Our Team

As a worshipping community in the Episcopal Church, Zion Rome is led by a coalition of people, both lay and ordained, paid and volunteer. Get to know some of those people by reading about them below or drop in on a Sunday morning to meet them!

Meet the Zion Staff!

The Rev. Emily R. Hyberg, Priest-in Charge

The Rev. Emily Rainone Hyberg earned her Master of Divinity at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA, where she served as the 2023-24 residential student body president and worked as a Sacristan in the campus chapel. Prior to accepting the Priest-in-Charge position at Zion, she was the curate at St. Stephen’s in Sebastopol, CA—a congregation that is exploring ways of engaging their neighbors through creative land-use, innovative outreach efforts, and expansive liturgy. Emily is passionate about exploring the ways that people make meaning, the vital role of the Church in the 21st century, and how to build inclusive and Spirit-filled communities.

Emily moved to Rome, NY in January 2026 with her wife and their kid. In her free time, Emily enjoys reading, drinking tea, and learning new things. She is a fan of Jimmy Buffett, baseball, gardening, silly YouTube videos, and exploring central New York!

You can reach Emily at RevEmily@ZionRome.org

Annette Clarke-Hani, Parish Administrator

Annette Clark-Hani is a member of Zion Episcopal Church as well as the parish secretary. She grew up in Canastota, NY and came to Rome, NY in 2011.

She is a mother of 3 and “Nana” of 6 grandchildren. She loves spending time with and reading to them. She also loves playing bingo, riding her bicycle, and swimming.

You can reach Annette at ZionChurch@twcny.rr.com

Aaron Sprague, Music Director

Aaron Sprague began his musical and spiritual journey as a pianist in a Baptist church. Later, he turned his focus to organ and choral conducting at Houghton College. This foundational training prepared him for serving as an organist and choir director at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Utica, NY, Zion United Church of Christ in South Bend, IN, and most recently, for 18 years at Trinity Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, NY. After earning his undergraduate degree, Aaron completed an M.A. in American Religious History at the University of Notre Dame. In 1999, he moved to Central New York with his wife, Deborah. They have two children, Lydia and Nicholas, who are now grown and living in New England.

Aaron is a lifelong fan of the Buffalo Bills, loves reading Thoreau and other Transcendentalist poets, and finds inspiration and energy during long walks in the woods. He believes in the power of music of all sorts to heal, enlarge, and move us forward on our spiritual journeys. He is eagerly awaiting the start of his next chapter with Zion Episcopal Church.

You can reach Aaron at Aaron@zionrome.org

Meet the Zion Vestry!