What happens at a ACA Meeting

The Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serentity to accept the things i cannot change, the courage to change the things i can and the wisdom to know the difference.

A leader or chairperson opens the meeting by reading a preamble and information on the ACA background and characteristics. A reading is used to establish the topic of the day for sharing and discussion. After the reading, each person may speak/share on the topic or any other concern. While each person shares, there is no interruption, advise or crosstalk.

DURING MOST ACA MEETINGS WE DO NOT CROSSTALK.

We do this for two reasons.

First, when we were growing up, no one listen to us; they told us our feelings were wrong.

Second, as adult we are accustomed to “talking care of” other people and not talking responsibility for our own lives.

if a person does not wish to speak, they may introduce themselves (first name only) and say “pass”. When each person has spoken, the leader opens the meeting to a short general discussion. The Meeting is then closed with an appropriate reading. All sharing is strictly confidential and all participants are anonymous.

The Togetherness Prayer

I put my hand in yours and together we do what we could never do alone. No longer is there a sense of hopelessness. No longer must we depend upon our own unsteady willpower. We are all together now, reading out our hands for power and strength greater then ours. And as we join hands, we find love and understanding beyond our wildest dreams.