Update Regarding the Future of the Pumpkin Patch

Christ Lutheran Church has decided to "sunset" the pumpkin patch, and that we will not be able to commit to hosting/continuing a pumpkin patch in/for 2026.

From 2015-2019, and 2021-2025, the SoCo Pumpkin Patch was truly a unique opportunity for Christ Austin 78704 to serve others and to share the love of Christ.

The SoCo Pumpkin Patch has been a wonderful ministry and community event, but over time it has become increasingly difficult to secure enough volunteers to fully staff the patch.

While we would have liked to continue this tradition, the extensive logistics involved during the nearly three-week season each October—including preparing and decorating the patch, meeting the vendor’s daily staffing requirements, and recruiting enough volunteers to staff pumpkin sales throughout the event—ultimately became unsustainable.

After prayerful consideration and celebrating ten successful pumpkin patches over the past eleven years at Christ Austin 78704, it was determined that we will not continue the SoCo Pumpkin Patch in 2026.

For more information on volunteer opportunities (including group service outings) in the community, please be sure to go to Serve With Us.

Pastor John Serving with the Pumpkin Patch

SoCo Pumpkin Patch & Water to Thrive

This cherished tradition of the SoCo Pumpkin Patch not only brought joy to our community but also supported Water to Thrive www.watertothrive.org, to continue getting clean, safe water to rural communities in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania. For 10 pumpkin patch seasons since 2015, the SoCo Pumpkin Patch intentionally supported the life-changing mission of Water to Thrive.

Water to Thrive

Celebrating a Decade of Partnering with Water to Thrive

Praise the Lord for the 2 water wells which we directly fundraised for through specific campaigns in partnership with Water to Thrive.

Water Well #1

Our 1st well (from our Spring/Summer 2024 fundraising campaign for Water to Thrive) was built and operational in Tanzania in Spring 2025.

Additionally, all of our Church proceeds from the 2025 pumpkin patch gave us about a two-thirds head start toward fundraising the rest of the funds necessary for a 2nd water well - and this one slated to be in eastern Uganda in the Bukedea district.

This project is part of a group of 30 projects that Water to Thrive is implementing with their partner in this region known as Uganda Water Project (UWP). These 30 projects will provide daily access to clean, safe water for over 16,000 community members.

Our 2nd water well will have engraved on the plaque the identical text as our 1st water well: "Given in love by the people of Christ Lutheran Church, Austin, TX, USA".

(Please note that funds raised for Water to Thrive from the 2015-2019 and 2021-2024 pumpkin patches were in a way able to indirectly go toward the equivalent necessary for around two other water wells.)