Welcome to the website for Ballantrae Parish Church linked with St Colmon Parish Church, a charge of the Church of Scotland.
Ballantrae Parish Church meets at 11:30am every Sunday.
Sunday Services have started again with social distancing and mandatory wearing of masks to minimize the spread of the Covid 19 virus.
Services are also held on the first Sunday of the month (April will be 2nd Sunday) at 3pm in Glenapp Church. This a liturgical and ecumenical service led by a dedicated group from the congregation of Ballantrae.
All the services are times of fellowship, prayer, worship and reflection on God’s word, as we get to know the living God more.
It will be great to see you at any of our services and if you want more information about either of the churches, please contact us
2nd May 2021
Easter 5
Acts 8: 26-40
John 15: 1-8
Hymns: Jesus is Lord & You are the vine
The Vine and the Braches
The idea of the Jewish nation being the vine of God is found in many places in the Old Testament. The idea being that Gods people should bear fruit in their lives. In most instances reference is made to the people being wild and unfruitful. This analogy would be well known to Jesus’ disciples. The vine stood for God’s people Israel and was depicted in a golden vine in the temple at Jerusalem.
Jesus described himself as the true vine, he represented all that his people should be. He bore forth fruit and faith and love for others.. He also described God as the gardener. Jesus was emphasising the need for us to bear fruit in our lives by being vitally attached to him. There are those in the world and even in the church that bear no fruit and are not vitally linked to Christ. Ignoring Christ invites disaster. But he gives grace and his Spirit to those who seek to do his will. This inevitably leads to fruits such as repentance, faith in Christ and holiness of life. Further God prunes those who are his own that they might grow in their faith and become ever more fruitful. The saints of old prove this point, they were all it seems refined by times of testing and trials.
May we bear fruit for Christ by allowing his life-giving sap to flow through us. And through trials which come our way may we grow ever more fruitful as we are weaned from the world to Christ.
Many plants need to be drastically pruned and cut back in order to grow optimum fruits and flowers. Sometimes God needs to help us to see what is most important in life and needs to make us more fruitful. During this time of year as we see the blossoming plants and shoots of growth may we be reminded of Gods desire for us to be fruitful.
Every blessing
Rev`d Theo Corney
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The Church an induction loop system
and disabled access