203.966.0002 (ext. 4)
203.921.7536 (Direct Line)
scott@fpcnc.org
Scott was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and raised in Portland, OR, graduating from Lewis and Clark College. He studied in Guilin, China for a semester. After graduating with a BA in history, he worked in Kanazawa, Japan, and from there went to Princeton, NJ where he received his M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary.
During his years at PTS he served at an inner-city Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, DE, and traveled through Central America which put him in contact with the Union Church in Mexico City, where after his ordination in the PCUSA, he served as Associate Pastor from 1987 – 1990 and as Senior Pastor from 1990 – 1993. He met and was married to his wife Kim Harrison in Mexico City.
In 1993 they moved to Switzerland as Scott was called to serve as the Senior Pastor of the International Protestant Church of Zürich. They lived in Zürich for six years where their first three children, Danny, Chris, and Rebecca, were born. In 1999 Scott was called to serve as the Senior Associate Pastor for the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Collins, Colorado. He served in that position for nine years and Matthew, their youngest son, was born there. In 2006 he received his Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. In 2008 the family moved to Paris, France, where he joined the American Church in Paris as Senior Pastor/Head of Staff.
Scott has eclectic interests and loves walking with Kim and seeing their kids over the holidays. He enjoys various genres of music, art, reading, movies, golf, skiing, good food and wine. Scott is a member of the Rotary Club of New Canaan, the New Canaan Exchange Club, and serves on a number of local and international boards. Scott’s favorite Scripture is Philippians chapter 2. His favorite quote is: “I am a weak man in the hands of a strong God”, and is thankful to be serving the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan!
Mary Marple Thies is a Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) minister, honorably retired. She began her ministry as a chaplain at Children’s Village, a residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed boys in Dobbs Ferry, NY, and went on to serve congregations as an Assistant Pastor in Mount Vernon, NY, and Associate Pastor in New Haven, CT, before serving as co-pastor of First Presbyterian Church (Fish Church), Stamford, CT. She retired from that position.
203.966.0002 (ext. 3)
203.408.2861 (Direct Line)
terry@fpcnc.org
Terry was born in Corpus Christi, TX, but spent his childhood in eastern Pennsylvania. He comes to New Canaan from the Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco, where he served as Music Director from 2010-2021. Before this post, he served for over 18 years at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City working alongside Dr. Richard Westenburg. Terry studied organ under the instruction of Dr. John Weaver at both the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and the Juilliard School in NYC. Terry has attended French, British and German Organ Music Seminars. Of note during the 2005 French trip was the privilege of playing music of Jean Guillou at St. Eustache with the composer present. While studying in Philadelphia, Terry served as an assistant to Dr. Keith Chapman, Head Organist of the Grand Court Organ at what used to be the Wanamaker Store.
Leah was born and raised in central Illinois and grew up attending church and parochial school. In 2014, Leah and her family moved to Woodbridge, CT where she began high school at Amity Regional High School. She went on to Fairfield University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish with minors in Health Studies, Educational Studies, and Latin American/Caribbean studies. Shortly after graduating from Fairfield, Leah began her career working in the community at Boys and Girls Village in Bridgeport as a Parent Educator, teaching families about child development and positive parenting practices. Currently, Leah works full-time as a Patient Ambassador at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY. She assists patients and families throughout their lengthy hospital stays by providing support and assistance, hosting educational and social events, and serving as a neutral third party between families and medical staff.
In her free time, Leah enjoys creative outlets such as music, photography, baking, and crafts. She loves spending time with close friends and family, and snuggling with her pets.
Jim began life in western New York State, but in the ensuing years has called nine other states home. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College, where he majored in history, and Harvard Business School, with a concentration in Marketing.
203.966.0002 (ext. 1)
203.293.9171 (Direct Line)
wendy@fpcnc.org
Wendy was born and raised in New Canaan along with her 3 older brothers attending South School, Saxe and NC High School. She is very excited to be back in New Canaan working for and supporting the First Presbyterian Church.
She started her career as an Administrative Assistant at Great Northern Nekoosa Paper Company in Norwalk, CT and then after they were acquired by Georgia Pacific Paper Company, she landed at IMRS/Hyperion in Stamford, CT. She was with that company for 29 years, surviving 3 acquisitions, worked in various departments and ended in the Marketing/Events Department. She was fortunate enough to travel extensively (domestic and international) with her position. The last acquisition was by Oracle Corporation in 2007 and in-person events came to an abrupt halt due to COVID.
Wendy loves spending time with her family and her close posse of girlfriends. She is a big animal lover. Fall is her favorite season and she loves taking weekend trips up to Maine or down to Delaware.
In her free time, Wendy enjoys gardening, reading, DIY projects and catching up on the latest TV series or movie. Top priority on her to-do list is traveling and eventually rescuing a dog.
*Favorite quote: “I strive to be the person my dogs think I am!”
203.921.9434 (Direct Line)
aimee@fpcnc.org
Kate was born in Lake Forest, IL but moved to New Canaan when she was 2 years old. She attended First Presbyterian Nursery School and then West School and Saxe Middle School graduating from New Canaan High School in 2007. Being the avid animal lover that she is, she went to UConn in Storrs and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science. She then spent 4 years as a veterinary technician at the Pound Ridge Veterinary Center. She has also served as a personal trainer, a personal assistant, and had a job in sales. She then went back to school to study diagnostic ultrasound, and has been a registered ultrasound technologist at Advanced Radiology in Stamford since 2018.
Kate moved into the church 6 years ago where she was hired as the operations manager and live-in sexton. She now currently lives there with her husband, Matt, whom she met in 2020. They have a tuxedo cat named Shooter Mcgavin and a rescue pup named Nash. When Kate is not scanning patients or serving refreshments during Sunday morning coffee hour, she can be found playing tennis, golf, walking Nash, reading, or playing Bananagrams with Matt!
Originally from Western PA, Matt joined the FPCNC Team in 2021 and is a die-hard Pittsburgh sports fan! After earning his B.A. from Pitt and spending a Summer with Under Armour as a member of their Rookie Program in 2013, he moved to Connecticut and spent the next eight years working in Marketing and traveling the globe covering over 20 different properties for NBC Sports. Matt is a twi-time Emmy Award Winner and was named a finalist for a total of 13.
He now works in Advertising supporting BMW + MINI, as well as serving as an Operations Manager supporting FPCNC. Outside of the office, you’ll most likely find Matt on a golf course, tennis court or strolling around New Canaan with his wife, Kate, and their rescue pup, Nash!
Emily was born and baptized in Cambridge, England and lived there for the first five years of her life. When her mother’s job took the Johnson family to Deerfield, IL, she completed her schooling up to Freshman year at Deerfield High, played lots of competitive volleyball, and was confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church Deerfield. In 2018, the family moved to the East Coast into New Canaan, CT and Emily started her sophomore year, continuing her Varsity and Club level volleyball until graduation in 2021.
