Question:
How do you handle Communion?
I haven't had surgery yet but am wondering how you handle communion? For communion at my church, the pastor tears a piece of bread from a loaf and then you dip it into grape juice. Sometimes the piece of bread he hands you is quite large and the grape juice is very sweet. I know this sounds like a stupid question, but has anyone had any problems with dumping on communion? Did you handle communion differently now than before WLS? Thanks. — jmusser (posted on January 6, 2003)
January 6, 2003
We still use the wafers at my church and just three days after surgery, I
took one without thinking. I never had a problem. God was looking out for
me. As for you, I would talk to my Minister and explain to him about the
surgery. Ask him to tear off a very little bit and not dip it into the
wine. I am sure he will be glad to help you out. Good Luck.
— Linda K.
January 6, 2003
I have been taking communion and consecrated wine all along and it's no
problem.
— Mary U.
January 6, 2003
I don't think the grape juice will bother you. Most posties do fine with
moderate amounts of fruit sugars. The bread may be your problem. I think
talking to the minister ahead of time is probably the best suggestion.
— ctyst
January 6, 2003
You could still participate in it, but just take a small bite. If the large
pieces worry you, tell him ahead of time that you can only have a small
piece of the bread.
— Cinna G.
January 6, 2003
I agree with those people who said to talk to your pastor - maybe he can
make sure that you receive a small piece of bread. With a small piece of
bread, I am sure that the amount of grape juice absorbed would be
minimal.<p>I'm a Catholic and I have had no major problems with the
wafers or the consecrated wine. We don't get the wine at every Mass (just
one of the 6 masses on the weekend has Communion under both species and it
rotates) and sometimes it's a little hard to get down the wafer when my
mouth is dry. At those times, I unobtrusively leave it in my mouth a
little longer to let it soften up before swallowing...JR
— John Rushton
January 6, 2003
Hi Janine. I have been taking communion since my surgery. At our church
we use unleavened bread and grape juice. I have had no problems with it
yet. Good Luck. Sherry 10/24/2001 pre-op 276 current 112
— sgibson71
January 6, 2003
My first post-op communion was 3 hours after surgery. (by all means I'm not
pushing anyone to do this) The pastor stopped by to see me and offered it
(I took a tiny piece of bread and dipped it in the wine) The next
communion was at week two and I did fine, just bring the wine to your lips
for a small amount and suck on the bread.
— Dana B.
January 6, 2003
I am 3 weeks post and I've gotten Communion several times since surgery
including twice in the hospital (I'm Catholic). During mass I found it's
easier for me to skip going to my seat right away and go sneak a couple
sips of water and then come back - just make sure you choose an aisle seat.
— Toni C.
January 6, 2003
I don't know if Catholic and Episcopal priests agree on this, but in my
church (Epsicopal), our priest says "to recieve either the body, or
the blood, is to recieve Him fully".. therefore, I agree that you
should ask ahead to be given a very small amount of bread, and if
necessary, do not partake in the wine. (In our church, to pass on wine,
you simply take the bread in your mouth, and cross your hands over your
chest when approached with the chalice--check on practice in your church).
Good luck and thanks for posing the question.. it hadn't even occured to
me!
— Kelly B.
January 6, 2003
It's such a small amount, I haven't had any problem at all - the bread, the
grape juice, or the real wine. In fact, the grape juice is a treat!!
— jen41766
January 6, 2003
The first communion after surgery was scary.I was afraid the wafer would
get stuck,and the one small sip of wine truly seemed to give me a head
rush.It may have been nerves,it gets better.Leave the wafer at the top of
your mouth,and take the smallest sip of wine possible.
— Lisa B.
January 6, 2003
OK, I have just experienced my first angry moment with a few people on this
site. I simply told of MY experience and added that I was not recommending
this to anyone. I had a very SMALL piece of bread dipped in wine and
apparently some people on here feel they have the right to e-mail me and
tell me how wrong I am and they certainly wouldn't be doing such and
such..... I thought this was a place of comfort and have seriously been
wrong. The people who sent these e-mails are cowards, two of them don't
even go by the right names in this site. I have been very active in
aswering questions here (everyone has different opions, that doesn't make
them wrong) and sometimes out of 10 opinions or suggestions, it may be that
one that comfort or understanding is found. I chose not to respond to the
people who sent these e-mails, but I felt I also should explain that I do
not think anyone else should feel they need to partake in the body and
blood of Christ if they are not ready. Good day!
— Dana B.
January 7, 2003
I am Catholic, and have not had a problem, at our church we have both the
body (wafer) and the blood (wine) and are not allowed to intinkure (dip the
bread in wine)by our diocese. If you would feel more comfortable, perhaps
you could just have the bread and not the grape juice. God Bless
— Leslie A. J.
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