The Chalice: How much of a risk is this, really?

[currier54]

I am Lutheran, and take communion every week at church.  I have read lots of discussions on here about communion wafers, and I'm not asking about that, but what I'm wondering about is drinking from the common cup.  If the pastor does not break the bread over the cup, the wafers are not dipped into it, and there are only a few people who, having just eaten a wafer, drink from it before me (usually 5-7), how much of a CC risk is it? 

I've discovered that I'm very sensitive to CC, but also have a strong theology-based desire not to give up drinking from the cup unless absolutely necessary (my church does offer the individual ones, too.)  I'm trying to figure out if it's one of the things still giving me trouble (yesterday something did, but it also could have been walking into my in-laws' house and spending a few minutes in the kitchen with the overwhelming aroma of just-baked brownies.) 

I know the simple answer is, "Be the first to drink from the cup."  But I couldn't be the actual first, as Pastor serves the acolyte before beginning the distribution, and more practically...it would necessitate sitting at the front, which my husband is utterly loathe to do. https://www.celiac.com/uploads/emoticons/default_wink.png

Help?

[Scott Adams]

I think the chance of cross-contamination is pretty small, especially if you take the smallest sip possible (does it matter how much you actually drink? I doubt it, as long as you get some amount of it). 

Given how sensitive you are, it is still a very small risk, so you'll have to be the one to decide whether or not to ask for a separate cup or not.  I definitely understand not wanting to make a fuss over this with your church, but keeping gluten-free is clearly important for you.

[currier54]

Thanks!

Yes, the quantity does not matter, so a small sip seems prudent.  As it stands now, I'll probably keep communing from the chalice.  I started noticing a pattern of having some trouble Sunday evenings or Mondays, so it's possible it's giving me trouble.  

I'm wondering, though, if anyone out there is certain that they have been glutened by the common cup?  

[Scott Adams]

It can be difficult to know exactly where any cross-contamination might have come from, but it's possible that some people have linked it to the common cup. You may want to look through our archives as many people have discussed this:

https://www.celiac.com/search/?q=chalice&quick=1