Paoli Mennonite Fellowship

09/03/2026

Why We’re Weird Wednesday

We do a few things the old-fashioned way.

Like making apple cider with an antique cider press!

This past weekend at our summer campout at Tipsaw, we pulled out the old press and turned apples (and even some pears!) into some delicious fresh cider. We couldn’t resist experimenting with an apple-and-pear combo, too.

There’s something wonderfully satisfying about slowing down, doing things together, and enjoying the simple stuff.

08/29/2026

Just a reminder that we will NOT be gathering at the church building this Sunday.

Instead, we’ll be worshiping, playing, eating, and enjoying creation together at Tipsaw Lake!

Sunday worship will be at the East Pavilion, down by the lake at 11 AM Eastern Time

Bring a lawn chair and your sense of adventure. Come for worship, stay for the fellowship!

See you by the lake!

Why We’re Weird Wednesday ⛺🌲

Apparently, the woods at PMF aren’t enough. 😁

Every summer, we pack up and spend a weekend together in the Hoosier National Forest at Tipsaw Lake. We take two intentional days to get out in nature, connect, and have fun together.

We hike, swim, ride bikes, play games, eat, and tell stories around the campfire.

And then on Sunday morning, we gather by the lake for a short, relaxed outdoor worship service, followed by a meal together.

Because we think faith is about more than just what happens inside a church building. Sometimes it looks like muddy shoes, campfires, lake water, laughter, good food, and stories shared under the starlit sky.

This year, we’re heading out August 29–30. 🌲🔥

08/23/2026

Today was our third and final week of our This I Believe worship series.

We were a little nervous about starting the morning with such a blank slate up front. But then you brought your creativity and a beautiful creation emerged.

Thank you to everyone who shared your gifts: poems, songs, paintings, quilts, woodworking, photography, handmade pieces, and so much more. Each creation became part of a visual reminder that the Spirit moves through the things we make, imagine, and bring into the world.

And a special thank you to one of our youth, who quietly drew throughout the reflection. What a beautiful gift to watch the words being heard and the Spirit being expressed through art right there in the moment.

We may have started with a blank space, but together, you filled it with beauty, creativity, and Spirit.

08/19/2026

Why We’re Weird Wednesday ⛺🌲

Apparently, the woods at PMF aren’t enough. 😁

Every summer, we pack up and spend a weekend together in the Hoosier National Forest at Tipsaw Lake. We take two intentional days to get out in nature, connect, and have fun together.

We hike, swim, ride bikes, play games, eat, and tell stories around the campfire.

And then on Sunday morning, we gather by the lake for a short, relaxed outdoor worship service, followed by a meal together.

Because we think faith is about more than just what happens inside a church building. Sometimes it looks like muddy shoes, campfires, lake water, laughter, good food, and stories shared under the starlit sky.

This year, we’re heading out August 29–30. 🌲🔥

08/16/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out today despite the heat! ☀️

We gathered in the woods and made room for the Holy Spirit. Thankfully, the tree canopy gave us some cooler temperatures—and even protected us from the little rain shower that came through!

Thank you not only for showing up, but for participating so fully: through song, dance, instruments, and by sharing your own experiences of the Spirit showing up in your lives.

What a beautiful morning of making room, listening, and being present together.

08/14/2026

What if we let go and didn’t plan every moment?

This Sunday, as part of our This I Believe series, we’ll reflect on what it means to make room for the Holy Spirit—to loosen our grip on our plans, leave some space open, and trust that something sacred might happen in the unplanned moments.

And where better to do that than in the woods?

Join us in our outdoor worship space on Sunday at 9:30 AM for worship, reflection, singing and a little room for the Spirit to surprise us.

08/12/2026

Why We’re Weird Wednesday 🌱

Creation Care is one of our core values.

Creation care is an important part of our Mennonite faith. We believe the earth is a gift, and caring for God's creation is one way we live out our commitment to peace, justice, and loving our neighbors—not just today, but for generations to come.

We try to put that belief into practice. We have solar panels in our orchard and a charging station for electric vehicles—something you might not expect to find in our little rural town!

Solar panels in the middle of an orchard - A little weird? Maybe. But it feels pretty natural to us.

Join us in enjoying God’s creation this Sunday at 9:30 am at our outdoor worship space!

08/06/2026

Back to school week!

We hope all of our youth and teachers had a wonderful first day! We also hope you felt a little extra loved and celebrated this weekend at our worship service that celebrated our youth and at our annual Back-to-School Ice Cream Social.

There was homemade ice cream making, grilling, swimming, laughing, and time to simply be together before the busyness of a new school year began.

We’re cheering you on and praying for a year filled with curiosity, kindness, growth, and joy!

08/05/2026

Why We’re Weird Wednesday - a weekly glimpse into the life of PMF

At Paoli Mennonite Fellowship, we believe we all have something to teach one another.

A few years ago, we began a This I Believe series inspired by NPR. We discovered that hearing one another’s stories—what we believe, how we’ve come to those beliefs, and how they connect with Scripture and the Divine—was deeply meaningful. So meaningful, in fact, that it’s become an annual tradition.

This Sunday begins this year’s three-week series. Each week, one of our participants will share something they believe and the journey that has shaped that belief.

We don’t expect everyone to think the same. Instead, we make space to listen with curiosity, to learn from one another, and to discover the many ways the Spirit is at work in our lives.

We think that’s wonderfully weird.

07/29/2026

Why We’re Weird Wednesday

Lots of churches have a potluck.

We have people taking turns hand-cranking homemade ice cream.

Seriously. Buckets of it.

Every year, our Back-to-School Celebration includes an amazing assortment of homemade ice cream made by folks in our congregation. You’ll find the classics like vanilla and chocolate, Nutella, local favorites like pawpaw, and sometimes flavors that are…well…a little adventurous. (Durian, anyone? 😄)

We believe some of the best conversations happen while sharing something made with love. There is something beautiful about gathering around homemade food, laughing together, and celebrating our young people as they begin another school year.

This Sunday we’ll bless our students, teachers, and school staff, celebrate our youth, worship together, have a cookout, swim, and—yes—enjoy plenty of homemade ice cream.

Our worship focus is this beautiful reminder:
God sees our trials and draws near in love, calling us beloved children of God and promising abundant life.

Come hungry—for ice cream and fellowship! 🍦