Our Staff
Pastor Adam Arends
St. Timothy is excited to welcome Pastor Adam Arends and his family to our church, child care, and Grand Island community! Pastor Adam comes to us with a deep commitment to love the people of God as they are created, and a strong desire to gather the church around the common mission of building community by caring for and loving neighbors. We look forward to a fruitful partnership in the coming years as we work to make God's love known!
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Pastor Adam can be reached at pastor@sttimothygrandisland.com.
Athena Torain
Director, Child Care Center
Hello, everyone! My name is Athena Torain. I am the Director of St. Timothy’s Lutheran Child Care Center. My husband and I live in Lockport and have 3 children. I have worked with children for 18 years now. I studied Early Childhood Education and Childhood Education with a concentration in Math and a minor in English at SUNY Fredonia and received my Bachelor’s degree. Throughout my career in childcare centers I have been a teacher, Assistant Director, and Director. I find my position as a Director most rewarding by facilitating growth for children, families, staff, and our community as a whole.
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When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family. We like traveling, trying new restaurants, and exploring local events. Feel free to share with me your family’s favorites. ​​
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Please reach out to me at director@sttimothygrandisland.com or 716-773-9249 with any
questions or to set up a tour!
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Tracy Marrs
Assistant Director, Child Care Center
Hi everyone! My name is Tracy Marrs and I am currently the Assistant Director of St. Timothy Lutheran Child Care Center. I have been at St. Timothy’s for seven years now and I have loved every day! I started my career at St. Timothy’s as a teacher assistant and was quickly promoted to Lead Teacher of the One-Year-Old room. There is where I really found my passion for young children and their education. Being the Assistant Director now allows me to share my dedication and passion with every child throughout our entire building. What a blessing to do what you love!
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Outside of St. Timothy’s, you will often see me around the community spending time with friends and family, especially my niece, Harper. My boyfriend, Kyle, and I are puppy parents to a Shiloh Shepherd named Odin. Finally, I am a huge Buffalo sports fan! Every Sunday you can catch me at the stadium cheering on the Buffalo Bills!
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Please free to stop on into the child care main office to say hi! I hope to see you join our St. Timothy family!
Kim Yaeger
Communications Director
Kim has been a member of St. Timothy's for most of her life and is glad to have this opportunity to further serve the church and support the Child Care Center's children and staff. On her time off, she can be found taking care of houseplants, reading, cooking, and spending time in nature.
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Kim can be reached at communications@sttimothygrandisland. com.
Tim Dyet
Organist and Choir Director
Tim Dyet is a dynamic and versatile musician whose passion for music has shaped an impressive career. With a Bachelor of Music from Nazareth College of Rochester and additional studies at Mansfield University of PA, Tim has honed his craft and developed a deep understanding of music business and performance.
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​Tim's journey in music is marked by his diverse roles and contributions. As a local Music Director in Western New York, he has brought numerous productions to life, including The Baker’s Wife, On the Town, Holiday Inn, and Into the Woods. His dedication to music education is evident through his private lessons, where he teaches piano, trombone, organ, accordion, and voice to students of all ages.​
​​Tim's versatility shines through his extensive experience as a solo performer and accompanist. He has played at weddings, funerals, parties, and events, and has been a key player in various musical groups, including jazz big bands, small combos, theater pit orchestras, and the alternative funk/rock band Strange Standard of Buffalo, which was featured at the Music is Art festival for the past 5 years!​
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In addition to his current roles, Tim has a rich history of past musical engagements. He has served as an adjunct professor of music at Niagara County Community College and St. Bonaventure University, directed the pep band at Niagara University, and played as a substitute organist for the Buffalo Sabres hockey games. His tenure with Nik and the Nice Guys saw him playing piano, keyboards, trombone, and programming sequences for the band. Tim was also a featured artist at the Lewiston Jazz Festival this past year.
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Tim's contributions extend beyond music performance. He participates in bicycle racing at notable events like The Ride for Roswell, raising money for cancer awareness. Additionally, he has worked as a scare actor at Frightworld Screampark, a park patrol officer for Grand Island, and a sound engineer at MarketHOLD Productions.
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With a career that spans various facets of music, Tim Dyet continues to inspire and captivate audiences with his talent, dedication, and passion for the art.