Introducing
Reverend Jim Cairney
HLUC Pastor
Welcome to Heart Lake United Church! Welcome – either in person, or
through your exploration of this website. I am also new to HLUC – as I am
a few months into a short-term contract with the congregation. I am on a
learning curve, as well.
I was ordained a minister of the United Church of Canada in 1981, and since then I have served in a variety of settings: rural, isolated, urban, suburban, well-established, and brand-new new congregations.
I believe in congregational life -- its benefits and its mission in our
communities.
While the landscape for congregations has dramatically changed with
secularization the last five decades, I believe that God’s grace often comes to us in Christian community and worship. There is a spiritual hunger and a loneliness in our society that can be met through participation in
congregational life.
Entering a congregation takes some openness and some persistence. As
Woody Allen said, “Eighty-percent of life is showing up.” It is a process of
building and deepening relationships. At HLUC we seek to be hospitable
and welcoming to you – regardless of who you and your life journey.
I am Montreal born, and Ancaster, Ontario raised. I have a degree in
journalism from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now TMU), and a masters from St. Andrew’s College, Saskatoon.
As a journalist, I have worked for The Hamilton Spectator and the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. I was an award-winning journalist, and I am a published author. I continue to serve in a small way as chaplain to Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services.
In 2012, I served for three months as overseas personnel of the United
Church of Canada, in the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program In Palestine & Israel. (EAPPI) Presently paused due to the war with Gaza – EAPPI is a program of the World Council of Churches. The United Church is a long time participant.
My international team (Wales, Ecuador, Switzerland, South Africa, Canada)
was living in the heart of the West Bank, Palestine, as observers,
photographers, and chroniclers of human rights abuses. We blogged our
experiences and also made reports to the United Nations. Our territory
covered 30 plus villages south of Nablus and most of the Jordan River
Valley. We also supported the Christian churches of Nablus. I have seen the ugly under-belly of the Occupation of Palestine.
The upside of that adventure, is that I have seen and visited most of the Holy Sites of Palestine and Israel.
I enjoy cooking, sailing, skiing, canoeing, swimming, travel, music and
theatre. My wife, Ann, and I enjoy two adult sons, a wonderful daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. My mother lives in a nursing home at 93.
I hope you continue to find your way into -- and your place in -- our
community of faith. I look forward to getting to know you.
In the meantime, grace and peace,
Reverend Jim Cairney.
