Sunday, August 21 Marked Fr. Tryggvi’s first worship at St. Alban’s Parish!

Thanks be to God!

The Reverend Tryggvi G. Árnason

“I am called to find in every person the voice of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  As well and equally, I am called to strive for a fellow being to encounter in me the awareness and assurances of God’s presence in this world through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

The Reverend Tryggvi G. Árnason

Rector, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

Hickory, NC

• Born in Reykjavík, Iceland in 1964

• BA in Interdisciplinary Humanities from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, FL

• M.Div. from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA

• Year residency in hospital chaplaincy at Crawford Long Hospital; (Emory Center of Pastoral Services)

• Crisis Counselor for the national chapter of the Red Cross, Reykjavík, Iceland

• Upper School Chaplain: Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta, GA (seven years)

• Youth Minister at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta, GA (three years)

• Ordained to Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church as a transitional Deacon, 2005

• Ordained to Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church as a Priest in 2006

• Assistant Priest to the Rector for reconciliation, mission, outreach: Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta, GA, 2007 to present

Tryggvi has over 11 years of experience in pastoral care with people of all age levels, and working with families both in the church for Christian Formation, and at the school level as an Upper School chaplain.  He has love for mission and outreach, expressed in his years of involvement with helping build homes, schools, and churches in Atlanta, North Dakota, Mexico, and most extensively in Haiti, where he has led over hundred parishioners and students on pilgrimages to build relationships in Christ.  With St. Francis, Tryggvi believes that it is less by words and more by our actions of compassion and love for fellow human beings, that we model the teachings of Jesus.  On the diocesan level, Tryggvi serves on the Global Mission Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, the Diocese of Atlanta Task Force on Sex Trafficking, and on the Board of Directors of Horizons in Atlanta.

In his spare time, Tryggvi likes to spend time with his family at his in-laws’ farm in Hayston, Georgia. He likes hunting and fishing, loves to play soccer which is the avenue that brought him to college in the US, and which he plans to teach his children whether they like it or not. He enjoys playing golf whenever he has the chance.

Tryggvi is married to Lee Ann and they have 2 year-old twins – Eyja Lee and Árni Greer – and a dog, Beau.

Lee Ann is a native Georgian, born in Decatur, GA but was raised on her family’s farm in Hayston.  She has a BBA from Georgia Southern and an M.A.T.S. in Ethics and New Testament from Columbia Seminary in Decatur, GA.  She has worked in for profit as well as not-for-profit, and currently works for the national office of the Arthritis Foundation, headquartered in Atlanta. As a CRM Business Analyst, she provides database and training support to the field offices around the country.  Her focus is on public health and community outreach activities of the organization.  Due to the nature of her work and the generosity of the Arthritis Foundation, Lee Ann will be working full-time from her new home in Hickory.

Tryggvi and Lee Ann are very excited about being a part of the St. Alban’s church family and the community of Hickory.