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Praise the Lord and pass the pumpkins

Texas goes big with most things, including pumpkin patches. First United Methodist Church of Georgetown, Texas, is in its 26th year of welcoming the community for pumpkin sales, photo-ops and other events. Professional photographer Andy Sharp captured the unloading of about 2,500 pumpkins on Oct. 11. Grace Avenue United Methodist Church in Frisco, Texas, has been recognized by D Magazine of Dallas as having one of the area’s outstanding fall pumpkin patches. Grace Avenue’s Pumpkins on the Prairie debuted in 2002. The church shared images from Oct. 16, when about 150 local students helped unload pumpkins.

First United Methodist Church in Georgetown, Texas, is the backdrop for a man wheeling pumpkins. The church is in its 26th year of having a fall pumpkin patch. Photo by Andy Sharp.
First United Methodist Church in Georgetown, Texas, is the backdrop for a man wheeling pumpkins. The church is in its 26th year of having a fall pumpkin patch. Photo by Andy Sharp.
Wagons are among the vehicles employed for moving some 2,500 pumpkins at First United Methodist Church in Georgetown, Texas. Photo by Andy Sharp.
Wagons are among the vehicles employed for moving some 2,500 pumpkins at First United Methodist Church in Georgetown, Texas. Photo by Andy Sharp.
A small boy gets in the spirit at the pumpkin patch of First United Methodist Church of Georgetown, Texas. Photo by Andy Sharp.
A small boy gets in the spirit at the pumpkin patch of First United Methodist Church of Georgetown, Texas. Photo by Andy Sharp.
Grace Avenue United Methodist Church’s Pumpkins on the Prairie has become a major fall event in Frisco, Texas, with local students helping get the pumpkins in place. Photo courtesy of Grace Avenue United Methodist Church.
Grace Avenue United Methodist Church’s Pumpkins on the Prairie has become a major fall event in Frisco, Texas, with local students helping get the pumpkins in place. Photo courtesy of Grace Avenue United Methodist Church.
Debuting in 2002, Grace Avenue United Methodist Church’s Pumpkins on the Prairie has been ranked as one of the best pumpkin patches in the Dallas area. This year, about 150 local students helped with unloading pumpkins for the church’s event. Photo courtesy of Grace Avenue United Methodist Church.
Debuting in 2002, Grace Avenue United Methodist Church’s Pumpkins on the Prairie has been ranked as one of the best pumpkin patches in the Dallas area. This year, about 150 local students helped with unloading pumpkins for the church’s event. Photo courtesy of Grace Avenue United Methodist Church.
Passing pumpkins can be a good workout, as local students found out in helping with Grace Avenue United Methodist Church’s Pumpkins on the Prairie. Photo courtesy of Grace Avenue United Methodist Church.
Passing pumpkins can be a good workout, as local students found out in helping with Grace Avenue United Methodist Church’s Pumpkins on the Prairie. Photo courtesy of Grace Avenue United Methodist Church.
Pumpkins of various sizes and colors abound at Grace United Methodist Church’s Pumpkins on the Prairie. Photo courtesy of Grace Avenue United Methodist Church.
Pumpkins of various sizes and colors abound at Grace United Methodist Church’s Pumpkins on the Prairie. Photo courtesy of Grace Avenue United Methodist Church.
Happiness is having straw to fling at the First United Methodist Church of Georgetown, Texas, pumpkin patch. Photo by Andy Sharp.
Happiness is having straw to fling at the First United Methodist Church of Georgetown, Texas, pumpkin patch. Photo by Andy Sharp.

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Worship
Collins Kwasi Prempeh preaches at King Solomon United Methodist Church in Mutare, Zimbabwe, on May 18. Prempeh, the first Deaf Global Missionary, will work with communities in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Burundi, Zambia, Congo and other parts of East Africa for the next three years. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Deaf missionary welcomes, inspires community

Collins Kwasi Prempeh, the first Deaf United Methodist Global Missionary, focuses on inclusion in worship and ministries. He also works to empower the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Disaster Relief
Community representative Janvier Murhula (left) thanks The United Methodist Church during the distribution of food supplies in Bukavu, Congo. The United Methodist Committee on Relief provided a solidarity grant that supported 100 households in the city. At right is the Rev. Esther Furaha Kachiko, Bukavu District superintendent. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

United Methodists provide vital aid in Congo

The United Methodist Church, with grants from the United Methodist Committee on Relief, is providing food and social support in war-torn eastern Congo.
Mission and Ministry
Members of the Harare (Zimbabwe) Inner-City United Methodist Church’s junior Sunday school class pose with some of their gifts for the local hospital’s pediatric unit. The children and teachers donated medical supplies, stoves and gifts for children. Appliance salesperson Roper Chakava stands second from right. Photo by Chenayi Kumuterera, UM News.

Children team up to help sick kids in Zimbabwe

Youth ages 4-12 at Harare Inner-City United Methodist Church raised $2,500 to provide gifts for children in the local hospital’s pediatric ward.

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