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Strength in Weakness

Our world doesn’t always value weakness. We like to believe that we are strong and have it altogether. Many of us don’t want others to see weakness in our lives and we prefer to project an image of strength. On social media it is easier to appear strong, together, happy and successful. Strength and influence are often more valued than weakness and vulnerability. 
 
The Bible challenges the way that we think about weakness, as it does many other areas of our lives. God shows us that there is a kind of weakness that is a strength, and warns us against the dangers of pride. One of the clearest examples of this is in the life of King Uzziah. 2 Chronicles 26 tells us of his reign. He started very well, one of the few kings of whom it is said,

‘He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.’ 
 
Uzziah sought the Lord as he led the people and listened to Zechariah the prophet who instructed in him in God’s ways (v 4 – 5). The Lord gave him great success as he fought Israel’s enemies; as he built cities, towers and armies. He had livestock and land, and he made great machines and weapons, all with the blessing and help of the Lord. So much so that his fame spread to other nations. As stories of his strength were told he became proud. His strength became his weakness because he stopped seeking and depending on God. He forgot that he was ‘marvellously helped’ (v15) by God and that was why he had become strong. The writer tells us, 
 
‘But when he was strong, he grew proud to his destruction.’ (v 16).
 
A symptom of his spiritual condition was his decision to take the role of the priests and offer unauthorised incense on the altar. He knew this was wrong and when challenged by Azariah and the other priests, he became angry. How dare they challenge him! God then struck him with leprosy. This was a punishment but also a mercy; to humble him and cause him to seek God again. 
 
In the new testament, the apostle Paul describes his ‘thorn in the flesh’ (2 Corinthians 12.7). This ‘thorn’, whatever it was, was very painful. So painful, that he pleaded with the Lord to take it away. But God told Paul, ‘My grace is sufficient for you in weakness’ (v9). This thorn was to stop Paul becoming proud due to his heavenly visions. Therefore, Paul said, ‘He would boast all the more gladly of his weaknesses. So that the power of Christ may rest in me’… ‘For when I am weak, then I am strong.’ (v9-10)
 
Perhaps you are reading this today and feel a sense of weakness: something of which you are ashamed; a physical, mental or emotional pain; a circumstance of life. This weakness may be the very thing that has kept you calling out to God, depending on his help. If the Lord give you physical health and material blessings, do not be distracted from him. In your ‘strength’ do not become proud. If there is something in your life that has caused you to feel weak, pray that God would use that very thing to demonstrate his strength and power in you. There is a day coming when it will be gone. And we will see the one who,
 
‘Was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God.’ (2 Cor 13 v 4)
 
Lewis Campbell

Lewis Campbell, 30/06/2026

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Glenys
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Welcome 

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

We meet at the Church Building (details here) for our Sunday Morning Service starting at 11:15am. For your first visit, we recommend arriving early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. We also serve tea and coffee before the service, so feel free to come from around 10:45 and enjoy refreshments.

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Accessibility: There is wheelchair access from the side door along the lane on the right hand side of the building as you approach, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you. There is an accessible toilet in the main foyer.

Our Services:
Sunday Mornings

Kirkwall Baptist Church-4413

Our main Sunday service begins at 11:15am with a welcome from one of our team members and notices for the week. Then follows a time of sung worship, led by our band. We typically have 5 or 6 songs lasting approximately 25 minutes. Please feel free to stand or sit during the worship time. There is usually a brief children's talk or video before one of our leaders or preaching team will give a sermon that is Bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We then finish with a final worship song. There is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service with one of our prayer team.
Our Sunday morning service is usually streamed live to our FaceBook page and our YouTube page.

On the first Sunday of the month we normally celebrate The Lord's Supper as part of our morning worship.
With regard to any children who may have stayed in the service we regard it as the responsibility of the parent or guardian of any child to decide whether or not it is appropriate for the child to take part in Communion.

What about my kids?

Our Sunday morning service includes Sunday School and Bible Class:

  • Creche (pre-school) in the rear hall through the door to the left of the platform.
  • Sunday School (Primary 1-7)
  • Bible Class (Secondary 1-3)

Children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service for the welcome, songs and notices. We really value worshipping God all together as a family. At the end of the children's talk someone will announce that it’s time for the younger members to go to their various groups.

The kids group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, Bible stories, music, craft, etc. Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes.

Café Church:
Sunday Evenings at 7:00pm

cafe church

On Sundays at 7:00pm we meet in a more informal Café Church style service around tables.
The service includes a time of worship, discussion, prayer, and a member of the preaching team gives a word. Refreshments are served. We also include a time of communion as part of our worship except for the first Sunday of the month.

Getting Connected


Small Groups

Small Groups are as important in the life of the church as Sunday worship. Large group teaching can be best applied in smaller settings and all of us need the support, encouragement and prayer of friends. Smaller groups can also be more effective in reaching out to our communities.Meeting formats vary but generally include the four Ws: Welcome,Worship, Word, Witness. That means time to relax and unwind, time spent worshipping God, time studying and discussing the previous Sunday’s teaching and time thinking about application and praying for each other and for others outside the group. The number and composition of the Small Groups changes from time to time and all are always open to visitors and new folk. When numbers become too large the Small Group may split to form two groups.

The following is a list of current Small Groups as of 2025:
Tuesday: 7:30 pm in Finstown (weekly) – talk to Ian and Lindsay.
Wednesday: 7:30pm in Finstown (weekly) – talk to Paul and Caroline.
        7:30 pm in South Ronaldsay/ Kirkwall (weekly) – talk to Mike and Alan.
        8:00 pm online (fortnightly) – talk to Paul and Hannah.
Thursday: 2:00 pm Ladies Bible study in Kirkwall (weekly) – talk to Carolyn.
        8:00 pm in Kirkwall (weekly) – talk to Rognvald and Margaret.
Friday: 7:30 pm Upper Room, Youth Group @KBC (weekly during term time) – talk to Fraser.
Saturday: 5:30 pm in Tankerness (monthly) – talk to Gordon and Kirsti.
Sunday: After morning service – Young Adults Group (fortnightly) – talk to Daniel.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team. We usually have a special Ministries Sunday each year with stalls for each of the ministries we are involved in, both for the church and in the community. See our Join A Team page for more information.

Get in touch with us to plan your visit
If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.
 
Name:
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Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.