Communion

[Gwendolene]

Hi

I am wondering what you do for protestant communion (I would still like to partake). I am also allergic to eggs, dairy products and sugar.

Are some denominations more understanding than others? I come from a Lutheran background, but am unsure how to handle this...

[jennyj]

I belong to a Baptist church and talked with my pastor. I bring my own gluten free cracker with me and when communion is passed I just pass the plate and use my own cracker. We also own a store where I sell gluten free foods and I carry communion wafers from Ener G. Hope this helps some.

[Guest lorlyn]

Hi

I am wondering what you do for protestant communion (I would still like to partake). I am also allergic to eggs, dairy products and sugar.

Are some denominations more understanding than others? I come from a Lutheran background, but am unsure how to handle this...

My 10 year old daughter has celiac and we are Catholic and our preist said she could just take the wine or have a very tiny peice of the host.

[2kids4me]

We're Catholic and the priest has a separate chalice for wine - in the Catholic Communion rite, they break a piece of the large host into the wine. That bit of wafer was enough to give our daughter symptoms.

No problem having accomodations made - just talked to the priest and he told us how we could partake and not get sick.

Sandy

[happygirl]

Hey Gwendolene:

I am a Celiac and Lutheran as well .

I still take communion. In both Missouri Synod and ELCA churches, I have been fine doing whatever I feel to be comfortable. Often, I just take the wine or juice (however: you should note that if you have egg and dairy issues as well, they *can* be used in the wine making process and are not labeled)

I am a super sensitive Celiac---I was not comfortable bringing my own bread/body and having the pastor touch it and then me eat it. They have always understood. I have brought a small piece of gluten free bread, a part of a rice chip, and my personal favorite: part of a tostito . I hold it in my hand and they say whatever it is they say, and then I take it.

The main thing will be for you to decide what is safe for you, in terms of ingredients. Then, once you have some options, you can go to your pastor and discuss them. Luckily for us, Lutheran communion only requires that you take one element to receive communion. Most weeks I am too rushed and forget to bring the "body" so I just take the wine (as long as it is separate, and not the type that you drink out of communally or that you dip bread in to).

Since diagnosis 2.5 years ago, I have communed at 6 churches (during grad school, my parents/home church, at in-laws, in the two places we have lived since school, and at my grandmother's church)....point is: in the Lutheran church, it generally is not a problem, in my experience. I haven't had anyone question it---most of them don't even blink an eye. I have felt very welcomed and am happy that I can still continue this part of the service.

Hope this gives you some ideas. Feel free to PM me if there is anything I can do!

Laura

[Canadiangirl]

Hi there,

The first time I was in church after going gluten-free I was with my boyfriend and I wasnt thinking about it at all and I grabbed a piece of cracker and the little juice ( Protestant church), and waited for the pastor to give the cue. My boyfreind shoved me in the ribs and gave me and then the cracker in my hand the look of death. I then realized that I had forgotten! So I gave it to him and felt very guilty and just took the juice. We talked about it after as I was a bit upset, unsure of what to do as we don't go to church very often, but when we do and there is communion I do like to partake and I know that God isnt some judjmental being whom would cast me to hell for having a gluten intolerance and not able to share in that part of communion. So then the next time we're at a diff. church, one that I grew up in, and we're sitting next to an older couple whom I have known for years and years. They pass us the plates, I take the juice and no wine, and this lady gives me a gruff look and breaks me a piece of her bread. I whisper, "no thanks I have celiac - a flour allergy, I cant" and she then grunts and SHOVES it in my hand! My boyfriend is looking at me in horror, I am sitting with this bread in my hand and this lady staring at me to see if I eat it when the pastor says "eat ye all of it". SO of course I didnt, and the lady leanes over and says " Its communion! I am concerned! you should be able to eat just a bite! Be reverant" I didnt. And I was red in the face for th rest of the service. After I tried to explain to her that I really cant have any, I have an illness and will get very sick etc. She assured me that God would heal me if I prayed and that I should take part in communion anyways. GOOD GREIF eh? I havnt been in a service where there is communion since, so next time i think I'll just make sure we sit where I can not be watched! And go through the motions as I think the important part, for me, would be to reflect and partake with the juice and that will be ok!

For someone who has communion on a regular basis, I would just bring your own!

-Canadiangirl

[Susanna]

Hi

I am wondering what you do for protestant communion (I would still like to partake). I am also allergic to eggs, dairy products and sugar.

Are some denominations more understanding than others? I come from a Lutheran background, but am unsure how to handle this...

Hey, Gwendolene--Lutherans have no trouble accepting substitue wafers for communion (at least, my church is cool with it). My pastor was able to order rice communication wafers for me and my son after we got diagnosed last year. Interestingly, as soon as he got these rice wafers and started using them (he has a different platter for the gluten-free wafers and keeps them separate from the wheat wafers that he gives everyone else), 2 other people in the congregation "outed" the fact that they too were celiac, and were very happy that now rice wafers were available. So, if you bring up the subject with your pastor, maybe s/he'll get you rice wafers, and others may also benefit from you raising the pastor's awareness. Oh, also, my pastor told me that if you want to take just the wine (and not the bread), it is still considered the whole sacrament, so, wine only might be an option for you, too.

Good luck,

Susanna

[Susanna]

Hey, Canadiangirl--so sorry you had a negative experience--I think there are many churches out there that are very understanding and willing to work with you. You did the right thing to protect yourself, and just take the wine.

Most of the Protestand churches I've been to have been very flexible on this subject. I was raised Catholic, and they do seem to have trouble accepting non-wheat substitutes, and this is unfortunate. I hope that in time, all of us celiacs will keep communicating with the non-celiac world, to increase awareness and understanding about our disease. Until then, we just need to perservere, protect ourselves, and keep teaching.

Good luck at your next communion,

Susanna

[Sillyyakdidi]

My 10 year old daughter has celiac and we are Catholic and our preist said she could just take the wine or have a very tiny peice of the host.

AHHH! NO. I am catholic as well. You cannot have a tiny piece of the host, the smallest piece will make her ill if she is celiac. NO. there is no replacement, as its come down from the pope that celiacs have no option. and, the wine is cross contaminate,d even if you are the first to recieve, it is CC from the priest, as he takes the host then the wine. so, NO DO NOT RECIEVE any type of communion.

[Sillyyakdidi]

AHHH! NO. I am catholic as well. You cannot have a tiny piece of the host, the smallest piece will make her ill if she is celiac. NO. there is no replacement, as its come down from the pope that celiacs have no option. and, the wine is cross contaminate,d even if you are the first to recieve, it is CC from the priest, as he takes the host then the wine. so, NO DO NOT RECIEVE any type of communion.

sorry if i sounded a little agitated with my first reply, i just felt like iw as watchng someone do something in slow motion and was ready to dive and knock the communion out of your hands screaming nooooooooooo. Lol. i went through alot finding out of catholics could replace communion, and they also said, oh just take wine. and after i actually thought about it, we realized that there is so much of the hosts floating in the wine from backwash (ew!) and cc, its not safe! so, sorry if i sounded scary, i just dont want you to get sick!!!!!!

[Guest lorlyn]

Our priests really gives her a small tiny piece just where she can receive the body of crist. At some of our masses we do not have wine so she is stuck. She also goes to Catholic school and they have mass weekly. She refuses the host 3 times a month there and just does it once a month in a very tiny peice. I know she should not take any but she is 10 years old and has her mind made up. She never asks to cheat or does and she is very relgious. She is not super sensitive and has no problems that we know of. I keep telling her that she does not need to take any but since she is new to this whole diet thing she feels very uncomfortable giving up on her relgious practices but I am working on it.

Thanks for your concern

[Sillyyakdidi]

Our priests really gives her a small tiny piece just where she can receive the body of crist. At some of our masses we do not have wine so she is stuck. She also goes to Catholic school and they have mass weekly. She refuses the host 3 times a month there and just does it once a month in a very tiny peice. I know she should not take any but she is 10 years old and has her mind made up. She never asks to cheat or does and she is very relgious. She is not super sensitive and has no problems that we know of. I keep telling her that she does not need to take any but since she is new to this whole diet thing she feels very uncomfortable giving up on her relgious practices but I am working on it.

Thanks for your concern

obvi in the end its a personal decision, but i'd say, if she's ten, you have to be the adult and realize what gluten can do in the long term. read some of the posts frmo the people who've been on here for a while, its not a good thing, i really think your hurting your daughter and you are the one in charge here. she should understand that god knows she is sick, and understands she is very religious but doesn't want her to hurt herself. seriously, i don't want this to come off as rude, but please for the sake of your daughter, be the grownup!!!!!!

[Guest lorlyn]

I am the grown up here but i am not with her at school. She has to be the one not to take it but i am glad she confides in me to tell me.

[2kids4me]

the wine is cross contaminated even if you are the first to recieve, it is CC from the priest, as he takes the host then the wine. so, NO DO NOT RECIEVE any type of communion.

I posted earlier and we are Catholic and Pope approved and all - we receive Communion in the wine only - the priest has a separate chalice on the altar that he sets aside for our kids (the 2 celiacs in the church) he covers it with a paten and only puts a piece of host in he main chalice, (never in the separate one). Perfectly acceptable, very safe.

Recently the priest was concerned because Kathryn is not feeling well right now and may have another autoimmune condition brewing., he said he would be more than happy to give her a blessing (in place of Communion)and "We would never want to brng harm to her body, and "a blessing would be just as good in God's eyes". Truer ( is that a word?? ) words were never spoken!

Sandy

[Sillyyakdidi]

I posted earlier and we are Catholic and Pope approved and all - we receive Communion in the wine only - the priest has a separate chalice on the altar that he sets aside for our kids (the 2 celiacs in the church) he covers it with a paten and only puts a piece of host in he main chalice, (never in the separate one). Perfectly acceptable, very safe.

Recently the priest was concerned because Kathryn is not feeling well right now and may have another autoimmune condition brewing., he said he would be more than happy to give her a blessing (in place of Communion)and "We would never want to brng harm to her body, and "a blessing would be just as good in God's eyes". Truer ( is that a word?? ) words were never spoken!

Sandy

Ah, what a good idea!!!

[Ruth52]

I am Catholic and also struggled with this one.

I decided that I would not take Communion but have a Blessing instead. The priest at my church has a niece who is Celiac and so he understands and is totally cool about it.

I do miss taking Communion but it is a choice I am happy with.

Ruth.

[debmidge]

Our priests really gives her a small tiny piece just where she can receive the body of crist. At some of our masses we do not have wine so she is stuck. She also goes to Catholic school and they have mass weekly. She refuses the host 3 times a month there and just does it once a month in a very tiny peice. I know she should not take any but she is 10 years old and has her mind made up. She never asks to cheat or does and she is very relgious. She is not super sensitive and has no problems that we know of. I keep telling her that she does not need to take any but since she is new to this whole diet thing she feels very uncomfortable giving up on her relgious practices but I am working on it.

Thanks for your concern

With all due respect, your daughter is being glutened over and over and over and will never have complete auto-immune recovery while this practice goes on. She is cheating on the diet anyway, so why bother being gluten free all the other times? She's antagonizing her immune system each month and she's still at risk for the other health conditions untreated celiacs get: diabetes, neurological damage, lymphoma & cancers, etc. She's also going to stunt her growth, ruin her bones and teeth. Believe me, I know what the outcome is of untreated celiac and it's not pretty.

You didn't mention if anyone else including yourself in family is celiac. I strongly urge you to have your daugher reconsider this situation; after all, she's only 10 years old and she needs some adult guidance. She's too young to make this decision on her own as she doesn't have the full adult awareness to make an educated decision.

Sorry if I sound like I am raging, but I am very concerned and understand that the blessing as a substitute is available and you being new to this...well....as others mentioned, it's a concern when a new celiac goes into this diet thinking that they can have gluten once in a while and get away with it.

D.

[tarnalberry]

I know it's tough to read all this - especially after going through all the tough work to figure out what to do in the situation. But the studies on gluten exposure have shown that gluten exposure even once a month negates the majority of long-term benefit of the diet, and raises the risk of intestinal cancers, lymphoma, and a shortened life span to nearly the rates of untreated celiac.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I really hope that you and your daughter and your priest will revisit the issue. Perhaps, with her in the congregation, "not always having the wine around" isn't an option any longer.

[Guest lorlyn]

Could someone explain to me what it means when the FDA is looking in to saying people with Celiac could have 20 part per million?

[babygirl1234]

if your daughter doesnt stop cheating she will be doing her body more harm then anything because gluten is gluten no matter how small it is she is still harming her insides

[bpritt]

I am also Lutheran. I talked with my pastor who was fine with giving me gluten-free communion wafers (which I ordered online from Ener-G Foods). She holds my wafer on one side or under the tray so the wheat wafers don't contaminate it. The harder problem was that my church communes by intinction (dipping the wafer into the wine), so my wife and I always have to sit at the front of the church so that I can commune before the wine has been cross-contaminated. Otherwise I do not take the wine.

By the way, I can speak as someone with theological training in the Lutheran tradition, and as far as our theology is concerned you are receiving Christ in communion whether you receive gluten-free wafers or wheat, or whether you take only one element (bread or wine) or both.

[Queen Serenity]

I agree with everyone else, lorlyn, as a mother you should be the responsible one. I have three children of my own, we are all catholic, and I thank God that they do not have celiac related issues at this point. I am the only one so far. But, you are making your daughter sick, even if she shows no symptom or sign. I have been living with this for 11 years. SHE IS BEING POISONED! Period. Please rethink the issue. You post on this board for advice, right. Please listen to people with experience.

Vicki

[Guest lorlyn]

I thank everone for there advice and I plan on showing my daughter all of these post so I want be the only one telling her that she does not need to cheat. I beleive it was our priest who thought it would be ok, so we will have to explain it some more to him. As I stated earlier I am not with her at school and it is not our church. The preist at her school is older and can't rember that my daughter can't have it. I was wondering stil about why the fda thinks having 20 part per million would nor hurt celiacs and exactly how much does that mean in normal words.

[tp23]

My 10 year old daughter has celiac and we are Catholic and our preist said she could just take the wine or have a very tiny peice of the host.

having part of the host is as bad as a whole host, any crumb or cross contamination can cause dmg to someone with celiac.

[Guest lorlyn]

I am still trying to figure out what the meaning of 20 parts per million that the fda is saying and or studing means in real terms. I can't seem to get any answers from any one on this question