Clergy & Staff

Rev. Dr. R. Scott Herr

Pastor/Head of Staff

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!

Rev. Mary M. Thies

Parish Associate
203.921.9434 (Direct Line)

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.

In Stamford, she served as board member and board president of New Neighborhoods, Inc., board member of the Interfaith Council, the United Way of Western Connecticut, Community Council and the Development Center Board of Trustees, board chair and secretary of Liberation Programs, Inc., and board member and vice president of Friends of Ferguson Library. For the larger church, she has served as Stated Clerk and on numerous committees for the Presbytery of Southern New England, Alumni/nae Council for Princeton Theological Seminary and as trustee for Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, Atlanta, GA. Her formal education was at Hastings (NE) College, Princeton Theological Seminary and Yale Divinity School.

She has found particular joy in being able to serve FPCNC by establishing caring pastoral relationships with its members.

Mary and her husband, Armin, enjoy travel, days at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, ruthless hands of gin rummy, and spending time with friends and family. They are blessed by the presence in their lives of their daughter and her family.

Terence J. Flanagan

Director of Music and Fine Arts

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.

Terry is a past Dean and current member of the Westchester Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In addition, he is a member of the New York City Chapter and the Fairfield West Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Terry is a member of the St. Wilfrid’s Club. He sings with and accompanies Charis Chamber Voices (where he first met Art Sjögren and had the privilege of working with him) and serves as Organist for Columbia Preparatory and Grammar School’s annual Commencement Ceremony, held in New York City’s Alice Tully Hall. Terry occasionally plays continuo and organ works for performances of the New Baroque Soloists. He enjoys teaching organ, piano and voice.

In his free time, Terry enjoys being with his family and gardening at his home in Mount Kisco, where he continues to design and plant beds, as well as care for his collection of perennials and conifers.

Stephanie L. Hare

Director of Family Ministries

203.966.0002 (ext. 5)
203.680.8504 (Direct Line)
stephanie@fpcnc.org

Born in Massachusetts, Steph has lived the majority of her life in Westchester County, NY, and mostly within walking distance of the Hudson River. She is a graduate of Manhattanville College and the Catholic University of America and she holds a certificate in Youth & Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. Prior to serving at FPCNC, Steph served as the Director of Youth and Intergenerational Ministries at the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown, NY for seven years. Her previous work includes development and administration in several non-profit organizations as well as in technical theater.

Steph enjoys travel, especially for educational and service opportunities. She spent time in Cork, Ireland as an undergrad and Dublin as a grad student – interning in the Dáil Éireann (lower house of the Irish Parliament) while in Dublin. She has also traveled on numerous service trips to Nicaragua, Kenya, and the Dominican Republic as well as many places in the US as both a participant and as trip leader and organizer on a variety of service projects.  Currently, Steph lives in Peekskill, NY with her energetic dog, Tucker, and languorous cat, Dawson. She spends her free time walking in the woods with Tucker and friends, baking, singing and learning to play the ukulele, drinking coffee, spending time with family, and she recently began studying improv comedy.  

Steph grew up as the youngest of three Presbyterian pastor’s kids, is ordained in the PC(USA) as both a Deacon and an Elder, and is a self-described Presbygeek. Her favorite scripture passage is Micah 6:6-8 and her favorite quote of the moment is from Glennon Doyle: “Be brave because you’re a child of God. Be kind because everyone else is too.”

“I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone, building an intergenerational ministry, and serving in the larger community.”

Stacy Arevalo

DIRECTOR OF PASTORAL CARE, ADULT DISCIPLESHIP AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Direct Line: (203) 219-5818
sarevalo@fpcnc.org

Stacy lives in Darien where she has been for most of her life. She traveled internationally with her family at a young age and was deeply impacted by the stark contrast between home and poverty in India and Hong Kong. Life can be hard and confronting reality can be painful. Stacy received a BA in Economics from Denison University and married Paul in 1994 right here at FPCNC. They started their family in New Canaan while caring for her grandfather and later moved back to Darien to raise their three children.

Stacy began her career building databases and programming voice over IP for nonprofit organizations and eventually settled into a role in finance at General Electric where she remained for over 22 years managing master data. But something was missing. After years of working through her own trauma, she heard a call to ministry, a call to meet others in their pain while inspiring hope and faith in Christ. In 2014, she confronted a fear of singing in public and joined the chancel choir at Noroton Presbyterian Church. She went on to be commissioned as a Stephen Minister, ordained as a Ruling Elder, and served on the prayer and caring ministry teams. In 2017, she brought Celebrate Recovery to Noroton PC; and later served as the Ministry Leader for GriefShare and DivorceCare. Stacy entered seminary in 2020 and has since received a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. She is currently a candidate for ordination under care with the Presbytery of Southern New England and came to FPCNC in 2023 to complete her internship requirement.

Stacy left GE in April 2024 and joined us as the Director of Pastoral Care, Adult Discipleship, and Spiritual Formation as she continues to discern her call to ministry. She loves spending time with her family and being out in nature. God speaks to her through music and building connections with others through the joy and pain of life is what is what makes her heart sing.

“… God said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’”

9:12 2 Corinthians

James H. Riehl, Jr.

Business Administrator
203.966.0002
203.940.1305 (Direct Line)

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.

After finishing up his undergraduate work, Jim taught junior high school social studies in southeastern Massachusetts before embarking on his graduate degree. Once his MBA requirements were fulfilled, he launched a 30-plus year career in marketing and sales, starting at General Mills and, subsequently, Nestle. Most recently, he has provided strategic marketing and sales consulting services for companies that aren’t in the Fortune 500. 
 
Formerly an avid runner, Jim has completed six Boston Marathons. He chronicled those adventures – and numerous others – in his recently published, coming of age memoir, Chasing Down A Dream. Other passions besides creative writing include staying current with the political scene, puns and wordplay and professional sports fandom, where Jim’s proudest possession is a share of Green Bay Packers stock. He has two children, four grandchildren and lives with his spouse, Denise, in Fairfield.

“It’s always something…”
 — Roseanne Rosannadanna

Wendy Ann Starr

Office Manager

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 and is very excited to be back in New Canaan working for and supporting the First Presbyterian Church. She loves her family, close posse of girlfriends, and is a big animal lover, dogs being #1.  Fall is her favorite season and she likes to take weekend trips up to Maine or down to Delaware.  Favorite Quote:  “I strive to be the person my dogs think I am!”

Aimee Harkins

Bookkeeper

203.921.9434 (Direct Line)
aimee@fpcnc.org

Aimee was born and raised in New Canaan along with her older brother.  Aimee and her husband have raised their 2 children in New Canaan and are grateful for the wonderful community that surrounds them. Aimee began her bookkeeping business when her children were young and it has proved to be a very enjoyable career. 

Kate Stringfellow Ziance

Operations Manager
203.912.2741 (Direct Line)

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! 

Matt Ziance

Operations Manager
203.979.0469 (Direct Line)

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 Johnson

Communications Assistant
847.736.1232 (Direct Line)

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.

Her love of philanthropy expanded from her experience growing up in the Girl Scouts and Presbyterian Church Youth Group, helping with providing shelter for homeless families (PADS), helping feed citizens of third world countries (Feed My Starving Children), and children in the foster care system (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Her twelve years of dedication resulted in being awarded the top honor, The Girl Scout Gold Award. She now continues this love of philanthropy by being an active member of Delta Delta Delta’s Eta Chapter at the University of Vermont.
 
Emily is a rising Senior at the University of Vermont with a major in Psychological Science and a minor in Business, and a passion for Communications. Emily has spent the last three summers as a marketing intern for Hungry Harry’s Food Company, as a cub reporter for The Drum Marketing magazine, and as a strategy intern for McGarryBowen advertising agency.
 
She has been working as Communications Assistant for FPCNC since 2023.