Who We Are

This is the community Protestant Church of the town of Harvard (the town also has a Unitarian Church and a Roman Catholic Church). Our people come from all denominational backgrounds and enjoy our very inclusive fellowship. We are a mainline Protestant church that believes God has been made known to us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and that God continues to be made known to us through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Theology

Our theology centers on the double commandment Jesus said was the heart and sum of God's law: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27) We try to provide opportunities for people of all ages to grow in their relationship with God and to reach out and share God's love with others, within our congregation and beyond, from the local food pantry (Loaves & Fishes) to Zimbabwe.

United Church of Christ

This congregation is a part of the Central Association of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. The Central Association is made up of about 110 churches and meets twice a year for fellowship and learning. Clergy gather in its five sectors for study and sharing each month. The Massachusetts Conference provides resources, camps and retreats, staff assistance, and common mission for the 430 UCC churches in the state.

Pastor and Staff

This church is staffed by a full time Pastor, The Rev. Dr. Gregory Schmidt. We have an Office Administrator, Susan Buck, who is generally in the office Monday through Friday, 9-3 (Summer hours are Tuesday - Thursday). The Music Director is Eric Mazonson. Debbie Kaegebein, Susan Baraber and Laura Kilkenny lead the children's choirs. There are two Caregiver Coordinators, Melanie Frost and Norma Young, who help match people with needs and those who wish to help.

History

This church was founded in 1821 when a group of Trinitarian Christians broke off from the First Church to start a new congregation with "orthodox" beliefs. The Town of Harvard granted the new church a "piece of the Common" for its new building and the Rev. George Fisher was called from Wrentham. The main sanctuary has changed little since 1821, though it was raised in 1882 to permit a full first floor providing classrooms and offices. The Parish Hall addition was added in 1967 to provide additional classrooms and a large gathering hall and kitchen.