Meet Our Dedicated Team

My name is Pastor Arlene Romaine. I was born the youngest of four children, was baptized at the Wanaque Reformed Church as an infant. I grew up in Butler and graduated from Butler High School. I was a licensed hairdresser for 20 years and lived Oakland, NJ, for 27 years, where I raised my two children, Matthew and Kimberly. I married my best friend and partner in all things, my husband Ron, in 2011. Together, Ron and I share six adult children and twelve grandchildren. I was called and claimed by Jesus Christ in 1987, following the birth of my son. In 2002, I accepted the position of Christian Education Coordinator, overseeing children, youth, and adult education ministries at Ponds Reformed Church in Oakland. In 2006, I earned a Certificate in Theology from New Brunswick Theological Seminary and became the first Commissioned Pastor (of Christian Discipleship) in the Classis of Passaic Valley, Reformed Church in America (RCA.) At Ponds, I also served as the Director of the Ponds Youth Center, an after school program for middle school youth, from 2007-2013. In 2013, I became a Licensed Associate Minister for Youth and Families in the United Church of Christ, at Packanack Community Church, in Wayne. In 2015, I accepted a call from the English Neighborhood Reformed Church in Ridgefield, as Pastor. There, I returned to seminary and earned a Masters of Divinity degree, becoming a fully ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the RCA. In the Classis of Greater Palisades, I have the pleasure of serving as Chairperson of Student Supervision, overseeing the education and ordination of future ministers in the RCA. On July 1, 2024, I accepted the congregation’s call to become the new minister of the Community Presbyterian Church of Ringwood. What a true JOY it is to be here! Ron and I feel so incredibly blessed, as we literally “live the dream” we’ve always had, to return to our roots, the woods, and the area we love! Immediately, we have felt welcomed, supported and loved by this very special family of faith. Currently, I am studying for my Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling. These studies keep me on the cutting edge of new developments in the church, current theological insights, and the healing and wholeness ministries relevant to today’s issues and cultural crises. In a multitude of ways CPC is impacting lives, (both inside and outside our church,) bringing ministries of healing and wholeness through Christ’s redeeming gift of grace. The gospel is a message of extravagant love, true hope, and ever-expanding diversity, that has the power to heal our social divisions by reframing the way we see ourselves, our world, and our place in it. The church is: A place for all ages to explore the message of God's redeeming love, practice what it means to be Christian disciples who work together for the glory of God, and a gathering place (both in-person and online) to seek refreshment for our souls. It is a truly exciting time to be Christ’s church, as together, we discover the new things God is calling us to do and be! I look forward to discovering God’s plan and working toward a peace-filled, glorious future, together with you. I look forward to meeting you, soon!

Alyssa has called Ringwood home for the past nine years, where she lives with her wonderful husband of 17 years and their two children: Emma, a high school junior, and little Grayson, who is almost two and was baptized right here at Community Presbyterian Church. Raised in the Presbyterian faith, Alyssa has always felt a deep connection to the church and its community. In her role as Office Manager, she is excited not only to serve behind the scenes but also to connect with the incredible people who make up this congregation. She looks forward to building meaningful relationships, supporting the church’s mission, and witnessing the amazing growth of both the church and its ministries. Alyssa is honored to be part of the journey here at Community Presbyterian Church and can’t wait to see how faith and fellowship continue to flourish in the years ahead.

Neil McDonald is an active and sought after soloist in the greater metropolitan area. After studying voice at Westminster Choir College, Neil made his orchestral solo debut with the Trenton Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy. He made his Carnegie Hall solo debut in 1999, and has performed at Carnegie Hall many times, including performances of Brahm’s Requiem, Mozart Requiem, most of Haydn’s Masses, all of John Rutter’s major works including the world premiere of Rutter’s Mass of the Children in 2003, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Bach’s Magnificat and Mass in b minor, among others. While at Westminster Choir College Neil was part of the Westminster Symphonic Choir performing Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 among other major works with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center; Orff’s Carmina Burana, Bach’s St. John Passion and Magnificat, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, among others with the Philadelphia Orchestra; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, among others with the New Jersey Symphony. Neil worked 12 years at Malmark Bellcraftsmen, serving as the head of Sales & Marketing for the last four of them. Through handbells Neil has appeared on “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood”, NBC’s “Today Show”, QVC, and the World Financial Center’s Festival of Light and Sound. He has toured through 45 states while part of the Westminster Concert Bell Choir. He has directed numerous bell choirs at all levels and and is also in demand as a handbell clinician, having taught classes on the regional, national and international level for the Handbell Musicians of America. He serves as a founding music instructor for the Saturday Stars program, a music program serving children with special needs and is the Director of Handbells Choir and Youth Music at the Community Presbyterian Church in Ringwood, NJ.

Tracy Rynkowski has had a lifelong interest in youth. She graduated University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BCA in education. She taught middle and high school while living in NC. For the last 7 years she has been a part of the Skylands Learning Center team. During the late 90’s Tracy began working with the high school youth in her church and was hired as Director of Student Ministries. She ran the middle and high school youth groups, bible studies, confirmation classes and the youth’s domestic and international mission trips. She took youth to Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Jamaica and had a standing bi-annual trip to the Yucatan Peninsula. It is her belief that a service based mission trip is life changing for all who participate. When the opportunity came up to begin trips here at Community Presbyterian Church she jumped at it. She has taken kids to Tennessee, South Carolina and West Virginia over the last 9 years.

Maureen received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education and Performance at Jersey City State College (now New Jersey City University) and her Master of Arts degree in Creative Arts/Piano Performance at New York University. She has been playing the organ in churches since she was in eighth grade, worked as a parish music director in New Milford for fourteen years and has freelanced on organ and piano in northern NJ and NY for the past thirty years. Her experiences with providing music for Christian worship are accompanied by a desire to advance and deepen the prayer-life of the church. For her, one of the most beautiful sounds in the world is the sound of a congregation praising God in song. She is thrilled to be providing this service in the community and church that she loves! Maureen taught music for twenty-five years in the Mountain Lakes School District in New Jersey: at the Lake Drive School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children, where she designed and implemented a curriculum for students with a hearing loss; and at Wildwood Elementary School where she taught grades pre-K through 3 and directed the 5th grade chorus and musicals. A board member of New Jersey Music Educators Association, she presents workshops throughout the state and has written extensively about special education topics as they apply to the music classroom for the state journal TEMPO. She is President of Ringwood Friends of Music, which provides several free concerts a year that feature prominent classical chamber musicians. She is grateful for the blessings of her loving husband, Phil, their children and grandchildren.

My name is Kaitlyn Sweeny, and I have been in Early Childhood Education for 20 years. I am on the board of The Coalition of Infant & Toddler Educators, a member of New Jersey Association for Infant Mental Health and volunteer for the Ringwood Hunger Walk. I love being connected to nature through hiking, walking in the woods, and skiing. As an educator, I believe a classroom without walls is the best classroom a child can be exposed to. I have earned my C.D.A., C.D.S. & B.S. in Family Science and Human Development. I am certified in Children’s Yoga and have 200 hours in Trauma and Transformation YTT. I believe early childhood education is our future, and making these important connections at such a young age will instill something wonderful. "There's a world of difference between insisting on someone's doing something and establishing an atmosphere in which that person can grow into wanting to do it". Mister Rogers