We take communion every week at our church. We’ve also been on the GAPS Diet for 10 months, so communion has required a little bit of creativity.
I’ve thought of a few different bread substitutes for communion:
- Raisins
- Dried Apples
- Nuts
- Homemade Seed Crackers
- Homemade Cheese “Crackers” (Baked Cheese)
- Homemade Honey Muffins
You could do what my friend and bridesmaid Erica did at my wedding, since she is allergic to milk and didn’t know if the bread contained milk–you could *fake* communion. 
But if you’re not comfortable with that, you need another solution!
My family has chosen to use pumpkin seeds as our bread. I roast them with coconut oil and salt, and we store them in a little baby food jar.
A few months ago, I got plain fabric bags and let my kids color all over them with fabric markers (making sure to trace their hands & write the date, as well!) . I put a spiral notebook, 2 pencils and a small box of crayons in each bag, and then the kids put their Bibles in there as well. Each child is responsible for his or her own “Church Bag.” I made one for The Farmer and myself as well–not with our hands on it, but I still colored it. We put our Bibles, our notebooks, pens, and our baby food jar of pumpkin seeds inside it. When everyone is excused to take communion at our church, The Farmer puts the pumpkin seed jar in his pocket and brings it to our communion location (we disperse as families for communion at our church). The pumpkin seeds will last for a good month, at least–that’s what I like about the pumpkin seed solution (I don’t have to prep anything on Sunday morning or Saturday night before church).
What about the “blood”? Well, if your church uses wine, you’re set–no worries. Our church uses grape juice. I haven’t checked the label on the grape juice bottle, or even asked what brand they use. I have looked at grape juice at the grocery store, and most types do not contain any added sugar. We drink the grape juice hoping that there’s no sugar–but knowing that if there is a tiny bit, it’s not going to mess up our week. (It’s not like we’re eating french fries with corn-syrup-laden ketchup, drinking a large mostly corn-syrup soda, eating salad with corn-syrup dressing, etc.–any more. ) Depending on your own level of sensitivity, you might want to ask what kind of grape juice is used or check the label. If you find that it’s a problem for you, you could always offer to donate the grape juice. Depending on how big your church is, this really wouldn’t be a big expense. Just buy the brand you’re ok with, and donate it to your church.
I hope this helps! Blessings as you figure out how to make communion elements work for your family while dealing with food sensitivities, digestive issues, and/or a compromised immune system!!
