**Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease, and not an allergy, but the food safety practices are the same for those with food allergies. To show the universal issues involving us, the word food allergy is used throughout this article. **

Sanctuary & Belonging

When you have Celiac Disease or a food allergy, navigating life can be stressful. We’re always second guessing, asking questions, and the day to day can feel like a burden. We are grateful when we find a place of refuge.

But sometimes church feels less like a sanctuary when your faith and food allergies collide. Sometimes our local church sanctuary feels nothing like a place of rest for those who are weary.  It has been said that food unites us, brings our communities together. But when you have a food allergy or intolerance, more often it makes you feel like an outsider.

My Celiac Disease can make me feel like an outsider.

Deep down we know it’s often unintentional. When you don’t live with food sensitivities, you don’t see the way it can become a stumbling block to someone’s faith walk.

Below are four key areas that are a hindrance with faith and food allergies . Maybe they impact you as well. Hopefully with a little conversation, we can open the eyes and ears of others and make it possible for all to come to the table.

Communion

To this day, I am still moved by a friend’s story. She was newly diagnosed with Celiac Disease, learning how to navigate life. Upon going to church, she realized that her disease kept her from communion. She recounted how she sat in the pew and wept deeply. An illness, not of her own doing, kept her from participating with others with whom she identified.

It makes me think of the lepers in the Old Testament, separated from their community, unable to worship God with others because of their disease. When communion is no longer available to me or those I care about because of food allergies, I want to stand and shout, “We are not lepers!” Please don’t exclude us.

I’m very blessed that my church offers gluten-free and allergen-friendly communion for all believers. When we first started attending our church, I would bring my own cracker and partake it on my own. But I still felt like an outsider, as I wasn’t really partaking with everyone else. Once I sat down with my pastor and explained how my faith and food allergies were causing a disconnect, we were able to create a solution together.

There are many ways churches can help others to worship safely through communion. Some may offer allergen-friendly communion stations. While the Catholic Church believe the host must contain wheat, they offer a  low-gluten host, made from pre-gelatinized wheat starch that tests below 20 ppm of gluten. No matter our denomination, we can arrange for food-allergy safe communion practices.

Children’s Ministry

“Let the little children come unto me,” Jesus says. It is so vital that churches offer a safe place for children with food allergies. If they don’t, it harms not just the child, but the whole family.

My friend’s son has Celiac Disease and is allergic to nuts. Her family had been active in their church for a long time. She took her child to Vacation Bible School, assured that they would be attentive of his food allergy needs. Imagine the mother’s horrific shock to see snack time involved Honey Nut Cheerios, peanut butter M&M’s and trail mix.

The mother was so shaken, she and her children left the venue immediately. The church didn’t handle the follow-up well, and the family didn’t attend church for months. If this can happen to someone who has been attending a church for years, my concerns are raised for food-allergy families attending a place of worship for the first time.

FARE, the Food allergy and Research and Education network, states that 8% of children have a food allergy. That breaks down to 1 in 13 children. Peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish and fish are allergens that most commonly cause anaphylaxis, which can cause a person to stop breathing and lead to death.

Because of this, it might be wise to simply not serve snacks that contain these allergens. Craft supplies must also be evaluated, especially as very young children tend to put things in their mouth. I’ve been told by church groups that they’ll worry about food allergies when they finally have a food-allergic child come to their class. By then, it may be too late.

Community Outreach

I live in a poverty stricken community. Our congregation has seen this need and started to offer community meals through our after-school program called Intersection. It is such a joy to work with these kids, to feel their joy when an adult cares about them. By offering family meals, we’re now connecting with their parents and building relationships.

But sometimes it’s hard for me to do that. Most weeks the meal is not safe for someone with Celiac Disease to eat. I again feel like an outsider. Sometimes it’s mentioned “At least there’s salad.”

Once I had a community member try to joke with me, asking if the church food wasn’t good enough for me, because I brought my own meal. It stung. I should have been able to shrug it off.  I’m an adult, but these issues are sometimes still hard to handle.

While it is impossible to anticipate every food allergy, steps can be taken to make the practice of faith and food allergies a little easier. The first is education. Learn about which food allergies are common and learn how to substitute ingredients.

Having ingredient lists next to prepared foods alleviates the anxiety of asking someone how something was prepared. Making simple dishes with minimal ingredients may allow more to eat a dish. While simple chicken, potatoes and green beans may not be fancy, it will go a long way towards feeding those who are are hungry.

Potlucks

Faith and food allergies collide most notably at potlucks. If you have a food-allergy, going to a potluck can be enough to induce a panic attack. Truth be told, most people I know with allergies avoid them all together. I will usually attend, but I will bring a main dish that I can eat and usually a side as well. We bring our own serving utensils and label our spoons and dishes gluten-free.

My husband is usually great in insisting that I get towards the front of the line, not because I’m “special” but because there is less chance of crumb-dropping or spoon-swapping. I am also blessed with a friend and fellow worshiper who takes my Celiac Disease to heart and makes gluten-free dishes that I can eat. To me, that is the greatest example of what being Christ-like is all about.

Inevitably, there’s always a dish that “looks safe” to me, but without knowing for sure I will pass.  A simple solution for this would be to ask all people to bring a copy of their recipe and lay it next to their dish. This allows those with allergies to verify a dish is free of allergens. It can also help to build relationship, as people ask for copies of recipes and cooking practices.

Discussing Our Concerns Allows Others to Come to the Table

Life is more than food and drink, and there are times when we train ourselves to enjoy those who are present instead of focusing on the food in front of us. For me personally, it can feel like I’m being a bit of a nag if I bring up my food allergies.

After all, I’m only one person, and why should others go to the trouble to meet my needs? My anxieties of how others will react also play a role. Maybe they think I’m being to picky or asking too much.

Then my heart breaks to think that other food allergy families feel the same anxiety. I’ve come to realize that by voicing my concerns about the difficulties between faith and food allergies, I may be straightening the path for those who are to come.

Maybe through bringing about awareness, I’ll be safeguarding a child from anaphylaxis or a visitor from feeling alienated. After all, aren’t we to be like our Heavenly Father, who defends those without representation, loves the foreigner, and supplies for their needs? With a little intentional planning, we can make our communal table welcoming and open to all with food allergies and intolerances.

What have been your experiences with worship and church? Does your church accommodate your needs? Have you felt the need to leave a church due to their lack of understanding? Please feel free to share your experiences, below.

Originally Published April 2016

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Let Me Be Transparent: I’m not Catholic

It’s the beginning of July 2017, and the Catholic Church has released a statement. 100% wheat-free Catholic Communion wafers are not valid for Holy Communion. Before I unload my research, thoughts and feelings on the issue, I will fully confess I am not Catholic. I attend a Protestant church that believes in open Communion. Amid the headlines of the Pope Francis’ declaration, I want to state some facts that might settle some fury. I also want to share some theological thoughts and concerns on their stance.

As I stated previously, I am not Catholic. I do however hold much respect for the Pope Francis. One, because he is a fellow Christian, living out the spiritual call on his life. Also, Pope Francis has of late done much to remind all believers that we are to take care of the poor, the hurting, and to show love and compassion above all else. Therefore I am surprised about his stance on not allowing a gluten-free Catholic Communion wafer, void of wheat.

Where the Catholic Church Stands on Wheat in Communion

First, some background on the Catholic Church’s belief on communion.  They believe once the wafer and wine are blessed, they transubstantiate into the body and blood of Jesus. Transubstantiate is simply a big word for “change into.” So yes, those of the Catholic faith believe they are LITERALLY consuming the body and blood of Christ. Like the sacrifices in the old testament, the host should be without defect or blemish.

This is why the wafer must be made of pure ingredients. Christ is pure, and therefore can only inhabit those things which are pure. Furthermore, this is why a true gluten-free Catholic Communion wafer is not possible in their belief. The Catholic Church believes a wafer made from grains other than wheat are not “pure” and will degrade easily.

How the Catholic Church Accommodates Those with Celiac Disease

Low Gluten Communion Wafers

Don’t run out with pitchforks and torches just yet. There are “low gluten” Communion wafers that are considered valid by the Catholic Church. These low-gluten hosts are made by the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration specifically as a response to those from the Catholic faith who have Celiac Disease.

While they are made with wheat starch and water, Tricia Thompson of Gluten Free Watchdog has tested these wafers. By her testing, “The amount of gluten in one host is approximately 0.0019 milligrams. In other words the amount of gluten in any one wafer is negligible. For context, a one ounce slice of gluten-free bread containing just under 20 parts per million of gluten contains 0.57 milligrams of gluten.”

Those with Celiac Disease Have Other Options

All that to say, that those wanting a gluten-free Catholic Communion experience, there are options. If you choose to partake of these low-gluten hosts, it’s best advised to keep a small box of them of your own. All parishes may not have them available. This also helps to prevent cross-contact from other gluten grains on the communion plate. Also, those with Celiac Disease can partake of wine only, from a separate chalice. In these ways, the Catholic Church is trying to accommodate the needs of those with Celiac Disease and wheat allergies.

So far I’ve tried to explain the stance against a true gluten-free Catholic Communion wafer. I understand that although my Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ serve the same risen Savior, we have different practices. However, as a Christian there are issues I have with this stance. I have heard too many comments from Catholics and non-Catholics on this issue to simply remain silent. Bare with me as I explain some of my concerns on the denial of a wheat -free, gluten-free Catholic Communion host

My Concerns with the Pope’s Stance

What a Mighty God We Serve

As previously stated, the Catholic church states that the Communion wafer must contain gluten. This is because they believe that the communion host LITERALLY becomes the body of Christ after it has been consecrated. While that’s hard to wrap my mind around sometimes, I’ll be at peace with the idea. But stating that the wafer (or host) must contain wheat for transubstantiation seems to hinder the power of the Mighty God whom we serve.

Is He not the God who spoke the world into being? Is he not the God who parted the Red Sea, restored the dead to life, and healed the blind? Surely, a God of this magnitude can transubstantiate into any form of matter He chooses. If it is a matter of having “pure” ingredients, should we not be more concerned about the purity of our “host”? It is in our hearts that the Holy Spirit dwells. Purification of our own hearts and minds should deserve greater concern than the grains of a cracker.

Making Jesus Accessible to All

Second, this policy alienates so many. There are 75 MILLION people in this world with Celiac Disease. Many more with gluten-sensitivity. When we, the church, makes rules that make it harder to come to Christ, don’t we become like Pharisees? I have a friend who left the Catholic church for very personal reasons. She stated “if this is literally the body of Christ, why would we do anything to prevent others coming to Him?”

I think of the men in the New Testament who broke a roof to get their sick friend to Christ. What about the bleeding woman who pushed through the crowds simply to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe? He did not rebuke those men for not entering through the door. He did not rebuke the woman for being “unclean.” He welcomed them because their hearts realized that He was their Messiah.

Our Infirmities Should Not Keep Us from Christ

Third, I and my fellow brothers and sisters living with Celiac Disease are not lepers. Even if we were, Christ still would still have compassion on us. However, this rule of not allowing gluten-free Catholic Communion may make those with our genetic disorder feel like outsiders. I remember the story of a woman newly diagnosed with Celiac Disease in our support group. She relayed her heartache as she realized that her new diagnosis would hinder her participation in community. She spoke candidly of how she sat in her pew and wept deeply.

I’d like to think that Jesus wept with her. Just like he did Martha and Mary at the loss of their brother. When the Curtain of the Temple was torn in two during Christ’s crucifixion, it was done to restore relationship. Restore relationship not just with God, but with each other. It breaks my heart when any church – Protestant, Catholic or otherwise- sets up rules like the Pharisees that make relationship harder. I’ve written about this issue in our own church, here. 

Should Those with Celiac Disease Become Priests?

Partaking in Holy Communion is so central to the Catholic faith that remnants cannot simply be discarded. It is the literal body and blood of Christ, broken for us, and therefore must be consumed. Because of this, the Catholic Church has actually dissuaded men with Celiac Disease from becoming priests. As published in a Vatican document, signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, “4. Given the centrality of the celebration of the Eucharist in the life of a priest, one must proceed with great caution before admitting to Holy Orders [priestly ordination] those candidates unable to ingest gluten or alcohol without serious harm.”

Why would one dismiss God’s servant because of a food intolerance? Men willing to take a vow of celibacy, deny the blessing of marriage, who take the personal commitment to being a man of the cloth should be honored. One willing to make that sacrifice for Christ should not be dissuaded.

“If You Had Enough Faith…”

Lastly, I’m concerned about what precedent this stance may set. Will priests still be compassionate to those who need the low-gluten hosts? Will they be willing to order the low-gluten hosts for those that need them? Is it possible that one’s request for a separate chalice will be seen as a “bother”? My heart broke as I read a comment on the GlutenAway Facebook thread from a Catholic parishoner. “My priest told me that if I had faith, I wouldn’t get sick. That it is NOT bread but the body of Christ.”

The “if you had enough faith” comment has been used in multiple denominations, and it’s simply WRONG. I think of the story of the young man born blind. The disciples ask “Who sinned, he or his parents?” Jesus answers “Neither, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed through him.” Again and again, Christ shows that we are to be people of compassion, and not judge the faith or sin of another.

Some Final Thoughts

So thanks for bearing with me on my long article about this issue. My goal here is not to destroy and disrespect the Catholic Church. My goal isn’t even so much to make the Pope rethink his denial of a true gluten-free Catholic Communion host. (Although that would be FANTASTIC!) More than anything, I want people to see the heart and compassion of Christ.

So many times I believe traditions established by churches are out of fear of God, and not an understanding of God. While it is true that we should come to Christ in reverence for what He has done for us, God does not stand ready to smite us if we get something wrong. He is our Abba, Father. We are His children. He defines us by our relationship with him, not our body’s relationship to wheat protein particles.

What’s your take on this issue? Please share your thoughts, keeping in mind that this is a sensitive issue and I will not tolerate demeaning comments from either side of the argument. How has your congregation or parish accommodated your Celiac Disease or food allergies? You can read my post on how I’d like to educate priests and pastors on that issue here.

For more on this topic, listen to my Celiac Project Podcast interview with Mike and Cam. (Audio starts at 30 seconds.)

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I’ve slowly been updating blog posts on my site. I must admit, this was one I was not eager to edit. I first wrote this in December of 2015. At that time, he developed the beginning of congestive heart failure. After an x-ray, we discovered that his little heart was literally two times larger than it should be. Dr. Shaker gave Midnight two months to two years to live. He beat the odds, and blessed us with three more years together. Other illnesses piled on. Diabetes. Skin tumors. Fluid on his lungs. This week, with my husband and I both present, we laid him to rest.

The Upside of Multiple Sclerosis

Midnight came into our life, somewhat miraculously. Sadly, we had just lost our first dog in an accident. At the same time, our neighbor’s dog ran away. His granddaughter felt determined that grandfather needed another companion animal. Mr. St. Cin has multiple sclerosis, and had limited mobility. Therefore, his grandfather acquired Midnight. Unfortunately, Midnight always yearned to be where the action took place. Immediately next to your feet. Not a good thing for an elderly man with MS. Therefore, Midnight came to live with us. He restored my confidence in being a “dog mom,” and slowly eased the ache and guilt I felt over losing our previous dog.

While small in stature, Midnight was ferocious. I often called him my “15 pounds of fury.” He was a bit of a stinker too. He learned to put the windows down in the back seat of the car. Midnight figured out how to flip his stuffed cardinal just right to hit us in the head. He “relieved” himself in the most inopportune places. (Remember Triumph the Insult Comic Dog? This is a nice place…)

Never Met A Lap He Didn’t Like

Midnight loved to travel. Often, he stayed with my parents, or my in-laws when we traveled. He immediately sensed when the car neared Grandma Betty’s house. He knew she was a push over. Grandpa Loren always took him for walks, which he enjoyed. He could nap anywhere, with anyone. His little paw on yours, and he owned you.

However, his preferred place of rest was between your legs. If you bent your knee just right, he would curl up in the crook of it. He’d hurrumph like an old man until he made himself as comfortable as possible. Then he’d stay soundly asleep until you moved. I will miss morning cuddle times with him the most. He also liked to sleep in my photography room. He’d lay on the floor, in a patch of sunlight, and nod off until I was done shooting. After all, you never know when mom might drop some food.

Calmer of Fears

While Midnight loved company, he really enjoyed children. I remember the circumstances of the above photo. Our neighbor’s girl felt nervous around dogs. One day, we encouraged her to take Midnight for a short walk around the church parking lot. He helped her conquer her fears. As time followed, E helped her younger brother and sister feel less nervous around dogs as well.

Best Big Brother

I never thought I would own two dogs at the same time. Especially when Midnight was younger, he wasn’t the biggest fan of other dogs. However, one day my husband rescued a stray from the neighborhood. I thought for sure Midnight would practically harass her non-stop. However, Jasmine was malnourished and sick. He sensed it, and just let her be. They cuddled on the couch the next day, and they became inseparable ever since.

With Midnight being smaller, we intentionally treated him as the “Alpha” dog when Jasmine first entered our lives. He ate first. He entered the house first after a walk. While later we relaxed all of those rules, she still waited on him. She never stole food out of his bowl. She protected him as much as she does us.

Watching her miss him as been one of the hardest things about this.

Remember the Best Parts

I took this picture years ago, when Midnight was younger. I still chuckle as I remember him trying to attack the waves. He’d run down the shore, trying to bite at the ripples of water. Just like he’d attach the vacuum cleaner. So much of his energy later in life was spent on fighting against his illnesses. While I sometimes have guilt, wondering if we made the decision too soon, I do find peace in knowing he doesn’t have to fight against his own body anymore.

When I remember Midnight, this is the image I want to remember. To think of him in his best times. Maybe our world would be a little better if we thought of the best in each other when we don’t act like ourselves.

Come Close To My Heart

When I first wrote this post back in 2015, I used it to share more about my faith. The Sunday after learning about Midnight’s enlarged heart, tears streamed down my face as I sung in the choir. All I could think about was being at home, holding my sweet little buddy and telling him how much he is loved. I thought of Christ wanting to do the same for us. How God promises to be close to the broken-hearted. How when Jesus entered Jerusalem, he mentions the desire to gather us to him, as a hen gathers her chicks to her chest

I mentioned the following recently in one of my weekly newsletters, after sharing about Midnight’s condition.

“Last Sunday, our pastor asked in his sermon “Are you preaching about the Kingdom?” That we are to meet needs like Christ did, but we need to share WHY we do what we do. That the unending love of Christ is free for all of us.
In so many ways, I feel like being a Celiac Disease advocate is God’s call on my life. That while God does not want us to “suffer,” He allows us to use the struggles in our lives to be a source of aid for others.
While I want to be your gluten free resource, I also want you to know (as my friend Niki would say) that “there is God who knows you best and loves you most.” Just the way you are.

And maybe you’re not into all this faith stuff. Possibly you’ve been burned by the church. (If so, on behalf of believers, I apologize.) Either way, just know that you are loved, worthy of love, and have more value than anyone can measure. <3

**Looking for a dog to care for? Please visit the Humane Society. If you live in the greater New York area, please consider fostering dogs through Mr. Bones and Co.**

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GRACE

In lat August of 2008, I was asked to go to the U of M vs. Utah football game with my friend and her family. My friend’s father had four season tickets for their family. However, her brother and sister couldn’t make it. Therefore, my friend asked if I’d like to join them that day. I’m not a huge football fan, but my husband convinced me to go.

After eating lunch in Ann Arbor together, the four of us made our way to our seats at the top row of the stadium. I had never been to The Big House before. I stood there momentarily, taking it all in.  The crowd as huge, so huge I felt tiny in a sea of blue and yellow. The excitement of the crowd was so intense, you could practically feel it on your skin. It was a breathtaking moment.  What really took my breath away though was when I finally looked at my entry ticket.

I was startled when I looked at the price on the ticket stub. I asked my friend if the stated $50 fee was what her father actually paid. She nonchalantly said, “Yeah.”

I was dumbfounded. I barely knew her dad. I had never really done anything to deserve such a kind gesture. I’m not poor, but my budget couldn’t really afford to repay this amount. I panicked and asked if her dad wanted me to pay him back.

“Nope.” I just sat there saying “oh my” repeatedly to myself.

It was in that moment that I heard from God. It wasn’t an audible sound. What I “heard” was more of a thought, but so profound and deep down that it resonates in your head and heart. A truth so deep that you know it is not of your own creation. God said –

“This is what my grace is like.”

God’s grace is a gift, nothing to be earned or paid back. He gives it freely, abundantly, simply because He can. Even more, the price paid for God’s grace is something that we can never truly repay. Jesus died for us, gave up His life, simply so that He can repair our broken relationship with God the Father.

Why in the world would God do such a thing? Why would he offer such abundant grace?

Simply because He loves us. His love is higher and deeper than any stadium. It is longer and wider than any football field.

This truth is profound, yet simple. Most days I still cannot fathom it. However, I don’t have to “understand” it. God gives grace. The only requirement is for me to receive it.  To accept the freedom of God’s grace and stop trying to earn it.

Oh my. Oh my. Oh my.

When have you heard God’s voice reveal truth in your life? How has He touched your heart? Please share your story below. 

My other blog posts on the topic of faith:

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