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Associate Rector
The Rev. Zack Nyein

Contact for:  
​Worship, Pastoral Care, Christian Formation, Newcomers, Outreach
Video Sermon Archive Blog
zack@saygrace.net
​423-243-3250

Zack's Bio

Following seminary, Zack was assigned to Grace Church, where he has served as Associate Rector since June 2016.  A graduate of Yale Divinity School and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music in New Haven, CT, Zack's academic interests focus on the intersection of theology, worship, and the arts. While in seminary, he served as a chapel minister for daily ecumenical worship and was the organizing missioner for Table on the Green, a Monday night "dinner church."  He also facilitated a number of opportunities for learning across difference as co-president of DivOut, Yale’s affinity group for LGBTQIA divinity students. Zack is passionate about cultivating fresh expressions of church and prior to seminary planted Project Canterbury, a vibrant Episcopal campus ministry at the University of Tennessee (Chattanooga).  He has worked as an apprentice with the 1001 New Worshiping Communities movement of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and currently serves on the advisory group for Genesis, a recently-launched church planting initiative of the Episcopal Church.  Connect with him on facebook and Instagram @znyein

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Interim Priest
​The Rev. John Talbird

Contact for:  
Pastoral Care, Stewardship
johntalbird@hotmail.com
​423-243-3250

John's Bio

Father Talbird grew up in Macon, GA, earned a degree in history from the University of Georgia and an MDiv from Virginia Theological Seminary. He retired from the rectorship of Church of the Good Shepherd on Lookout Mountain after twenty-four years of service; he had previously served as University Chaplain for Georgia State University in Atlanta, at Florida State University in Tallahassee and at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He currently serves on the Board of the Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti and consults for parishes and Vestry on stewardship, leadership, and program.   
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He is married to Mary Jane Misiewicz Talbird, who is a registered nurse specializing in ostomy and wound care. The Talbirds have five grown children and four grandchildren. Father Talbird enjoys boating, exercising (walking, yoga, Pilates), traveling with his wife, and babysitting his grandchildren.

Staff Directory

Director of Christian Formation
Maria Hurt
Contact for:  Children's Ministry, Nursery, Preschool
mhurt@saygrace.net

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Interim Director of Music and Choirmaster
David Long
​dlong@saygrace.net

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Interim Associate Director of Music and Organist
Ruth Cobb
​rcobb@saygrace.net

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Bells of Grace Handbell Choir Director
Jerry Draper
Contact for: Handbell Choir

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Parish Administrator
Paula Garner
Contact for:  Administration, Finance, Membership Information
pgarner@saygrace.net

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Internal Communications
Dabney Carden
Contact for:  Parish Newsletter, Book Store, Rector's Calendar
dcarden@saygrace.net