A first time church visitor has made the steps to finally visit your church.
Then comes that potentially awkward moment that some call “the passing of the peace,” that handshake ritual that may have some traditional symbolism that only Christians know.
To the church visitor, it can be a weird moment, a time of shaking hands with as many people as possible. What does a handshake have to do with peace?
While passing the peace may have been a symbol of “being a peacemaker,” it often becomes a fear-maker in visitors who might already feel out of place.
It is often a ritualized greeting:
- We leave the comfort of our seat,
- turn to our seatmates, pewmates or someone near us,
- grasp their hands, and
- speak the words, “The peace of the Lord be with you” and
- receive the words in turn, “And also with you.”
Sometimes, these phrases simply roll of our tongues in a meaningless gesture.
My most awkward experience
Listen in as I’m interviewed about the in-service greeting, sometimes called the passing of the peace. In this video, I share what was the most awkward moment I experienced, as well as the most meaningful.
- What is it?
- What is the weirdest one you’ve ever experienced?
- What is the best greeting moment I’ve experienced?
- What should we not do?
- What should we do?
- What are some things to say?
- How can we use this moment to help visitors?
Your Turn
What could you suggest as a great tip for those who practice this moment in the service?
How can it become a great hospitality moment?
Share your comments below. Don’t be afraid to be the first.
Image Source: Peas found as various wallpapers online and thought to be under creative commons.
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Thanks for the information. Our worship team remains on the stage during the in-service greeting and our pianist starts the playing the beginning of the next hymn, giving everyone notice that we are moving on.
My wife was a big fan of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. In 1979, we visited his church (Marble Collegiate Church) from another area of the country to hear one of his last sermons. When it was time to have the passing of the peace, a young man turned around and introduced himself to us. It turns out that he was a member of the congregation. While I didn’t recognize his name from his greeting until several years later (he was very confident in his greeting), I never forgot it.
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His name was Donald Trump … and today, everyone in the country recognizes that name.
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Our Worship Team has placed the Passing of the Peace at the end of our worship service because of the awkwardness our new visitors may experience. In all honesty, we used to be the congregation that took ten minutes during worship to shake hands, pass out hugs and visit. I prefer worshipping the Audience of One!
A huge thank you, Pastor, for designing a very useful and purposeful hospitality tool for all to learn and share.
God’s Blessings!
Thanks Joseph. The encouragement is always welcome
Thank you Pastor Chris for the every moment of coaching you do in ministry. I use your coaching to keep the ministry vision ever before ministry of greeters.
Thanks Matt. What makes this part of the service meaningful to you? What was your most meaningful encounter? Do you have a strange one that was just an awkward experience?
Chris,
This was excellent. I laughed out loud at the part about shaking as many hand as possible, and what does a handshake have to do with peace. I think you did a great job in the video of clearly articulating the purpose of the welcoming time.
Years ago, I myself would just greet those around me quickly and then sit down. I blame part of it on nobody taking the time to explain what we’re doing. Mostly though, I blame myself. I was just being selfish and only thinking of myself. Now, I use the time to actively look for new people. It’s one of my favorite times of the service now.
Matt