Worship Services

Centre Street Church is a richly blessed group of progressive Christians who love God, our neighbors, and each other, and we are excited about where God is leading us.

Our Worship Planning Team, deacons, musicians, and worship speakers all work together to create worship services that are thought-provoking, Spirit filled, justice oriented, and relevant to the challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century. Our diverse group of worship speakers are all followers of Jesus, but we come from a wide range of spiritual backgrounds and practices.

At Centre Street, as members of the priesthood of all believers, we're all called to employ our spiritual gifts in ministering to others and to participate as equals in worship, each with direct access to God. This was true of the New Testament church over two thousand years ago, and it's still true today. Instead of one pastor, we have fifty!

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January and February

During January and February, worship services are held exclusively on Zoom. The sanctuary remains closed to reduce our use of heating oil and so that we can avoid driving on icy, snow-covered roads.

Do Unto Others

This winter we're using the "Do Unto Others" worship series from the  Worship Design Studio .  What if the church could model coming together to care for one another in the midst of what feels like so much hate and discord? Let's look for a common good—even if we can't find common ground—with those who we might consider to be on the "other side" politically ideologically.

Click HERE to join any January worship service on Zoom.

Jan. 19 — Humility: Listen More, Speak Less
"Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received from God. Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love." (Ephesians 4:1–2)

Jan. 26 — Respect: Living Together on Uncommon Ground
"If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part gets the glory, all the parts celebrate with it. You are the body of Christ and parts of each other." (1 Corinthians 12:26–27)

March through December

On the first three Sundays of each month, worship services are held in the sanctuary and livestreamed on Zoom.

On most fourth Sundays, services are held exclusively on Zoom and the church sanctuary remains closed.

On the occasional fifth Sunday, we don't hold a formal worship service. Instead, we visit other churches, worship online, or spend time with the holy in our own individual ways.

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What to expect at a Centre Street service

• Sunday services begin at 10:00.
  
• Worship service bulletins and Zoom links are emailed to newsletter subscribers on Saturday mornings.
• The sanctuary is fully accessible by elevator, with handicap parking adjacent to the building on both sides.
• Our kids' corner at the back of the sanctuary is available for children.
• Large-print bulletins are available at the door.
• You'll find the offering plate at the back of the sanctuary, or you can contribute to our shared ministry online at Tithely.
• Everyone is welcome to join in Holy Communion. Everyone means everyone.
• After the service, stop by the vestry for Coffee Fellowship.
• If you encounter problems on Zoom, please let our Tech Team know. They're there to help!
  

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Speakers
To read recent messages from Centre Street's lay speakers, click on the titles below.

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Laurel Robinson, a deacon,  serves on Church Council and participates in the Chancel Choir and Handbell Choir. Laurel earned a Master of Arts degree in writing and editing at UNC-Greensboro and moved to Maine in 1997. A Centre Streeter since 2003, Laurel is a professional copyeditor. She and Cindy Huggins were married at Centre Street in 2014.

• Dare to Hope: A Message for Advent (12-24-23)
• Laying Down the Laws (11-5-23)
• The Yoke and Burden of Jesus (7-9-23)
• Tourists and Travelers (5-7-23)

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Cynthia Huggins leads Centre Street's music program and Worship Planning Team. A proud Southerner who grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Cindy holds degrees in music, religious studies, and English. Now retired from a career in higher education, including serving as president of UMaine Machias, Cindy has been a Centre Streeter since 2003.

• The New Testament Church: A Refuge for the 21st Century? (6-16-24)
• The Presence of God in the New Testament Church (6-9-24)
• Who's Really Foolish (11-12-23)
• Blueberries: The Tenth Fruit of the Spirit (8-20-23)

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Lynne Gibson lives in Machiasport and works for the Department of Health and Human Services.  A Centre Streeter since 1998, she participates in the Chancel Choir, Women's Ensemble, and Handbell Choir. Currently serving as clerk, financial secretary, and Council member,  Lynne is president of the Board for the Machias Area Food Pantry.

• Are We There Yet? (6-2-24)
• Where's the Love? (12-10-23)
• World Food Day (10-15-23)
• The Fine Print (8-13-23)

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Sarina Brooks, a deacon, serves on Church Council and participates in the Chancel Choir and Women's Ensemble. She's also a Member in Discernment in the Sunrise Association and a student in the Pathways Theological Education Program. A professional therapist, Sarina is licensed as Centre Street's Director of Pastoral Care and leads the Care Team.

• What's My Line? (1-28-24)
• Teach Us to Number Our Days (11-17-23)
• Judge Not and Pass the Ketchup, Please (10-08-23)
• Doubting Thomas Got a Bad Rap (04-16-23)

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Ernie Atkinson is an avid bike rider and a long-time member of the Chancel Choir. Ernie moved to Maine in 1993 for an internship involving Atlantic salmon, and he's been working to restore this magnificent creature ever since. Ernie and his wife Bonnie, our church pianist, are the proud parents of two wonderful young men.

• Watching, Always Watching (1-14-24)
• Why, the River (8-6-23)
• A New Hope: Serenity in the New Year (1-1-23)
• Why Do We Hike? (10-9-22)

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Bonnie Beiswenger, who moved to Dennysville in 2019, worked as a therapeutic recreation specialist and later a teaching assistant in special education before retiring. A volunteer for the Machias Area Food Pantry, Bonnie serves on Church Council and sings in the Chancel Choir. She also enjoys playing piano, hammered dulcimer, and guitar.

• Meet the Mystics (7-14-24)
  
• Cut to the Chase (5-5-24)
  
• Peace When There Is No Peace (12-3-23)
• Pure and Simple (10-01-23)
  

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Ellen Farnsworth directs the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival, chairs the Trustees, and participates in the Chancel Choir and Handbell Choir. Ellen moved to Maine in 1976 and has worked as a Family Visitor for Maine Families for 25 years. She and husband Don enjoy spending time with their blended family of seven children and seven grandchildren.

• Planting Forests (6-23-24)
  
• What Belongs to God (10-22-23)
  
• Jesus's Gift to Lazarus (3-26-23)
• Change Is Hard, But God's Got This (11-20-22)
  

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Joyce Kryszak is a veteran journalist whose work as a public radio reporter and producer for NPR affiliate WBFO in Buffalo earned her an Edward R. Murrow Regional Award and Associated Press awards for reporting on government, social justice, cultural affairs, and the environment. She also reported for the national desk of NPR, Voice of America, and others.

• Stand as You Are Able (7-7-24)
  
• The Ephemeral Garden (6-18-23)
  
• Would You Please, for the Love of God, Pay Attention (2-20-22)

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Ed Mosel and wife Carol are long-time summer residents of Bog Lake in Northfield, and they've been attending Centre Street, where Ed sings in the Chancel Choir, since 1988. A retired business executive, Ed serves as treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Machias Area Food Pantry and on the Board of Reell Precision Manufacturing in St. Paul, Minnesota.

• It's Like Herding Cats (8-4-24)
  
• Faith: Complex, Challenging, yet a Cornerstone (9-13-23)
• Thank You, God, for Change . . . Really? (7-24-22)

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Rev. Art Nelson and Laurel, his wife, were summer residents of Downeast Maine—and two of Centre Street's strongest supporters—for many years.  Now making their home in Northbrook, Illinois, Art and Laurel grace us with their presence occasionally at worship services, thanks to the magic of Zoom. We were especially blessed to have Art as our Zoom guest preacher on April 23, 2023. To watch Art's message, "Emmaus Sightings," click HERE!

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