Parish Leadership
The Church is described as the Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head and of which all baptized persons are members. It is called the People of God, the new Israel, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, and the pillar and ground of truth.
– The Book of Common Prayer, p. 854.
The Rev. Lawrence Civale, Priest-in-Charge
Father Civale became Priest-in-Charge at Christ Church, Woodbury, NJ on August 1, 2023.
Father Civale grew up in the Albany area. He first started worshiping in the Episcopal Church as a teenager and has worshiped and served as a layperson throughout much of his life in urban parishes in the Albany area, New York City and Boston.
Prior to his ordination to the priesthood in December 2020, he worked as a clinical social worker, psychotherapist and as a senior congregational consultant in the Diocese of Massachusetts. He was sponsored for ordination by the Church of the Advent, Boston. In 2017 he went on to study at Virginia Theological Seminary, where he received a Master’s in Divinity. Since his ordination, he has served as Priest-in-Charge at St Paul’s in Chester, PA and Interim Priest at St. John on the Mountain in Bernardsville, NJ. He loves to be outdoors and enjoys long walks and hiking and touching the things that God offers in the natural world. As well, he enjoys traveling, museums, singing, concerts of all types of music, and exploring the New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania region.
Mr. Nicholas Mynyk, Choir Director and Organist
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Nicholas Mynyk as our new Choir Director and Organist. Nicholas is a distinguished leader in the professional, academic, and sacred music communities, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion.
With an extensive background as a performer, teacher, clinician, and minister of music, Nicholas has showcased his talents as a solo pianist, organist, harpist, harpsichordist, violinist, and conductor across the United States, France, Monaco, and Italy. He has also held significant leadership roles, including Vice President and President of the Philadelphia Music Teachers Association, where he currently serves as chair of the Kiszely Carnegie Hall Memorial Recital in NYC. During his presidency, he initiated a scholarship program for underrepresented students and teachers in Philadelphia.
Nicholas’s academic journey includes serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Temple University, where he taught both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as elementary and high school students. His affiliations extend to prestigious institutions such as Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Community Conservatory of Doylestown, and St. Andrew School in Newtown, PA.
As an Episcopalian, Nicholas has served at several notable churches, including St. Peter’s in Perth Amboy, Trinity Cathedral in Trenton, Princeton University Chapel, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Newtown, PA, and Yardley United Methodist Church in Yardley, PA.
We are excited to have Nicholas join our Christ Church family and look forward to the musical inspiration and leadership he will bring to our community.
Ms. Elizabeth Murphy, Parish Administrator
Elizabeth “Betsy” Murphy became a member of our staff as of September 2024. A lifelong Episcopalian, Betsy brings a deep commitment to our faith community and a wealth of experience in church ministry.
Betsy is actively involved in various roles including Parish Administrator, and Digital Communications in several area churches. She brings over 5 years of experience as a Parish Administrator and 8 years as a Director of Christian Formation, she has proven her dedication to nurturing spiritual growth and supporting church operations.
We are excited to have Betsy on board and look forward to the many ways she will contribute to our parish life.
Mrs. Mariana Torres, Parish Sexton
Mrs. Torres officially joined our staff as part-time parish Sexton in February 2009. She oversees the maintenance and orderly presentation of our parish buildings, facilities, and grounds. She is also a highly respected member of a local school maintenance staff. She is the mother of two children and the grandmother of one.
Mrs. Helen Gwalthney, Volunteer Coordinator
Mrs. Helen Gwalthney serves as our parish Volunteer Coordinator. Helen came to this position in September of 2020 with over twenty-years as a baptized, pledging communicant of our parish. She has served quite capably in many volunteer roles herself to include the pictorial directory committee, the Bulk Mail team, as an office volunteer, and even in interest of pulling decades if not centuries of archival information out of storage boxes and assisting with its orderly presentation in which future generations may have benefit.
A resident of Woodbury, Helen taught Latin and English for 34 years at Overbrook Senior High School in Pine Hill, NJ. She holds a BA degree from Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey.
Helen’s oversight embraces the efforts of our office volunteers, our parish shoppers, St. Martha’s Guild, and the Bulk Mail team. She builds community around committed, capable, and creative volunteers who place their love of this parish as one of their highest priorities. In her own words, Helen expresses her priority for this important parish ministry: “Volunteering affords all of us the opportunity to learn, work, and share with others.”
If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities at Christ Church, please call the parish office. We will be glad to get you in touch with Helen.
Mrs. Cindy Scales, Sunday School Superintendent
Cindy holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Elementary Education and a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) in Writing Arts, both academic degrees are from Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. She has been an elementary school educator for 14 years and a Sunday school teacher of this parish for four years. In addition to her life, ministry, and vocation among us, Cindy supports her husband Joe in his professional medical career as a pediatrics respiratory therapist.
Ms. Jennifer Allbright, Nursery Sitter
Ms. Allbright joined the staff as part-time Nursery Sitter in April 2008. She is a life-long member of Christ Church, where she was baptized and confirmed. Ms. Allbright recently obtained her Home Health Aid Certification, and her training enhances the gifts that she brings to the important ministries of hospitality and education.
Ms. Susann Kaback, Pre-School Teacher
Susann Kaback began the Preschool Program at Christ Church in 2012 as a necessary response to the parish’s tremendous growth in the nursery. Ms. Kaback graduated from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) with her Master of Arts degree in Library Science and is the children’s librarian at Deptford Public Library. She has served as a long-time Sunday School teacher at Christ Church and brings her enthusiasm for early education, growth and learning to this very important aspect of parish life.
Ms. Cheryl Rheiner, Parish Archivist
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