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."