Unload, organize and serve

Trinity United Methodist Church has hosted the pumpkin patch for 20 years.

For the past 20 years Trinity United Methodist Church has turned the front lawn of the church orange during the month of October with over 3,700 pumpkins. Members of the church from all ages come together to help unload, organize and serve.

This past Sunday, dozens gathered on the Trinity United Methodist Church lawn, forming assembly lines to unload the second shipment of over 1,200 pumpkins.

“I enjoy working because it’s a time of the year when the church is super visible in the community,” said Cannon Rogers, a member of the youth group. “It always fosters some sort of conversation with a visitor about coming to church and faith.”

While buying pumpkins customers are also able to purchase Halloween decorations, goodie bags and carving tools.

The money raised from the patch goes straight to youth ministry programs and youth trips as well as across the community, across the country and across the world says Rev. Joe Palmer.

During the month of the pumpkins, the patch will host field trips from local schools. Students will be able to participate in storytelling and pumpkin carving while enjoying the atmosphere of the orange. Saturdays, the patch will host community wide storytelling between 10 a.m. and noon.

“All are welcome” said one of the patch field trip coordinators, Shelly Reid.

Rev. Joe Palmer expressed his greatest joy during the pumpkin

patch season is the 700 kids who visit on field trips. Education is key for churches to connect and serve, he said.

The Trinity Pumpkin Patch is open from now until Oct. 31, from noon until 8 p.m. Sunday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturdays.

Olivia Vardy / Rome News-Tribune Pumpkins cover the lawn of Trinity United Methodist Church for their 20th annual pumpkin patch.

Olivia Vardy / Rome News-Tribune Trinity United Methodist Church members of all ages gather together to celebrate fall by unloading and organizing the second shipment of pumpkins Sunday afternoon.

Olivia Vardy / Rome News-Tribune Peyton Stone (left) stands by as Trent Ballinger (middle) and Chip Williams (right) help unload pumpkins at Trinity Methodist Church.