Monday's - 8:00 pm EST or 1:00 am GMT - Beginners meeting
Wednesday's 8:00pm EST or 1:00 am GMT - Big Book Study
Friday's 3:30pm EST or 8:30 pm GMT - Big Book Study
Sunday's - 6:30 pm EST or 11:30 pm GMT - Big Book Topic meeting
(NOTE: GMT = the time zone in the United Kingdom)
Download the Primary Purpose Big Book Study Guide here
Here are some tips for any online newcomers:
Please remember to treat this like a face to face meeting. Despite the fact that cross talk does form a part of this unique meeting format, please respect your fellows and give them the stage when it's time to share on a line/idea in the book.
Please keep your shares as close to the line or idea in the book/study as possible.
If the chair feels that you are straying too far, you will be gently reminded of the fact.
Short, to-the-point sharing is suggested ( 3- 5 lines max) as we all get a chance to contribute several shares on different lines or ideas in the book/study.
To be recognized by the chair, please type an exclamation mark "!" - it's like raising your hand. And when you are finished sharing, please type "done".
To join hands in prayer, type "!!".
Thanks!
Info for Greeters:
For most latecomers...
If you recognize the latecomer as someone who attends meetings regularly, just welcome them and give them the topics or section of the book being covered by the study.
If the latecomer is new:
Welcome to tonight's PPBBG study meeting! Please remember to treat this like a face to face meeting. Despite the fact that cross talk does form a part of this unique meeting format, please respect your fellows and give them the stage when it's time to share on a line/idea in the book. Please also keep your shares as close to the line or idea in the book/study as possible. If the chair feels that you are straying too far, you will be gently reminded of the fact... Short, to-the-point sharing is suggested as we all get a chance to contribute several shares on different lines or ideas in the book/study.
To be recognized by the chair, please type an exclamation mark "!" - it's like raising your hand. And when you are finished sharing, please type "done".
To join hands in prayer, type "!!".
Thanks and enjoy!
Tips for Greeters
Make sure you have your doorbell feature turned on so you know when someone enters the room.
Information to paste to open and close the meeting:
WELCOME!
May we open this meeting with a moment of silent prayer, each in their own way, followed by this Prayer?
God,
Please help me set aside
Everything I think I know
About myself, my disease,
These steps, and especially You;
For an open mind
And a new experience
With myself, my disease,
These steps and especially You.
FROM THE FORWARD TO THE FIRST EDITION:
We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book (and of this Group). For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. We think this account of our experiences will help everyone to better understand the alcoholic. Many do not comprehend that the alcoholic is a very sick person. And besides, we are sure that our way of living has its advantages for all.
Can everyone now please introduce yourself and give your sobriety date along with location.
(ie: Dr Bob / June 10, 1935 / Ohio,USA)
Welcome to the regular scheduled Primary Purpose Big Book Study.
This is an open meeting and as such all who have an interest in alcoholism and our program of recovery are welcome. Your anonymity will be protected. We ask that you protect ours.
While this is an open meeting, membership in Alcoholics Anonymous and in this Group is limited to those who have a serious drinking problem and have a desire to stop drinking for good and all. There are a number of other Fellowships that deal with problems other than alcoholism. We will be happy to try to help you find the one that will meet your needs.
Now for our meeting in here, we have elected to use the "Big Book Study Guide" prepared by members of The Dallas Primary Purpose Group, to help us stay focused on the study of the Big Book. There are one or more questions for virtually every sentence in the Basic Text. The Chairperson will read a question and call upon a member to paste the related sentence.
PLEASE NOTE: This is not a discussion meeting so please keep your comments to the question being studied.
Finally, it is well for all of us to remember at all times the words of Bill W., one of the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous:
"Sobriety - freedom from alcohol - is the sole purpose of any Alcoholics Anonymous Group."
Therefore, any comments other than those relating to your alcoholism should be reserved for another time and another place.
TONIGHT WE WILL START ON PAGE_______, OF THE BIG BOOK.
~~~
Closing
A Vision for You (pg 164)
Our book is meant to be suggestive only. We realize we know only a little. God will constantly
disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each
day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But
obviously you cannot transmit something you haven't got. See to it that your relationship with
Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the
Great Fact for us.
Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your
fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We
shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you
trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.
May God bless you and keep you -- until then.
Will all who care to, please join us in the closing.
Choice of Closing Prayers (Chairperson to pick ONE from the following):
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in Heaven: Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be
done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom And the Power And the Glory Forever and ever.
Amen
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the
things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.
3rd Step Prayer
"God, I offer myself to Thee -- to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of
the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over
them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.
May I do Thy will always!"
7th Step Prayer
"My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you
now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my
usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your
bidding. Amen."
Prayer of St. Francis / 11th Step Prayer
Lord, make me a channel of thy peace - that where there is hatred, I may bring love - that
where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness - that where there is discord, I may
bring harmony - that where there is error, I may bring truth - that where there is doubt, I may
bring faith - that where there is despair, I may bring hope - that where there are shadows, I
may bring light - that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be
understood as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in the giving that we receive; it is
in the pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Responsibility Pledge
I am responsible, anytime anyone reaches out for help,
I want the hand of AA always to be there,
and for that
I Am Responsible.