Dr. Cynthia Huggins is the Music Director at Centre Street, directing the Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir, and Women's Ensemble. A native Southerner, Cindy holds a B.A. in Music from Furman University and a Ph.D. in English from the UNC Greensboro. Her background includes teaching college classes in British literature and life writing, and then spending ten years as President of the University of Maine at Machias. Cindy also serves as Centre Street's Moderator and leads the Worship Planning Team.
Bonnie Atkinson, our marvelous pianist, accompanies the Chancel Choir and plays the hymns and service music on our beautiful Steinway piano on Sunday mornings. Bonnie holds a B.A. in Music Education from the University of Maine and a M.A. in Music Education from Gordon College. She teaches guitar, band, and choir at Washington Academy in East Machias. Bonnie has been a member of the Machias music community since moving to Downeast Maine in 1997, playing for local churches, musicals, Machias Town Band performances and more.
Sarina Brooks, Director of Pastoral Care Director, guides the work of Centre Street's Care Team and is available to Centre Street congregants in times of crisis, grief, or difficult life changes. A student in the Pathways Theological Education Program, Sarina will soon be a Member in Discernment in the Sunrise Association of the Maine Conference. A licensed mental health therapist, Sarina enjoys gardening, construction projects, cooking. Sarina is passionate about being serving others on behalf of the Holy.
Linda Mills, our administrative assistant, keeps things moving smoothly in the church office. A relatively new member of Centre Street, Linda moved to the Machias area two years ago after a twenty-year career as Director of the Visitors Center at Habitat for Humanity's headquarters in Americus, Georgia. Linda loves hiking, spending time with her grandchildren, and volunteering for the Machias Area Food Pantry. At Centre Street, she also serves on the Worship Planning Team and the Tech Team, helping to ensure that things go smoothly for the Zoom participants in our hybrid worship services.
Melissa Brooks cleans our church until it shines and often helps with coffee fellowship. Missy has spent most of her life right here in Machias. She loves caring for her animals, including several cats, guinea pigs named Waldo and Elmer, and three fish. Missy is always ready to lend a hand to her family and friends, and she loves music, adventures with her sister Sarina, looking for sea critters at the beach, and just enjoying the beauty of Downeast Maine. Missy's deep love and abiding faith in God are obvious to everyone she meets.
Alan Kryszak occasionally contributes his musical talent to Centre Street worship services. A professional musician who writes and performs his own music, Alan also teaches at the University of Maine at Machias and directs documentary films, as seen on Maine Public and PBS venues. Alan has lived in Downeast Maine since 2014, along with his beloved wife Joyce Kryszak, and their dog. According to Alan, "Centre Street puts their money where other hungry mouths are, and that’s why they’re the real deal in my book. By the way, my book is short and has lots of pictures."