GILFORD — On Sunday, June 18, Hope Ministries of the First United Methodist Church of Gilford held a service of farewell for Rev. Jim Shook and his wife, Cal, at which the congregation celebrated his service to the church and community.
Shook served as pastor in Gilford for six years and is retiring after more than 40 years in pastoral ministry. He has served communities from the White Mountains to the Canadian border in Maine to the inner-city of Springfield, Massachusetts. Just prior to serving in Gilford, he served the York-Ogunquit United Methodist Church.
During his time in Gilford, the church adopted the name Hope Ministries to share a desire to reach out and, by word and deed, share the good news that God loves all people.
When Rev. Shook first arrived in Gilford, in 2017, he was quoted as saying, “While the circumstances in which we serve Jesus have changed, the need for those around us to experience the love of God in relevant and vibrant ways is as real as ever.”
At the time, he could not have foreseen the major change in circumstances caused by the pandemic. Shook led the congregation in finding new ways to stay connected, to invest in using 21st-century means to reach out to the community and to maintain a focus on mission.
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