Last year, Ryan and Megan Weidner contacted Grace by email, looking for a church where they could get plugged into community. “As a newly married couple, we were looking for a strong group of Christian couples to connect to,” says Megan (far left in the above photo). They started attending Grace, joined a small group right away and never looked back.

When small groups at Grace transitioned into Grace Communities, the Weidners transitioned as well, agreeing to host a group led by Brian and Shari Orr in their home. They love inviting the church community into their own community.

The group has been studying the book Gospel-Centered Life this summer. And like all Grace Communities, the Weidner/Orr group is sometimes just about doing life together. “This summer, our group has attended an art festival, gone blueberry picking, picnicked on the 4th of July, and hosted game nights,” says Megan. “We also meet each other’s needs — for instance, we just helped a group member move.”

The group has dinner together every week, breaking bread in fellowship just like the Church has since its beginning. “Our group loves that we are honest with our faults,” says Megan. “Our prayer times allow us to be real and help each other be accountable.”

The group is currently deciding on a fall volunteer project, and coming together to help two more group members move (they’re a mobile bunch!). Megan wants to see the group grow: “Although we are all young faces, we would be extremely excited to see our group expand to all ages.”

Grace Communities are designed to help people at Grace live out the gospel right where they live, and to connect the people of the church to each other and to their faith far beyond Sunday mornings.

Ryan and Megan have found that kind of connection: “Through Grace, we have found more than we ever could have imagined and thank God daily for the relationships He has given us through community groups.”