DALLAS (January 21, 2013)—The flu arrived early, the outbreak in Texas is widespread, and church officials are taking steps to keep parishioners healthy from skipping the shared communion cup to encouraging a bow, nod or even a fist bump instead of the usual handshake.

As parishioners left a morning Mass on Sunday at St. Rita Catholic Community in Dallas, many stopped at a table in the vestibule to bathe their hands in hand sanitizer.

Church officials there are also advising parishioners that they can take communion with only the bread and skip the shared cup.

At Glory Lutheran Church in Dallas, Senior Pastor Jon Bustard encouraged young and old in the congregation to bump fists instead of shaking hands.

His announcement brought chuckles, but also produced fist bumps.