passing the peace
Sanctuary handshake moment
Passing the peace is a moment in Christian worship when congregants greet one another with words like "Peace be with you" or a handshake.
The ritual, rooted in biblical instruction to reconcile with others before offering gifts at the altar, typically occurs before communion.
Some churches keep it brief and formal; others treat it as an extended time of fellowship: We spent five minutes passing the peace before the sermon.
- handshakeMutual palm-gripping gesture
- shaking handsMutual grip greeting
- greetingExpression of welcome
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
Christian fellowship · pew · Sunday · worship · ritual · church · house of worship · reconciliation · blessing · neighbor · community · embrace · gesture · liturgy · warmth · connection · sacred · ceremony
- Church Worshipworship service, hymnal, hymnals, pulpit, preacher
- church serviceschurch service, weddings, high mass, funerals, communion
- worship elementsprayer, sermon, homily, hymn singing, scripture reading
- Presbyterianpresbytery, session, Westminster Confession, General Assembly, moderator
passing the peacepreaching
Delivering moral discourse
silent prayer · private devotion · moment of silence · benediction · confession
passing the peaceshunning
Deliberately avoiding someone
excommunication · disfellowshipping · turning one's back · turning away · church discipline
pass, passing, passed, passes, passer, passable, impassable, passage, passport