New Hope United Methodist Church Names New Pastor

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The congregation of New Hope United Methodist Church, serving North Adams and Williamstown, this month officially welcomed its new pastor, Stephen Dale, appointed by Bishop Devadhar to lead the congregation.  

Dale joins the Northern Berkshire community after serving two years in Bennington, Vt. He started the Bennington AfterDark community in late 2018, and was invited to serve the Pownal UMC as pastor in July 2019.

Dale has been serving churches in New England for the past 11 years, beginning as a licensed local pastor and completing his master of divinity at Boston University in 2015. Dale was commissioned into provisional membership after a year in Northern Maine, and finally ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church at annual conference last year. 

Previous to Dale's transition, he spent 20 years working in information technology. 

"Tech is a big part of how I enter the world, and a big part of how I participate in the shared ministry of a United Methodist Church and its pastor," he said.

Dale said he is looking forward to this opportunity to join the church, particularly in bolstering the ongoing development of 192 State St., a North Adams property purchased by the church in 2015.

"God has begun something wonderful here at New Hope, and God is going to continue to move us forward into undreamt of avenues of service in love," he said.

Dale delivered his first worship service with New Hope on Sunday, July 12, at 10 a.m. on New Hope’s Facebook page and Youtube channel. His next virtual worship service is Sunday, July 19, at 10 a.m.

Previous to Dale, New Hope was served by Pastor Dan Randall and Pastor Courtney Randall, who were appointed by Bishop Devadhar to Global Ministries as Missionaries in the Methodist Liaison Office in Jerusalem. The congregation said goodbye to Dan and Courtney at a drive-by worship on June 21. They had served the church since 2013. 

Driscoll Focuses on Outdoor Recreation for 413 Day

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:50PM / Monday, April 13, 2026

Brian Gilbert of Hilltown Anglers gives the lieutenant governor a lesson in casting at the Zoar Picnic Area on River Road. 

FLORIDA, Mass. — Last year, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll celebrated 413 Day with a tour of Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. 

 

This year, it was in the middle of a river. 

 

Driscoll was getting a lesson in fly fishing from Brian Gilbert of Hilltown Anglers after a speaking to outdoor recreation stakeholders at Berkshire East in Charlemont. 

 

"We started our day in Gill, Massachusetts, where we talked about housing choice and really making sure our small and rural communities can participate in our housing programs and have priorities for more funding," she said. "And being at Berkshire [East] Mountain, it was just terrific to be able to hear from so many outdoor rec enthusiasts about what we have in Franklin County and Berkshire County to really celebrate eco-tourism and how we can partner with our local stakeholders." 

 

Gilbert gave the lieutenant governor a quick rundown on fly fishing gear and techniques and then had her do some dry land practice casts (and warning everyone to step back) before she got her waders on. 

 

"Outdoor recreation is really one of the important drivers of the economy and community out here, and it's also a heck of a lot of fun and and important for public health," said Paul Jahnige, director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation, while Driscoll was in the middle of the Deerfield River.

 

His office is working an Industry Pathways Project to find how the state can better support the outdoor recreation industry. It's held several virtual listening sessions in addition to that morning's with area businesses and state agencies in Franklin County.