Welcome to the website for Ballantrae and St Colmon Parish Church a charge of the Church of Scotland.
Ballantrae Parish Church meets at 11:30am every Sunday.
Services are also held in Glenapp Church. ( Time and dates presently under review) 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
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There is a lot going on at your Ballantrae Church.
An informal coffee time continues on Tuesday mornings at 1030am in the BRICC house. Come along for some homemade goodies!
Glenapp church services happen at 3pm on the third Wednesday of each month.
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Reflection
Sunday 13th September 2026
Matthew 18: 21-35
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
In our services today we reflected on the reading under three headings.
Firstly, we looked at Peters “question concerning forgiveness”.
We looked at why Peter asked how many times we should forgive others. And we looked at how Peter seemed to come up with the suggestion of seven times. Rabbinic teaching suggested that we should forgive three times and no more. Peter possibly doubled this number and added one for good measure, and came up with what he thought was very generous. We then noted Jesus response: not seven times but seventy-seven times. We considered how this is a very real problem for us too today, to go on forgiving those who wrong us.
Secondly, we looked at “the cost of forgiveness”. We considered the parable, which is one of great contrasts. The man in the story was let off an incredible debt, then was merciless when it came to someone who owed him very little relatively speaking. Each person who comes to faith in Christ is let off an incredible debt to God. All of us have sinned and fallen short of Gods standards. Jesus went to cross that we might know our sins forgiven and be reconciled to God. Before a holy God we stand condemned, until we clothe ourselves in Christs forgiveness. When people wrong us, it is nothing in comparison to this. When we are wronged, we should look back to the day of our deliverance and forgiveness and be moved to forgive.
Thirdly, we looked at the “call to forgive”. Throughout the New Testament we see this call to forgive others. To keep right with God, we need be merciful to others.
Bishop J C Ryle urged people to return good for evil and blessing for cursing in order to “melt down enmity, and change our foes into friends”.. He said this after reflecting on how most of the world’s problems are caused by unforgiveness. Christians can give a wonderful witness to the world by showing forth forgiveness in their lives. Six years ago, my visitors, Brother Biagio Conti and Davide were on their pilgrimage around Europe spreading a message of Hope, a hope to be found in God. They were telling people to “respond to evil with good actions and to stand together as a human race” May we be forgiving people who help to make this world a better place. May we engage in this process of love that lives may be touched for the better.
Every blessing
Rev`d Theo Corney