The Passing of the Peace is something that occurs in the 9 a.m. Sunday service and the service of healing (11 a.m. on the second Sunday of the month).
People offer one another signs of reconciliation and love. The Peace is an act of reconciliation and blessing, based on New Testament Christian practice (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14). Its placement immediately before the offering recalls Matthew 5:23–24. It is not simply our peace but the peace of Christ that we offer. The gestures and words used may vary widely, depending on the nature of the occasion. For example, one may clasp another’s hand and say, “The peace of Christ be with you,” and the other respond, “And also with you.”
The Peace is not to be confused with the ritual of friendship or welcoming of visitors.