Worship: Why We Do What We Do (The One Where We Talk About The Passing Of The Peace)

Welcome to another weekly installment of “Why We Do What We Do,” the series where we talk about common elements in Christian worship services.

Last week we discussed celebrations of assurance in the finished work of Christ, who has redeemed us by His blood, broken down every barrier between God and man, and won, for us, a lasting peace.  This week we talk about the Passing Of The Peace, which is sometimes referred to as “the giving of the peace” or “the extending of the peace.”  In many churches it is simply treated as the “meet and greet” the time when congregants shake hands with one another and introduce themselves to visitors.

My interview subject is Sojourn Worship Leader Lorie King, who has led worship in a many contexts around the world.  She completed a Masters program in Worship from the School of Church Music and Worship at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has been in Pastor Mike Cosper’s Sojourn worship ministry since shortly after our launch in 2000.

Click play below to listen now, or download the episode from our podcast, Sojournmusic.com Radio, available at iTunes and other podcast directories.  And come back next Thursday for part four.

What you’ll hear in this short audio interview:

Is it more accurate to refer to this as the “passing” of the peace rather than “giving” of the peace, and does it make a difference?

Is this worship element an introvert’s nightmare? What if you’re just not comfortable talking to new people?

With only a few minutes, or even just seconds in some churches, does this worship element really serve a useful purpose?

Hear The One Where We Talk About The Celebration Of Assurance

Hear The One Where We Talk About Confession And Repentance

Hear The One Where We Talk About Expressions Of Adoration And Praise

Hear The One Where We Talk About The “Call To Worship”

for examples of various worship service readings, free for you to use and adapt in your own worship services, visit theopensourcebook.org

view the artwork above, Passing Of The Peace, along with other original liturgical art from the Sojourn community at sojournvisualarts.com