(973) 694-0608 | 120 Lake Drive East, Wayne, NJ 07470

GIVE

Meet Our Team

   OUR TEAM

 

Rev. Juli Bertalan

Senior Minister

Pastor Juli is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ and received her M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary in NYC. She was called as Pastor of Packanack Community Church in the fall of 2020.  Passionate about community, Pastor Juli believes that the church community is a place where we can build up, encourage, and equip its members to be an example of God’s radical love out in the world. Pastor Juli strives to discover ways to keep the church relevant in our ever changing world.
 

Although living most of her life in Ohio, Pastor Juli, along with her husband and three young children are excited about being new residents of Packanack Lake. Music, art, food, and adventures sum up our family interests pretty accurately.

 

pastorjbertalan@gmail.com

Louis Danowsky

Music Director

Louis Danowsky is a music director, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger based in New Jersey and New York. He was appointed as the music director of Packanack Community Church in January 2024. Outside of PCC, he maintains an active schedule as a theatrical music director, working with Broadway talent, local community theaters, and everything in between. He is also an active teacher and coach, both as a teaching artist at Paper Mill Playhouse and in private practice. Louis believes strongly in the power of music to build community for performers and audiences alike, and he is thrilled to be taking this approach into the music ministry of PCC.
 
Louis holds a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music in Evanston, Illinois. During his time there he studied under several leading conductors in the field including Donald Nally – of the Grammy award-winning choir The Crossing – as well as Mallory Thompson, Victory Yampolsky, and Ryan Nelson.


You can learn more about his work by going to his website, louisdanowsky.com or Instagram @louis_danowsky.


packanackmusic@gmail.com

Carmine Fusaro

Interim Agape Handbell Choir Director

PCC Office Staff

Kathy Swede

Office Manager

office@packanackchurch.org

Office Hours: 9:00am - 1:00pm (Mon -Thurs)

Jennifer Nemetz

Financial Secretary

packanackccfinancialsecretary@gmail.com

Kelly Schmitz

Packanack Coop Nursery School Director

Kelly Schmitz is honored to serve as the Director of the Packanack Cooperative Nursery School at Packanack Community Church. Having earned her bachelor’s degree at Marist College and a postgraduate degree from Felician College in teaching and educational supervision, Kelly has devoted more than 20 years to working in education with young children and their families. She is committed to creating a warm and nurturing educational-based program in our wonderful preschool where values, morals, sound foundational skills, a love of school and play with a purpose are always in focus.

 

Kelly resides in Packanack Lake with her husband, Bryan and three children, Colyn (20), Ryan (18) and Jessica (18). They all have a love of Disney and try to visit once or twice a year. Kelly and Bryan love to watch their children’s sports- football, lacrosse and gymnastics. It is quite a schedule to keep with three active children, but when there is some free time you may find them down the shore, fishing, volunteering or enjoying time with their dog, Belle.
 

Pcns1260@gmail.com