Staff

Meet the people who work (and play) here. Our dynamic staff is committed to crafting impactful worship, enriching educational opportunities, deep care during life's important transitions, and an environment that follows the radical example of Jesus.

Rev. Robin Bartlett

Senior Pastor

The Reverend Robin Bartlett was called as Senior Pastor to the First Church in Sterling in May of 2014. She holds dual standing in the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ. Pastor Robin is a 2013 graduate of Boston University School of Theology (Masters of Divinity), and holds a Master of Arts in Counseling/Psychology from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She believes that our shared religious purpose is to learn how to love especially when it’s hard, and to heal division in our communities and the world.

Check out Pastor Robin's sermons on her website: revrobinbartlett.com/

You can contact Pastor Robin via email: robinwbartlett@gmail.com, or, in the case of a pastoral emergency, on her cell phone: 617-717-4011.

Kristin Collins

Office Manager

Kristin Collins grew up in Central Mass. She received her B.A. in English at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania before moving back to Massachusetts to teach and coach Cross Country and Track & Field at her former high school. She currently lives in West Boylston with her two sisters.

She has worked in the insurance industry for the past ten years, but is excited to be working now at First Church in Sterling.

Kristin is the Office Manager, and will coordinate the church's schedule, assemble the weekly bulletin and Friday newsletter, and will assist the MLTs and church members through her presence in the office.

Contact Kristin at sterlingoffice@gmail.com.

Jannatha (Janna) Coffin

Music Director

Jannatha (Janna) Coffin grew up in northern Maine and began taking piano lessons at the age of 5. She started teaching piano and dance lessons in her town when she was 15 and performed in her first musical theater production at the age of 12. Janna received her B.A. in Theatre from Florida State University and continued her studies at Emerson College where she earned an M.A. in Theatre Education. She plays piano, flute, bells and xylophone in addition to singing various styles from classical to pop.

Janna has been an educator and performer for over 25 years. She’s been a youth choir director, accompanist and music director for several UCC churches and is thrilled to be here at First Church! Janna owns and teaches piano and voice at New City Music Studio in Marlborough. She and her partner, Jim Gaudette have a guitar and vocal duo called January Station and live in Clinton with his 13 year old daughter, Lilly and her 15 year old son, Nathaniel.

Janna will be playing the piano, organ, accompanying the choir both at church and in their rehearsals, and helping Abby Haynes start up bell, children’s and youth choirs.

Contact Janna at 88keys@fcsterling.org

Stephanie Plante

Assistant Director of Music

Stephanie is the assistant music director. She provides the accompaniment by playing the piano and the pipe organ in addition to working alongside the music director. One of her goals is to direct the handbell choir and have them perform regularly during worship services. Stephanie lives in Rutland with her husband and three kids. Currently, she is student-teaching which will go towards getting her degree to become a Middle School Math teacher.

Kate Sheridan

Director of Youth and Adult Programs and Worship Assistant

Kate Sheridan has been a vocalist for First Church since 2019, expanding into a variety of ministries (Pizza Church, OWL, confirmation, off-the-cuff children's messages) before officially taking on the role of Director of Youth & Adult Programs. She has worked extensively in the arts and education alike, with a B.A. in Theatre from Holy Cross, an M.A. in Educational Theatre from NYU Steinhardt, and many many years of childcare experience (middle school special education, 10 years as a private nanny for infants through teenagers, living with twenty-four 19-year-old boys as a college RA...). As an artist, Kate currently serves as Education Director for Reagle Music Theatre in Waltham, MA, is a regular director, performer, and instructor at Theatre at the Mount, and has worked at institutions state-wide including: The Hanover Theatre Conservatory, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild, and Slate Casting. Her faith journey continues to be greatly rooted in the Jesuit values of reflection, service, and finding God in all things (including a good song, a good show, and a good slice of pizza).

Contact Kate at programs@fcsterling.org

Jenn Colburn

Director of Children's Faith Formation

Jennifer stepped in to fill the role of Director of Faith Formation in September of 2024. Jenn was raised here at First Church and has experienced Sunday School from the perspective of a student, teen teacher, adult teacher and aunt.

She has been a member of the Christian Education Team for several years, and served as a youth advisor to the youth fellowships and to our youth traveling to La Romana for many, many years.

She looks forward to working with our youth as they explore the Bible and develop their faith. Jenn lives here in Sterling with her dog Rodeo whom you will often see walking all around town.

Contact Jenn at education@fcsterling.org

Linda Davis

Media Director

If you see a picture of an event at First Church or watch one of our services online, odds are that Linda was behind the camera. She has been capturing our community with her camera for years, and she has given us the gift of documenting our church life. She also took all of the photos on this website!

Tony Castagna

Facilities Manager

Tony is the kind uncle you never knew you had. A plumber by training, he can fix anything, and always greets everyone at church with a smile. If something needs fixing, Tony's your guy. Any time something is hung up, laid out, or made to look nice in the sanctuary, Tony probably did it.