GPBC Blog

By Caris Power --

Which is true? “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” or “Out of sight, out of mind.”

We have been absent from each other, at least in the form of physical Sunday morning gatherings, for over 19 weeks. That is four and a half months. Come September, if Multnomah County doesn’t reach Phase 2, we’ll have spent possibly half a year separated, physically, from our church family on Sundays.

It’s something we never anticipated or expected would happen, nor would we have chosen this way of “being the church.”

Long separations are hard on relationships. As Paulette Williams teaches, relationships are built on disclosure, mutuality, and time. Proximity helps facilitate all three of those. I would imagine that your strongest relationships, even with those whom presently live far away, began with or had a strong period of proximity in them that grew each into what they are today.

If you’ve ever had to build or maintain a long-distance relationship, you know how intentional you have to be with it. Ten years ago, when I was dating a guy who lived in Montana, we worked hard to talk on the phone or text every day. After six months of that, I was about as sick of talking on the phone as I am of jumping on a Zoom call these days. It’s hard! But it’s worth it because without any communication, the relationship cannot grow.

Our relationship as a church family is no different. In these days of separation, social distancing, and gathering size limits, our connection and relationship as a faith community has the potential to take a hit. 

Some absence does make the heart grow fonder, but the longer a relationship is separated, the more new routines, new interests, and new priorities can take over to fill the void of the missing connection. 

Your relationship to the body of Christ is no exception and is one I would strongly encourage you not to let float “out of sight, out of mind.”

This is where a little intentionality and ingenuity are required. For now, gone are the days where we can simply show up on Sunday mornings and have these relationships grow a little more. That easy road is gone. Even separated, we are still the church and all the promises and instructions for the church found in the New Testament still exist, which is why we’ve been digging into James and 1 John together during our online services. The Word and the Spirit still have much to guide us in being the church in this pandemic. 

COVID-19 doesn’t look to be leaving us any time soon (although I know we are praying otherwise), and we are currently in one of the most beautiful places we can be during summer: the Pacific Northwest. Seize these remaining weeks of amazing weather and make it one of your goals to build your relationship with the church. No, I don’t mean the institution. I mean with the people of God. 
Connect with your small groups outside. (If you want to get placed in a small group, we’ll help you do that! Just email us at .) Invite both old and new friends over for backyard get-togethers. Call someone in the church you’ve never really gotten to know and invite them to take a walk with you or even just connect over the phone. Bake treats and run around town delivering them. Go TP Greg’s house. I’m sure he’ll feel the love.