertise that the ‘ABC’ was coming: first because we had very little notice, and second because of the limitation of numbers that we can get into church under COVID-19 restrictions.

Other joyful events on the horizon are that we are able to conduct weddings once more in our churches, though with restrictions: a maximum of 30 people at present; social distancing; and no singing. The same restrictions apply to funeral services taking place in church, and also to private baptism services, but it is a joy to be able to do weddings again, to meet up with couples to prepare them for married life, and to plan their marriage ceremony with them.

Then on 30 August we will welcome our new curate, Ylva, to our two parishes, at the 8am service at St Nicholas and the 10am service at St George’s. You can find out a bit about Ylva on page 25. She is now licensed as a lay-worker in our parishes, and we hope that her ordination will go ahead at the end of September. It will be a joy to welcome her properly to the benefice.

As we think about these joyful things, we also remember those who are struggling, or who are grieving, or who are facing prejudices on a daily basis; and that we have a God who loves each of use equally, and calls us to do the same. So be joyful, and considerate, and continue to care for your neighbour. God bless.

Revd. David Commander
Rector

Benefice of Benenden and Sandhurst

T: 01580 240658 E: david@dc-uk.co.uk