Thia Jubinville, Church Administrator

Thia has been a member of CC for  over 30 years, has kept the financial books for over 25 yrs. and has served as Church Administrator for 18 years.  We think she likes it here.  Thia is responsible for a wide range of administrative responsibilities, including managing the church database and financial bookkeeping, producing all publications and the coordinating of all activities in the church’s building,  Thia is a proud mom to daughters Kate and Laura (and kitty Mia) and enjoys reading, yoga and meditation, shopping and spending time with her daughters. She is most grateful to Center Church and its grace-filled members for all they have helped her learn throughout her years and involvement here.

Kate Hoffman, Children’s Faith Formation Director

Kate begins her role as Faith Formation Director after having served as Chair of the Faith Formation Team for many years.  She brings with her, a great deal of teaching experience and a great love of Children.  Kate and her husband, John, have been members of Center Church since they moved to South Hadley in 2011 and have participated in so many ways, serving on teams, singing in the Choir, helping out with various events.  They have 4 grown children and 5 grandchildren.  Kate feels the banner hanging on the outside of the Church encapsulates her story and beliefs:       

Be the Church

   Protect the environment.  Care for the poor.  Forgive often.  Reject Racism.

Fight for the Powerless.  Share earthly and spiritual resources.  Embrace diversity.

Love God.  Enjoy this life.

Chelsea Korzeniowski, Teaching Assistant

Chelsea served as caregiver in the church Nursery for many years, but now works with the Faith Formation Director with children in grades K – 6.. With new babies arriving she may be back in the Nursery soon.   

Chelsea  has a background in Early Childhood Education.

Kayla Scott-McDowell, Co-Youth Leader

Kayla is working with our youth group,   Kayla hails from New York City and is a Senior at MHC.  She is a biochemistry/sociology major.  Kayla came to us from Bard College where she received her A.A. in liberal arts in June 2020.  Before MHC, she was active in the Bard High School Early College Queens program for two and a half years.  Locally she served as a tutor and mentor for Girls, Inc. of the Valley based in Holyoke. 

Clare Messina-Fitzgerald   

Clare joined the Staff in October 2022 as Co-Youth Leader.  She is a Senior at MHC. 

Larry Schipull, Organist

Larry Schipull has served as organist for Center Church for well over 2 decades.  During the week he is Professor of Music at Mount Holyoke College.  He earned his doctorate at Yale University, where he was Assistant University Organist; he is a summa cum laude graduate of Drake University in his native Iowa.  He won a unanimous First Prize at the Conservatoire nationale de musique (Rueil-Malmaison), where he was a student of Marie-Claire Alain, and he also won the Music Teachers National Association and Ottumwa National organ competitions. He has appeared as organ soloist with orchestras both near (Pioneer Valley Symphony) and far (Curaçao, Hong Kong and Macau), and he collaborates frequently with his Mount Holyoke colleagues in chamber music performances.

Gil Wermeling, Choir Director

  Gil joined the Center Church Staff in September 2022.  Originally from Abington Pennsylvania, he came to the valley in 2015  and has grown more infatuated with Western Mass with every passing year.  He is completing his Masters of      Choral Conducting at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he studies with Lindsay Pope.  Gil received his BA in Music from Amherst College where he was also awarded the Lincoln Lowell Russell Prize, “awarded to the senior who has done the most to foster the singing spirit at Amherst.”.  He has worked in the music department of Amherst College for two years as a graduate associate teaching aural skills and musicianship sections as well as assisting the choirs. Gil thinks you would really enjoy singing in the Center Church choir.  

Cindy Morrell, Associate in Music

Cindy is Center Church born and raised. She participated in Sunday School from a young age and accompanied the high school worship services when we were running double sessions in the ’60s. Cindy took organ lessons from Susie Conant. (Center Church Organist for many years) and continued organ at Mount Holyoke.  She began subbing in high school as organist for summer services. Cindy sang in the Angel & Pilgrim choirs and now the Senior choir, accompany them at weekly rehearsals. She plays the organ/piano Sunday service duets with Larry Schipull. She calls Center Church her “home” and says  it gives her support, joy, and laughter .She looks forward to choir on Thursday and services on Sunday.

Robert Farman,  Sexton

Bob joined the staff in October of 2015 as our Sexton.  He grew up in South Hadley, graduated from SH High and was a member of the Falls Congregational church for many years.   Bob spent many years working for the Friendly corporation as a special project coordinator, covering recycling, waste management, logistics and catering. Bob also serves as a crossing guard for the Chicopee schools  – a job he enjoys and works “with spirit” (like wearing a Rudolph nose at Christmas time.)   He enjoys reading, going to the Cape, collecting political memorabilia and rooting for the Yankees.