What does a career minister do when no longer able to work in local church ministry after decades and yet years before official retirement age?
Rev. Judy Shook, who served Ukiah United Methodist Church for eight years ending in June 2018, is inviting friends and community to help her celebrate the end of her local church ministry. She has been unable to work since November 2020, due to the chronic illness of Long Covid.
With her official retirement still five to 10 years away, Shook realized, “Having passed the fourth anniversary of my “rug-pulled-out-from-underneath-me” journey with Long-Covid, there are no significant changes in my ability to work. So, I wanted to honor my ministry with those who appreciated it.”
During the years she was in Ukiah, Rev. Shook led and collaborated in community advocacy for gender and racial equity, environmental justice, and support for vulnerable community members.
Among her accomplishments while in Ukiah, she helped establish community fire relief and recovery efforts. She founded an interfaith clergy women’s group, coordinated Interfaith World Forgiveness Day events, mentored Ukiah High School leadership in the March for Our Lives events, and collaboratively led Heart and Soul, an interfaith group for people exploring soul-work as a part of the Transition Town movement.
Throughout her time in Ukiah, she utilized her training in Creation Spirituality, an Earth-based spiritual wisdom and practice. For example, she created and coordinated Earth Art Heart events and programs in collaboration with interfaith leaders, local artists, and United Methodist leadership. As a credentialed Interplay leader, she taught classes and hosted several international leaders.
Shook has studied numerous mystics who dealt with their own chronic illness. “What I have come to view as initiation has called forth in me a deeper trust in my soul wisdom and practices. Accepting my limits and symptoms has been most challenging. This is part of my personal great turning. I’m deeply grateful to have healed enough to be able to do a little spiritual coaching and facilitate a small spiritual group online,” she shared.
After being ordained as United Methodist Minister in 1987, she served 32 years. Before that, she also served in local churches both full time and part time. Her ministry has taken her around the United States to serve from Oklahoma to the Southern tip of Texas, from Texas to the Western-most point of California, then to Hawaii, Alaska, and Asheville, North Carolina. In California, those congregations were in Ukiah, Point Arena, Fort Bragg, Sonoma and Aptos.
The public is invited to the Celebration of Judy Shook’s Ministry online and in-person on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 1 p.m., at Ukiah United Methodist Church, 270 N. Pine St.
The celebration will be held in the sanctuary with leadership from Rev. Kimberly Elliot of Fairfax Community United Congregational Church and Cynthia Winton-Henry of Hidden Monastery and Co-Founder of Interplay, along with Rev. Michele Robbins, current pastor of Ukiah United Methodist Church and some lay members.
Rev. Shook and her husband, Peter Barrett, will be attending in-person for the celebration. Reception to follow in the social hall.
To be with them online, go to UkiahUMC.org for the link to join Ukiah United Methodist Church’s Facebook live. Some of the comments from the Facebook Live will be shared during the gathering.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Ukiah United Methodist Church to celebrate Judy Shook’s ministry )
Also on site :
- Iconic Actress, 75, Turns Heads in Rare Red Carpet Appearance
- Stunning '80s Soap Opera Star, 75, Is Unrecognizable in Recent Outing
- Powerful explosion rocks California, one fatality confirmed