God, Grace, and Good Fun

A snapshot of my wife, Allison Strobel, and I bringing joy and cheer to the Advent season.

Hi, I am Pastor Peter. It is hard to summarize my ministry, but if I had to give an answer, I would say I am a child of grace who has a soft spot for ministry to children and teens as well as the elderly. As a Pastor, I aspire to engage with God's children at every stage of life and discipleship. Sometimes that requires a bit of quirkiness or out-of-the-box thinking (check out my portfolio for more on that).

During my studies and brief career, I have focused on bedside, pulpit, community, and across the coffee table care. I am called to be a servant to a congregation at every season in its members lives so, whether it is highs and lows, or just day to day life, I am there for all of it. And what a blessing it is to walk with God's people through their lives! I believe the Holy Spirit is always waiting to break through, leaving nothing too ordinary or terrible to be unmoved. Which is why this role, as a teacher and caretaker, is such a sacred responsibility.

I understand selecting a pastor is not a choice one makes lightly, so I am an open book. Samples of my sermons and theology, as well as credentials can be found on my "home" or "portfolio" pages. If you question or want to know more, send me an email or give me a call and we can meet over coffee.

Proof I can wear more than a suit and tie. I call this "fall casual."

Get in Touch

The Simple Summary

Rev. Holly McKissick (on the left) and Rev. Paula Lafferty are doing amazing work with Peace UCC in KC, MO and have been helpful all throughout my ministry. This is a snapshot from when I got ordained at my then home church, Peace UCC, in 2022.

Pastor Peter (he/him) is a child of the Midwest, baptized and confirmed in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America), and growing up in the suburbs of Kansas City, KS. He attended Doane University, in Crete, NE, where he graduated with a BA in History and minors in Sociology, Communication, and Leadership Studies. Before graduating, he heard a call to the ministry.

This call led to Yale Divinity School and Andover Newton Seminary, where he officially joined the UCC and discerned a call to congregational ministry. After receiving his Master of Divinity and Diploma in Congregational Ministry, he accepted a call from Plymouth Congregational Church, in Des Moines, Iowa, as one of their Transition into Ministry (TiM) associate pastors. While at Plymouth he finished the ordination process, becoming the Rev. Strobel (but you don’t have to call him that). Pastor Peter completed the TiM program in the summer of 2024. He accepted a call with UCC Norwell in Norwell, MA as their new Associate Pastor. This call came with an emphasis on children, teen, and family ministry so when he is not preaching, you can find Pastor Peter taking teens on mission trips, planning Sunday School lessons, and doing a little bit of everything else.

Pastor Peter currently lives in Hingham, MA with his wife, Allison "Allie" Strobel, and their cat, Millipop, "Milli". When not working, he loves swimming, hiking, biking, all things LEGO, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and exploring nature with Allie.

A throwback to a protest to support rights and protections for trans and non-binary person. Pastor Melody Webb on the left and Rev. Dr. Jared Wortman on the right. Proof good things are happening at Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines, IA.

Education

2019-2022

Master of Divinity
Yale Divinity School

Worked alongside the Rev. Jeff Lukens during field placement at Lordship Community Church UCC and completed one course of CPE at Research Medical Center (regional Trauma 1 hospital) in Kansas City, Missouri. The highlight of my studies was studying theology under Dr. Stephen Mark Heim, Dr. Miroslav Volf, and the Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings.

Recipient of the Lucile Nickerson Scholarship (merit scholarship for liberal theology), and received 2nd place for "Rev. Gordon Forbes Just Peace Preaching Award for Seminarians" submission.

Member and later coach of the YDS "Paracleats" soccer team.

2019-2022

Diploma in Congregational Ministry

Andover Newton Seminary

The highlight of my studies was learning UCC polity and history under the Rev. Dr. Sarah Drummond and attending weekly Emmaus worship services.

Recipient of the William H. Dyas Scholarship, the Edward J. Frost Memorial Scholarship, and the Robert H. Christenson Scholarship.

2015-2019

BA in History

Minors in Communications, Leadership Studies, and Sociology

Doane University

Graduated Magna Cum Laude and was the recipient of the Doane Scholar Award (Graduated in top 8% of class), Marianne Clarke At-Large Writing Award, Phi Alpha Theta 2019 Nebraska Regional Conference Distinguished Award Undergraduate Division Second Place, Kenneth R. Rossman Prize in History, Dr. Fred R. Brown Prize in History, Phi Alpha Theat (national history honor society), Alpha Kappa Delta (national sociology honor society), Omicron Delta Kappa (national leadership honor society), Order of Omega (national honor society: leadership in inter-fraternity activities), Cardinal Key (national honor society: scholarship, leadership & community service), Doane Honors Program, Deans List Fall 2015-Spring 2019.

I was a senator on Doane's Student Congress from Spring 2016 to Spring 2018, was part of the Doane Choir (the top college choir) for all four years, as well as a member of Doublewide (men's barbershop group) for three years, wrote opinion columns for the Doane Owl, joined Alpha Pi Epsilon fraternity in 2016, volunteered as a tutor at the local high school, was a college tutor for history and sociology classes, founded/led the Doane Harry Potter Club, and founded/led the Doane Pokemon Go Club.