Serenity Prayer
This is a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, and we ask that all comments be related to alcohol, which is our Primary Purpose for being here.
Let us have a Moment of Silence followed by the Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
The AA Preamble
Read The AA Preamble (optionally by a meeting participant)
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are selfsupporting through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
How It Works
Read How It Works (preferably by a meeting participant)
From the book Alcoholics Anonymous, start of Chapter 5, pages 58-60 (4th edition)
Introduction
- Introduce yourself, being brief and sincere.
- Introduce your speaker or discussion topic
- Depending upon time, allow brief discussion
- Encourage participants to share
- Limit meeting to one hour
The AA Promises
Read The AA Promises (preferably by a meeting participant)
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us — sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done
in earth, as it is in heaven:
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil;
For thine is the kingdom,the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.