Today it felt right to include within the Communion part of our service the things that gets many, possibly most, Baptists very twitchy - we did that "sharing the peace thing" where people get up out of their seats, move around and bless one another with God's peace. 

A symbol of reconciliation where relationships may have been strained...

A symbol of welcome to someone we don't know, who may be a visitor...

A symbol of affirmation between people who love each other as siblings in Christ...

And it seemed to work really well.  People got up and moved (the words of invitation allowed for this to be done 'if you are able') and looked each other warmly in the eye (as the song says) and shook hands, or hugged, or kissed or some combination thereof.  And it was beautiful to behold, after I had returned to the front how people were entering into this simple yet profound act.

And in light of that reconciliation, wlecome, affirmation, we are better able to "commune" as we share bread and 'wine' together.

But I do need to work on one apsect... my call "the peace of the Lord be always with you" elicited the response " " (silence).  Spot which Baptist minister has spent more time in episcopal/catholic churches than her congregation!!

Feedback on this element of the service was good - so we'll try it again some other time...