Recovered
With Life
Founded
January 12th 2007
Step
Study / Speaker
Meeting
Format
1. Welcome to The Recovered With Life Group of Cocaine
Anonymous.
The sole purpose of our group is to show other cocaine
addicts and anyone else suffering from any manifestation of untreated
addiction, precisely how we have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of
mind, body and spirit, through surrendering to God through Christ, by following
God’s word and his teachings in the Bible and by practicing the 12 steps, as
described in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our
group does not speak for or represent CA as a whole, as no individual, group or
committee has the authority to speak for or represent CA as a whole. There are
many other CA meetings that do not use the Bible – that you are welcome to
visit!
This is a 12 step study group, in which we will read a step out of the
Serenity 12 step companion book and share on what has been read.
I’m a recovered
addict and your chairperson, and
my name is__________.
Are there any other addicts present? Welcome! A special welcome to guests and newcomers.
2.
We open our meeting with a moment of silence followed by the Serenity prayer. May we take
that moment now please.
2. b) To
read the original version of the serenity prayer I have asked ________.
3. The Chairperson briefly qualifies.
4. Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship of
men and women who share their experience and knowledge with each other, that
they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from addiction.
We are not an organization in the conventional sense of the word. There are no
fees or dues whatsoever. The only requirement for membership is an honest
desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind altering substances.
5. How do we recover?
In our group we use the 12 steps within the Big Book
of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Bible. The clear-cut directions that are given
showing how we recovered are found in the Big book and in the Bible. We use
this program of recovery because it results in developing a loving and direct
relationship with God, required to recover and to be permanently delivered from
addiction. To read the twelve steps I
have asked _________.
6. How can Cocaine Anonymous stay whole and survive?
These questions are best
answered by the 12 traditions of Cocaine Anonymous. To read the 12 traditions I
have asked__________.
7. What is a sponsor?
To read the Big Book’s answer
to that question, I have asked ________.
8. To give out clean time key tags, I’ve asked _________.
9. We will now
hear from our Group Secretary.
10. Tonight is a
step study in which we will be using the Serenity 12 step companion book. What did the early AA’s do to recover before the
steps, before the Big Book was published, before there were formal meetings,
during the times that they experienced close to a 90 percent success rate? They
admitted defeat, they surrendered to God through Christ, they then turned their
will and life over to God, they took inventory, they made amends and they
helped others – they also prayed together and sought the wisdom and guidance
necessary to live, from God’s word – The Bible.
There are copies of
the Serenity 12 step companion book
on or under your chairs so that you can follow along with us.
We use this book to help us stay focused on the 12 steps and on God’s
word. As the chairperson for tonight I will read about the step we are on from
the Big book as well as what
the other contributors to the Big book said about the step in Our AA Legacy To The Faith Community: A
12-step Guide For Those Who Want To Believe. I will then ask the
assigned readers to read the Bible readings that coincide with the step we are
on. We will then open the floor for the sharing part of the meeting
If you get lost or confused, let me know and we’ll help you get back on
track!
NOTE to
CHAIRPERSON: it is your responsibility to recap where we are in the step study,
spend no more than a few minutes talking about what we covered last week, and
where we are, so that everyone, especially newcomers, understands where we are
at.
11. We are now at the sharing part of the meeting. If
you are taking the steps and developing a relationship with God, please take a
moment now and share with us your EXPERIENCE with the steps and how your life
is being changed by working this spiritual program of action. No matter how
little experience you have in the solution, if you are IN the solution, please
share that with us. If you’re new or confused and have any questions about the
material we covered tonight, please wait until after the meeting to ask those
questions.
Please remember and respect that this is not a discussion meeting or
group therapy, if you have a problem, or are struggling, wait until after the meeting
for an opportunity to share with us and visit with us, but this is not the time
to do that. If you do, as the Chair person I will kindly stop you.
12. Our time is up. It is our group’s custom to read
an excerpt from the chapter “A Vision For You” beginning on page 151 in the Big
book –To read that tonight I have asked___________.
13. That concludes the formal portion of our meeting. Please remember to visit our Librarian’s
table for free copies of the meeting list of CA that will direct you to other
meetings that use different literature, if that is what you are looking for. Please stick around for fellowship and to have any
questions answered. We are here to help.
Please stand so that we may close our meeting with a
moment of silence followed by the Lord’s Prayer.
CHAIRPERSON, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO
SUPERVISE THE COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF THE ROOM AND THE STORAGE of SUPPLIES. Do
not leave until this is completed!!!!
Secretary’s
Announcements
My name is _________ I'm a recovered addict and I am this
group’s secretary.
Welcome to the Recovered with Life meeting of Cocaine
Anonymous. We meet here every Friday night at 7:30p.m. This is a twelve step study group, where we use the Big book and the
Bible to watch the original recovery process come alive 3 Fridays of the month.
The last Friday of every month is a speaker meeting.
While the announcements are being read I’ll ask you to
please remain quietly seated and we’ll practice the 7th tradition.
The 7th tradition states: “Every
C.A group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions” Your contribution is completely voluntary. The money collected pays for this meeting space and
coffee.
NEWCOMERS ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO CONTRIBUTE.
Are there any out of town guests who would like to tell
us their name and where they’re from?
If you would like to join our group, please see me
after the meeting and I will take your first name and your telephone number for
our group list. Our Group Conscience meeting is held three times a year on the
last Friday of January, May and September at 8:30 pm in this room. Group
members are asked to attend.
Not to embarrass you, but so that we may get to know
you better, would those of you in your first 30 days clean, please raise your
hand...welcome!
Welcome to new members: ___________.
If you or someone you know is celebrating a medallion
this month in C.A, please come and let me know after the meeting, so that I can
add it to my announcements next week.
If you have information that is related to any committee
or event within C.A, or are interested in getting involved in that type of
service, you may see me after the meeting or visit the Librarian’s table.
Our C.A. library table includes meeting lists and
pamphlets which are free, conference approved literature and copies of the Big
Book of Alcoholics Anonymous which are sold to you at cost.
We also have our group member’s library table which
includes copies of the Serenity 12 step companion book as well as additional
literature and devotionals that may be of interest to you. If you need a Bible
or devotional but can’t afford one right now, please see me after the meeting
and I will give one to you.
Also, the church asks that bicycles are to be locked
up outside and not to be brought inside the building. The coffee and tea
are free and are located in the kitchen just outside this room.
What is a Sponsor?
A sponsor is a recovered addict who is best described
on page 18 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous as quote:
“But the ex-problem drinker who has found this
solution, who is properly armed with facts about himself, can generally win the
entire confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours. Until such an
understanding is reached, little or nothing can be accomplished.
That the man who is making the approach has had the
same difficulty, that he obviously knows what he is talking about, that his
whole deportment shouts at the new prospect that he is a man with a real
answer, that he has no attitude of Holier Than Thou, nothing whatever except
the sincere desire to be helpful; that there are no fees to pay, no axes to
grind, no people to please, no lectures to be endured--these are the conditions
we have found most effective. After such an approach many take up their beds
and walk again.” end of quote
We the members of The
Recovered With Life Group suggest that you get a sponsor now.
Key Tags
Cocaine Anonymous gives out key tags, for the purpose
of showing newcomers The Truth, that permanent recovery is possible, if we
precisely follow our 12 step recovery program. The key tags symbolize number of
days, months or years, free from cocaine and all other mind altering
substances, today or in the last week.
Will those of you with 30 days, please come up and get a key tag……
Will those of you with 60 days, please come up and get a key tag……
Will those of you with 90 days, please come up and get a key tag……
Will those of you with 6 months, please come up and get a key tag…..
Will those of you with 9 months, please come up and get a key tag…..
Will those of you with one year, please come up and get a key tag……
Will those of you with 18 months, please come up and get a key tag…..
Will those of you with multiple years, please come up and get a key tag….
From the Chapter “there is a Solution” and I quote:
“
Recovered
With Life
Group
Conscience
1)
Any motion that proposes to alter the meeting format in
any way will be automatically tabled for three consecutive group conscience
meetings, before any discussion takes place.
2)
Any motion that proposes to change the group conscience
in any way will be tabled for three consecutive group conscience meetings,
before any discussion takes place.
3)
Only group members who have attended three consecutive
group conscience meetings can make motions and vote at the group conscience
meetings.
4)
All joining group members are strongly urged to
participate in the group’s Bible study groups.
5)
The speakers chosen are
to be recovered addicts, alcoholics, or those that have overcome other
addictions, that have been saved by God’s Grace, though his Son; chosen with
consideration of our primary purpose, and that our format be fully understood
and adhered to by the Chairperson.
6)
All Chosen Chairpersons and group leaders must be
chosen by a unanimous group vote
7)
Any motion that proposes to alter the group conscience
or group format must be passed with a unanimous group vote.
(Known as the Business meeting)
Recovered With Life Group
GROUP CONSCIENCE MEETING FORMAT
Welcome to the Recovered With
Life Group Conscience Meeting, held the last Friday
Of
every January, May and September.
May we open this meeting with a
moment of silence followed by the serenity prayer.
Before beginning the official meeting spend 20 minutes in prayer and
Bible reading as a group (The Book of James/psalms/Jesus’ Sermon on the mount/
etc.)
The 12 Traditions are our pathway to
unity and will be read by: _________________.
Pass the dated attendance sheet
around the table….
The purpose of this meeting is to
develop and determine the collective informed conscience of the group
membership, always mindful of our “primary purpose”, stated in tradition 5 and
“our ultimate authority being a loving God”, stated in tradition 2.
Our group is a spiritual entity
separate as much as possible from the material and thus we NEVER
conduct commerce in our open meeting and strive to keep discussions of money
and property in our group conscience meetings to a minimum as directed in
tradition 6.
Tradition 7, “fully self-supporting”
phrase is defined as “the costs of our group services and other expenses of
services of our area organization are to be totally liquidated by our group
contributions.” The Recovered With Life Group's monies, in surplus to our
needs, will be contributed to our area organization to achieve this objective.
We further affirm the following:
The term “informed group conscience” implies that
pertinent information has been studied and all views have been heard before the
group votes.
Unanimity on an issue should be
achieved before action is taken.
Tradition 12, placing principles
before personalities, implies that our group be wary of dominant personalities
and strive for a well-informed group before arriving at decisions.
Group conscience rests on more than
a “yes” or “no” count—precisely because it is the spiritual expression of the
group conscience. Our group works slowly on sensitive issues, discouraging
formal motions until a clear sense of our collective view emerges.
The group secretary will now read
the previous Group Conscience meeting’s minutes.
Business arising from the previous minutes.
Secretary’s announcements.
Treasurer’s report.
Librarian’s report.
G.S.R’s report.
Coffee report.
Coffee person nomination for the
month.
Medallion’s for this month. Ask if it will be a celebration or
just receiving.
Medallion’s for next month. Ask if it will be a celebration or
just receiving.
Chair dates:
Before electing any chair person, for the speaker meeting every last
Friday of the month, or to be the Study leader, our group conscience will be
read: This group conscience states that the speakers chosen are to be recovered addicts,
alcoholics, or those that have overcome other addictions, that have been saved
by God’s Grace, though his Son; chosen with consideration of our primary
purpose, and that our format be fully understood and adhered to by the Chairperson.
The Chairperson is also required to be at the church by 7:00 pm, and
stay until 9:00pm, being responsible for the set up and breakdown of the
meeting.
The chairperson to lead the Study will be responsible
for the entire duration of the study from step 1-12. It will be their
responsibility to get another trusted member to cover for them, if they are
unable to attend.
All Chairpersons must be voted in with substantial
unanimity by the group.
Old Business.
New business:
Before new Business is to be discussed, our group conscience
will be read regarding New Business: Any
motion that proposes to alter the meeting format in any way will be
automatically tabled for 3 consecutive group conscience meetings (1 year),
before any discussion takes place, during which time there should be a lot of
thoughtful consideration and prayer before bringing forth any motion.
Any motion that proposes to change the group conscience in
any way will be tabled for 3 consecutive group conscience meetings (1 year),
before any discussion takes place, during which time there should be a lot of
thoughtful consideration and prayer before bringing forth any motion.
Only group members who have attended 3 consecutive group
conscience meetings can make motions and vote at the group conscience meetings.
Any motion made that proposes to alter the group conscience
or group format must be passed with
a unanimous group vote, or no go!
Business to be held over.
Motion to close meeting.
Close with the Lord’s prayer.
Chapter 11 (Page 151-153)
A VISION FOR YOU
A VISION FOR YOU
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FOR MOST normal folks, drinking means conviviality, companionship and
colorful imagination. It means release from care, boredom and worry. It is
joyous intimacy with friends and a feeling that life is good. But not so with
us in those last days of heavy drinking. The old pleasures were gone. They
were but memories. Never could we recapture the great moments of the past.
There was an insistent yearning to enjoy life as we once did and a
heartbreaking obsession that some new miracle of control would enable us to
do it. There was always one more attempt-and one more failure.
The less people tolerated us, the more we withdrew from society, from
life itself. As we became subjects of King Alcohol, shivering denizens of his
mad realm, the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down. It thickened,
ever becoming blacker. Some of us sought out sordid places, hoping to find
understanding companionship and approval. Momentarily we did-then would come
oblivion and the awful awakening to face the hideous Four Horsemen - Terror,
Bewilderment, Frustration, Despair. Unhappy drinkers who read this page will
understand!
Now
and then a serious drinker, being dry at the moment says, "I don’t miss
it at all. Feel better. Work better. Having a better time." As
ex-problem drinkers, we smile at such a sally. We know our friend is like a
boy whistling in the dark to keep up his spirits. He fools himself. Inwardly
he would give anything to take half a dozen drinks and get away with them. He
will presently try the old game again, for he isn’t happy about his sobriety.
He cannot picture life without alcohol. Some day he will be unable to imagine
life either with alcohol or without it. Then he will know loneliness such as
few do. He will be at the jumping-off place. He will wish for the end.
We have shown how we got out from under. You say, "Yes, I’m
willing. But am I to be consigned to a life where I shall be stupid, boring
and glum, like some righteous people I see? I know I must get along without liquor,
but how can I? Have you a sufficient substitute?"
Yes, there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that. It is a
fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous. There you will find release from care,
boredom and worry. Your imagination will be fired. Life will mean something
at last. The most satisfactory years of your existence lie ahead. Thus we
find the fellowship, and so will you.
"How is that to come about?" you ask. "Where am I to
find these people?"
You are going to meet these new friends in your own community. Near
you, alcoholics are dying helplessly like people in a sinking ship. If you
live in a large place, there are hundreds. High and low, rich and poor, these
are future fellows of Alcoholics Anonymous. Among them you will make lifelong
friends. You will be bound to them with new and wonderful ties, for you will
escape disaster together and you will commence shoulder to shoulder your common journey. Then you
will know what it means to give of yourself that others may survive and
rediscover life. You will learn the full meaning of "Love thy neighbor
as thyself."
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