Having endured and triumphed over fire, floods, and a schism, Harmony Presbyterian Church is a congregation deeply rooted in family values, the community, and working toward living in harmony with one another. On the chancel is a colorful stained glass window that is a defining focal point. The window quotes from Romans 12: 9-21, “Live in Harmony with one another.” The congregation not only refle
cts this in its name, but in its practices. Paul’s appeal to the church in Rome resonates with the community as a prescription for humble, Christ like living. The importance of living in harmony with one another was reinforced in the years following the schism of 1937, relating to the establishment of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The congregation is deeply committed to welcoming and including strangers, and its members find strength in caring for one another in times of joy and sorrow. People are also guided by Jesus’ words in Matthew 25: 40, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me,” understanding that their faith is best expressed through actions of service to others. The pastoral image of the stained glass window also reflects the community that is Harmony Township, Warren County, New Jersey. Harmony has a long history as a farming community situated on the banks of the Delaware River, which has flooded numerous times since the congregation was established in 1807. Farming and river life have always been and will continue to be part of the fabric of the congregation’s identity, even in a time when many members have gone to college and are engaged in many other fields of employment. But rural traditions have also led to some areas where the church is in need of improvement. Rural life, with its seasonal vocations and uncertainty about income, has led to times when members of the congregation found themselves with little or nothing left to give to the church. This, together with over dependence on endowment income, has created a pressing need to address stewardship and stewardship education. Harmony Presbyterian Church has a very diverse congregation in terms of age, socioeconomic background, and station. While members are involved in such traditional vocations as teaching, nursing, tradesmen and farming, shifting demographics have helped to broaden the range of employment opportunities. This diversity gives strength to the congregation and provides hope for the future of the community. The congregation is committed to celebrating and observing life’s transitions. Many current members have long family histories in the church, including some who can proudly say their ancestors were some of the founding members. Part of that tradition also includes a deep desire to simply celebrate being American and the freedoms that come along with it, as expressed by weekly recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, annual observance of Memorial and Veteran's Days, and support of missions serving active duty and former military personnel. The congregation does an outstanding job of welcoming guests and new comers, accepting them into the family as if they had been there for years. The congregation’s friendliness and welcoming spirit is a strength that has enabled it to grow at a rate of about 1.15% per year, at a time when many neighboring churches have experienced decreasing membership. Along with the family traditions prevalent at Harmony Presbyterian Church, is the idea that children are “God's most precious gift,” and that nurturing them is very much like, “planting trees, the shade under which we will never sit.” According to members of the congregation, the children’s Sunday school and Vacation Bible School are among the church’s greatest assets. As Jesus gathers the children in the window, the congregation, through its’ educational programs, gathers the children to teach them the ways of Jesus, and to prepare them for the future.
