Halloween is around the corner, and the grounds of St. John's on the Lake United Methodist Church in Miami Beach are filled with more than 2,000 pumpkins of all shapes, colors and forms.

But they aren't necessarily celebrating trick-or-treating.

``We are celebrating God's harvest. The harvest of the pumpkin, and that's why we sell them,'' said Richard Nixon, a church member who started the annual Pumpkin Patch fundraiser seven years ago.

``People might say, `Why would a church sell something for Halloween?' But all the things we consume are grown from the grass and we are celebrating that,'' he said.

The church kicked off the annual fundraiser on Oct. 4 with volunteers unloading about 2,500 pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn from an 18-wheeler.

The fall harvest, which came from North Carolina, will be for sale until Oct. 31. Prices range from 50 cents to $16.

Nixon, who became member of the church about eight years ago, thought of the event not only as a great way to raise money, he said, but also as a way to get the community together at the church.

``My favorite part about the pumpkin patch is to see how happy the kids are, and to see parents taking pictures,'' said Nixon, 54, who now lives in Miami Shores. ``It's a nice event. People don't usually come to the pumpkin patch angry.''

But that's not the only way the church is getting the community together.

This year, the church will celebrate its 85th anniversary.

In 1949, the church moved from its prior location on Sixth Street and Jefferson Avenue to its current location on Pine Tree Drive in Miami Beach, where members are encouraged to grow as disciples and serve the community, according to the Rev. Melissa Pisco, pastor of St. John's.

The church also teaches its members to love everyone with no exceptions, she said.

``We try to host workshops with dialogues to embrace diversity and be hopefully an example for our community to work together and remain at peace,'' Pisco said.

Over the years, the number of members from all races, age groups and sexual orientations has been increasing. Members say the church has evolved to meet the needs of the Beach's changing demographic.

The church's efforts also include the Arts at St. John's, a nonprofit organization that uses arts as a way of social transformation and healing, Pisco said. Activities range from Broadway plays to exercise classes such as pilates. Programs also aim at supporting local artists and sharing their talents with others.

``It's to help people to get in tune with what's going on inside them,'' she said.

The church also runs The Montessori Academy at St. John's, a school for children six weeks old up to the first grade, and has plans to expand enrollment. Plans for the school also include a LEED certified building, which would implement energy and water efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions reduction, and environmentally friendly materials. The church is collecting funds for the project.

But the church's latest community outreach is a group encouraging diversity.

For more than a decade, St. John's has been part of the Reconciling Ministries Network, a movement of the United Methodist Church that focuses on the inclusion of all individuals regardless of sexual orientation and gender identities.

It is the only congregation in Florida part of that network.

In September, members of the church created a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender group, which is scheduled to meet once a month. It is both a social and study group for the gay community, although everyone interested can join.

``We don't exclude anybody,'' said Terry Dewis, a member of the group who splits the year between Miami Beach and New York. Dewis started going to the church about 15 years ago.

``There were not many churches that I knew of that I felt comfortable in, that I felt welcomed,'' said Dewis, 52. ``In that church, as soon as I go there, I feel welcome.''

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