Opening
https://nawithoutgods.org/opening-format/
Hello, my name is ________ and I am an addict. Welcome to Without Gods, a Narcotics Anonymous online meeting based in the Northeastern United States.
The focus of this meeting is on recovery unrelated to religious beliefs or the concept of a higher power. That being said, all discussion about what has worked for your recovery is welcome, including personal thoughts, beliefs, and the notion of spirituality.
It does not matter to us how much or how little you used, what you are addicted to, or what terminology you use. It only matters that you want help in overcoming your addiction.
Let’s open this meeting with a moment of silence for the addict who still suffers.
Is anyone here attending their first NA meeting who wish to be recognized?
Ask for a volunteer to read who is an addict.
Who is an addict?
Most of us do not have to think twice about this question. We know! Our whole life and thinking was centered in drugs in one form or another—the getting and using and finding ways and means to get more. We lived to use and used to live. Very simply, an addict is a man or woman whose life is controlled by drugs. We are people in the grip of a continuing and progressive illness whose ends are always the same: jails, institutions, and death.
Ask for a volunteer to read why are we here?
Why are we here?
Before coming to the Fellowship of NA, we could not manage our own lives. We could not live and enjoy life as other people do. We had to have something different and we thought we had found it in drugs. We placed their use ahead of the welfare of our families, our wives, husbands, and our children. We had to have drugs at all costs. We did many people great harm, but most of all we harmed ourselves. Through our inability to accept personal responsibilities we were actually creating our own problems. We seemed to be incapable of facing life on its own terms.
Most of us realized that in our addiction we were slowly committing suicide, but addiction is such a cunning enemy of life that we had lost the power to do anything about it. Many of us ended up in jail, or sought help through medicine, religion, and psychiatry. None of these methods was sufficient for us. Our disease always resurfaced or continued to progress until, in desperation, we sought help from each other in Narcotics Anonymous.
After coming to NA we realized we were sick people. We suffered from a disease from which there is no known cure. It can, however, be arrested at some point, and recovery is then possible.
Clean time
In Narcotics Anonymous, celebrating milestones of “clean time” is a deeply ingrained practice that serves to acknowledge the hard work and dedication it takes to remain clean. Is there anyone today celebrating a date of 30 days? 60? 90? Six months? Nine Months? A year? Multiple years? How about we celebrate that we are clean for today!
Before we start this meeting, does anyone have a burning desire to use? Feel free to raise your hand and share at this time.
The meeting has a rotating format.
Today’s meeting is _________
- 1st Sunday = Steps/Traditions
- 2nd Sunday = Open Discussion
- 3rd Sunday = Topic Meeting / Group Conscience following
- 4th Sunday = Speaker or Open Discussion
- 5th Sunday = Topic or Open Discussion
When you would like to share, follow these guidelines:
In the meeting controls, click Reactions, then click Raise Hand. The host will be notified that you’ve raised your hand.
In Windows: You can also use the Alt+Y keyboard shortcut to raise/lower your hand.
In Apple/Mac: You can also use the Option+Y keyboard shortcut
Remember please no cross-talk, including in the chat while people are sharing
The meeting is officially open. Who’d like to begin?
11:45 – 7th Tradition
Around 11:45 we pause the meeting in accordance with the 7th tradition which states that – Every NA group ought to be fully self -supporting, declining outside contributions. –
We currently have two ways to donate. Cash App and PayPal. We will post the links in the meeting chat.
-Donation Links-
https://cash.app/$withoutgodsNA
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/GSWCE3XP89G36
Announcements
If you need proof of attendance please message __________.
If anyone has any NA announcements please raise your hand and let us know about it.
Sponsors
At this time we ask if anyone is willing to become a sponsor to please raise your hands so those seeking a sponsor may contact you.
Closing
Thank you all for coming. We will leave the meeting room open for 15 minutes for any further discussions or questions.
Our Business meeting is on the third Sunday of the month. It is held after the regular meeting
With that we will have a Moment of silence to close the meeting.