When do we pass the peace?

The passing of the peace can happen at various points in the service: following God's Greeting, the Assurance of Pardon, or in the sequence of the Lord's Supper or Communion.

Following God's greeting

Following God's greeting, worshipers can turn to each other to pass the peace of Christ as a greeting to each other. They can use phrases such as:

• God has greeted us with his peace. Let us now pass the peace of Christ to each other.
• As God has greeted us, so let us greet each other.

Following the assurance of pardon

After hearing the assurance of our forgiveness (after the prayer of confession), worshipers may be invited to pass the peace as a gesture of reconciliation and peace with each other. Christ's forgiveness of our sins offers us the possibility of genuine fellowship and reconciliation within the body of Christ.

Phrases that can be used:

• As God has forgiven us, let us now forgive one another.
• In gratitude for the gift of forgiveness, let us share God's peace with each other.
• Based on John 13:34: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another."
• The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Congregation responds: And also with you.

Following the Lord's Supper or communion

In the Lord's Supper or communion liturgy, the passing of the peace calls attention to the communal focus of the meal.

Phrases that can be used:

• Thanks be to God: Christ has made us one.
• Based on John 14:27: Jesus Christ said to his disciples: "Peace I leave with you."
• Based on John 20:19–21: Jesus appeared in the locked room and stood among his disciples. He said "Peace be with you."

How do you write an assurance of pardon?

Consider adding the following parts to an assurance of pardon:

1. Phrases of introduction call the congregation to pay attention to the good news of the gospel. Phrases such as "Hear the good news" or "Hear the word of the Lord" point to the good news that you are about to proclaim.
2. Throughout the Bible, we can read of God's promise to forgive and redeem. Reading one of those phrases proclaims to good news of promised forgiveness to the congregation.
3. And because we can trust the gospel promises, we can proclaim a direct personal application such as "believe this gospel and go forth in peace" or "know that you are forgiven, and be at peace" or "live in the sure hope of Christ's promise." 
4. The congregation can choose to respond with phrases of gratitude such as "thanks be to God."

"The good news of the gospel is that in Christ we are forgiven! The announcement of this truth is one of the most beautiful moments in worship. Using biblical words reinforces the truth that our assurance is based on God's words of promise, not merely on our own hopes and desires." (The Worship Sourcebook, 2nd ed. [Grand Rapids, MI: Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2013], 115.)

Assurance of pardon ideas from the Bible

• 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves . . ."
• Psalm 32:1–5, "Blessed are the ones whose transgressions are forgiven"
• Psalm 78:37–38, Israel's hearts were not steadfast, yet God forgave
• Psalm 103, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits"
• Psalm 130:3–8, "If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?"
• Psalm 145:13–14, the Lord is faithful in all he does
• Psalm 147:2–5, the Lord heals the brokenhearted
• Isaiah 1:18, "Though your sins are like scarlet . . ."
• Isaiah 4:3–4, Whoever is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy
• Isaiah 43:25, "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake"
• Isaiah 44:21–22, ". . . for I have redeemed you"
• Isaiah 49:15, Can a mother forget the baby at her breast?
• Isaiah 53:4–6, surely Jesus took up our pain and bore our suffering
• Isaiah 54:8, "With everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you"
• Isaiah 55:7, let the wicked forsake their way
• Isaiah 66:13, God will comfort as a mother comforts her child
• Jeremiah 33:8, "I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin"
• Ezekiel 36:25–26, "I will sprinkle clean water upon you"
• Hosea 11:8–9, my heart is changed within me
• Micah 7:18–20, "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity. . ."
• Matthew 6:12–15, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors"
• Matthew 18:21–22, "How often should I forgive?"
• Mark 2:5–7, Jeus heals a paralytic
• Mark 11:25, forgive whenever you pray
• Luke 15:11–32, the prodigal son
• Luke 17:3–4, if there is repentance, you must forgive
• John 3:16–17, "'For God so loved the world . . .'"
• Acts 2:38, repent and be baptized
• Acts 13:38–39, everyone who believes is set free from sin
• Acts 22:16, be baptized and have your sins washed away
• Romans 5:1–11, results of justification
• Romans 8:1–17, life in the Spirit
• Romans 8:31–39, we are more than conquerors
• Colossians 3:13, forgive each other
• 2 Corinthians 5:17, the old is gone; everything has become new
• Ephesians 1:7, in Christ we have redemption through his blood
• Colossians 2:13–14, God makes us alive with Christ
• 1 Peter 2:24, Christ bore our sins on the cross
• 1 Timothy 1:15–17, Christ came to save sinners
• 1 John 1:5–10, light and darkness; sin and forgiveness

Assurance of pardon ideas for Advent

• Psalm 85:9–13, surely God's salvation is at hand
• Isaiah 40:1, "Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God"
• Jeremiah 33:14–16, God will fulfill his promise
• Zephaniah 3:14–18, the Lord has taken away the judgments against Israel
• Malachi 3:1–4, the messenger of the covenant is coming

Assurance of pardon ideas for Christmas

• Isaiah 52:9–10, the Lord has comforted his people
• Isaiah 62:10–12, salvation has come
• Matthew 1:21, Jesus will save people from their sins
• Luke 1:68–72, the Lord's grace is sure
• Luke 2:10–11, the Messiah has come
• John 1:12, to all who believe in his name, he gave power to become children of God
• 2 Corinthians 4:6, God has caused light to shine in our hearts
• Galatians 4:4–5, God sent his Son
• 1 Timothy 1:15, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners
• Titus 2:11, the grace of God has appeared
• Titus 3:4–7, God our Savior appeared
• Hebrews 1:1–3, Jesus will provide purification for sins

Assurance of pardon ideas for Lent

• Psalm 91:14–15, "Those who love me, I will deliver"
• Psalm 130:7–8, put your hope in the Lord
• Ezekiel 36:26, I will give you a new heart
• Joel 2:13, the Lord is slow to anger
• Matthew 11:28–30, "Come to me, all you that are weary"
• John 8:12, "I am the light of the world"
• 2 Corinthians 5:17–18, anyone in Christ is a new creation
• Ephesians 2:8, by grace you have been saved
• 1 Peter 2:9–10, we have been called out of darkness

Assurance of pardon ideas for Easter

• Romans 8:9–11, we are not in the flesh
• 1 Corinthians 15:20–22, Christ has been raised from the dead
• 1 Corinthians 15:54–57, death has been swallowed up in victory
• Ephesians 2:4–7, we are made alive together with Christ
• Colossians 2:13–15, God made us alive
• 1 Peter 1:18–21, we were ransomed

Assurance of pardon ideas for Ascension

• Ephesians 2:4–7, God is rich in mercy
• 1 John 2:1–2, Jesus is our advocate with the Father
• 1 Peter 3:18–22, the righteous for the unrighteous

Assurance of pardon ideas for Pentecost

• Ezekiel 36:24–28, "I will sprinkle clean water upon you"
• Romans 5:1–5, we are justified by faith
• Romans 8:1–2, there is now no condemnation
• 2 Corinthians 1:20–22, God puts his seal on us and gives us his Spirit