UCC Norwell Church Council Meeting | November 25, 2025
Music Minister introduction: Lindsay Albert, Minister of Music
Vision for the Music Ministry
First year will be a learning curve
Main goal is to build relationships, determine what people like/dislike.
Another goal is to integrate the youth more.
More opportunities for children and teens. For example, working on a tween/teen singing group.
Background
Lindsay has an extensive musical background. She has a passion for vocal collaboration and an expertise in separating and evaluating vocal soloists.
Lindsay still holds an adjunct position at BC which feeds her soul: Classical singers and Musical Theater singers.
Ministry update: Reverend Peter Strobel
He came believing he would be 5-7 years, but the spirit is telling him to go.
This Sunday he will be answering a call to lead a small church outside of Madison, WI.
He has been honored to be our associate pastor but, in his discernment, he has felt called to preach, lead and teach a church.
He feels called to go back to the Midwest. He and Allie are ready to start a family, they want to be closer to home as their parents are aging and their grandparents are having health complications.
For all his love of youth work he misses being called to work in hospitals, attending to those at end of life, and being with people in their desperate times.
Peter has also expressed that, with the polarizing and turbulent times, he can be of more use in a red state than a blue one.
There has been a solid foundation of youth ministry that can be handed over to another youth pastor and even volunteers.
Finance update:
UCC Norwell:
Projected year end deficit of $41-45k
The church has experienced lower loose collections (any contribution not tied to a pledge)
Building expenses are high: fuel, insurance, one time staff expenses
Pledges are on track as they are at 80% and we are at 80% of the year.
We will be using the Contingency Fund to balance this year’s budget.
All of these factors will be reflected in next year’s budget.
The church understood that we would be spending more after adopting the Strategic Plan for the first 2-3 years.
Council will take a more intensive review of the 2026 budget at our January meeting.
The Investment committee has been incredible and has been actively tending the investments.
Budget will be based on the pledge commitments.
The New Nursery School (NNS):
NNS is doing well financially.
Steve Burke is going to do an evaluation of their finances.
Linden Ponds:
On track and as expected.
Other financial notes:
Steve Burke has identified anyone who was still giving through the old software. He has reached out and offered to help transition over to Church Center.
Sprinkler valve is perilous and that will need to be replaced. This will come out of the maintenance reserve fund and the replacement will happen over Veteran’s Day Weekend when NNS is out of session.
Building and grounds are working diligently on a solution for the HVAC issue.
Interior signage
Signage has been a priority for the Strategic Plan
The church needs to get a variance from the town for the exterior sign, and we are moving through this process with Town of Norwell.
o So far, the Building Inspector has had no issues with the design proprosal.
The church is currently on the ZBA’s waiting list week of 12/1
The church will not have a place on the agenda for 6-8 weeks.
Motion to approve the interior signage project, as proposed by the Signage Task Force, and the estimated proposal from Sign Design in the amount of $6,500. The Signage Task Force is to consult with the Finance Committee to determine the funding source. Motion moved, seconded and approved unanimously.
Nominations for open Council positions
Council members voted for council nomination candidates.
Motion to confirm Peter Strobel’s resignation with official last day of work 12/8/2025. Moved, seconded, passed unanimously.
Next Council meeting: Thursday, January 8th, 2026 – Special budget review meeting, UCC Norwell Library.
Please note, these are not official meeting minutes. These are highlights intended to inform and emphasize the collaborative spirit driving our church community forward in an inclusive manner. Official meeting minutes are available by request. For further details, check back in to this blog and our weekly newsletter. Keep an eye out for future meeting updates, briefly!