Our Staff
Director of Youth and Family Life:
Jennifer Antoncich
Jennifer is a lifelong Methodist and has been a member here at SUMC for over 10 years. She is a Certified Lay Speaker with the GNJUMC and has played many roles at SUMC, including the VBS Director and Lay Leader. She has a great passion for working with youth and sharing her faith in Jesus!
Jennifer attended Fairleigh Dickinson University where she earned her Bachelors in English and Masters in the Arts of Teaching. She has a background in youth ministry having previously been the Education Committee Chair, a Sunday School Teacher and a Confirmation Teacher. Jennifer also works at American Christian School in Succasunna where she is the Principal at the PK-6 campus . Jennifer and her husband Rudy are parents to sons Jayden and Jayce. As a family they are devoted to sharing the love of Jesus with others through prayer, testimony, and missions.
Jennifer works alongside the youth leader volunteers at SUMC to plan and implement youth events for B.A.S.I.C. (our 5th-8th grade program) and UMYF (our high school program.) She is also the coordinator for Confirmation, as well as a coordinator for family events throughout the year.
You can reach Jen at jantoncich@sumcnj.org with any questions or to schedule a meeting.
Praise Band Leader:
Angeline Stierch
Angie has been singing as long as she can remember. Inspired by her mother, Angie ‘followed her dreams’ and worked in the music industry for many years, pursuing a career as a singer songwriter and as a backup singer, recording and touring locally and abroad. However, after experiencing the uncertainty of the industry, Angie decided to settle down, going back to school to become an English teacher and marrying Dan, eventually becoming a proud mom to McKenna and Brady.
Over the years, with her husband’s support, Angie has kept her passion for music and performance alive, playing in local establishments and at charity events. Angie and her family joined SUMC in large part because of the contemporary music and welcoming nature of the church. She is proud and excited to be a part of SUMC’s Praise Band and to be able to share her passion and gift of music with the church community.
Director of Music and Organist:
Audrey Shultz
Audrey came to SUMC at the invitation of a neighbor, who mentioned their organist had left and asked if she could fill in. It was six weeks before Christmas. She agreed to do it through the holidays. That was 1974, and she stayed until Christmas of 1993 and retired. She had a full piano teaching schedule and was finishing up at Westminster Choir College, but it was hard to stay away from church music, so she played at Mendham Hills Chapel and then Hillside Lutheran, three years each. Then in the summer of ‘99 she ran into Rev. Mary Lou Ballentine, Pastor of SUMC at that time, at Shop-Rite. She was offered to come back. It’s hard to stay away from SUMC!
Her double major was Sacred Music and Bible (BSM) from Northeastern Bible College, now The King’s College, NYC; Church History (MA) from Newburgh Theological Seminary, IN; and Piano Pedagogy certification from Westminster Choir College, NJ.
She retired from teaching in 2007 to have more family time with her four children, eleven grandchildren and two greats. Audrey loves singing with Morris Choral Society, Unity Choir in Newton, and the Ocean Grove Choir Festival. Since her teen years she has loved making music with others and doing group Bible study, the best sources of growth and friendship.
Administrative Assistant:
Caryn Porter
Caryn has spent most of her career in a corporate environment having worked for 27 years at Prudential Insurance Company in the Underwriting Department at various positions. Caryn also worked for IMS Health, an IT company that tracked pharmaceutical sales data for 8 years. The last several years after “retiring” from Prudential, Caryn enjoyed driving for Uber and Lyft and was a companion for Home Instead Senior Care clients.
Caryn enjoys driving, spending time with family and friends, loves dogs (5 at home), and has a love for drum corps. She is a past member of The Emerald GrenaDears All Girl Drum and Bugle Corps and marched 4 seasons with The Hawthorne Caballeros 2009 – 2013. Caryn plays the drums, baritone bugle and can swing a flag!
Sexton:
Aura Smith
Aura Smith is a native of Nicaragua. Aura is a devoted Christian who grew up in a Christian home. Her grandfather was a local pastor, and she was taught to take care of the church from her early years. “It is my faith in God that sustains my everyday life, ” says Aura. She feels called to serve and help others, especially the elderly. Aura enjoys walking in nature. She has a 21-year old daughter, Angalee.