SUNDAY MEETING!!!!
Meeting direct link: https://zoom2.gpbros.org
Meeting ID: 828 0482 5461 / Passcode: 290775
Dial in instructions: Call 1-312-626-6799. Enter meeting ID and then passcode above
We meet Sundays 10:00am Eastern
| Date | Meeting Chair |
| Sunday 2/2 | John |
| Sunday 2/9 | |
| Sunday 2/16 | |
| Sunday 2/23 | |
| Sunday 3/2 | |
| Sunday 3/9 | |
| Sunday 3/16 |
(everything in bold is read by the moderator)
INTRO
Hello, my name is _______, and I am a recovering _______. Welcome this meeting of Sex Addicts Anonymous. Let’s start the meeting with a moment of silence followed by the serenity prayer.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
We meet Every Sunday and have adopted the SAA suggested meeting format.
Are there any newcomers on the call?
(If there are newcomers) Welcome! We’re very happy to have you here. Please stick around after the meeting and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
(If there aren’t any newcomers) Thanks to everyone for coming back.
OPENING READINGS
(Share screen and ask for a volunteer to read each section)
SAA SUNDAY MORNING (7AM PST) GROUP READINGS
(READING # 1) The Opening
SAA is a fellowship of men and women who share our experience, strength and hope with
each other so that we may stop our compulsive sexual behaviors and help others to recover
from sexual addiction and dependency.
Membership is open to all who share a desire to stop compulsive sexual behavior and are
willing to try this simple program.
Sex Addicts Anonymous is a spiritual program based on the principles and traditions of
Alcoholic Anonymous, but we are not affiliated with AA or any other organization or agency.
We are not a religious organization or aligned with any sect or denomination. We do not
support, endorse, or oppose outside causes or issues.
This is not a place to meet sexual partners, nor is it group therapy. We try to listen
respectfully to what others have to say and to share our experience as it seems appropriate.
We do not give advice. While we all strive for sexual sobriety, its achievement is not a
requirement for attendance or participation. Anonymity is the cornerstone of the Twelve Step
program. We use only our first names. Whatever our status or position outside of this group is
not an issue here. Our common bond is our desire to stop our compulsive sexual behaviors
and to live sexually healthy lives. Anonymity and confidentiality are essential to this being a
safe place for all of us. Whoever you see here, whatever you hear here, let it stay here when
you leave here. (Here, here) We hope you join in sharing the collective experience, strength
and hope that is ours when we work the program and trust our Higher Power to deliver the
promises.
(READING # 2) How It works (with 12 Steps read by someone else)
Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not
recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program.
They cannot develop a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. There are those,
too, who suffer from serious emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if
they have the capacity to be honest.
Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we
are like now.
If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it, then
you are ready to take certain steps.
At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But, we could
not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough
from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil
until we let go absolutely. Remember that we dealing with sexual addiction – cunning, baffling,
powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power – that One is
God. May you find God now! Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point.
We asked God’s protection and care with complete abandon.
Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery. (continue how it
works after the 12th step is read)
(READING #3) THE TWELVE STEPS OF SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS
- We admitted we were powerless over addictive sexual behavior — that our lives had
become unmanageable. - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood
God. - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our
wrongs. - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them
all. - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would
injure them or others. - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as
we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to
carry that out. - Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this
message to other sex addicts and to practice these principles in our lives.
(How it works continued)
Many of us exclaimed, “What an order! I can’t go through with it.” Do not be discouraged. No
one among us had been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles.
We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles
we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual
perfection.
Our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:
1. That we were sexually addicted and could not manage our lives.
2. That probably no human being could have relieved our addiction.
3. That God could and would if God were sought.
(READING #4) Defining Abstinence
Our goal when entering the SAA Program is abstinence from one or more specific sexual behaviors.
But unlike programs for recovering alcoholics or drug addicts, Sex Addicts Anonymous does not have a
universal definition of abstinence.
Most of us have no desire to stop being sexual altogether. It is not sex in and of itself that causes us
problems, but the addiction to certain sexual behaviors. In SAA we will be better able to determine what
behavior is addictive and what is healthy. However, the fellowship does not dictate to its members what
is and isn’t addictive sexual behavior. Instead we have found that it is necessary for each member to
define his or her own abstinence.
(READING 5) Traditions
THE TWELVE TRADITIONS OF SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS
- Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon S.A.A.unity.
- For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as
expressed in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do
not govern. - The only requirement for S.A.A. membership is a desire to stop addictive sexual behavior.
- Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or S.A.A. as a
whole. - Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the sex addict who still
suffers. - An S.A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the S.A.A. name to any
related facility or outside enterprise lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us
from our primary purpose. - Every S.A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
- S.A.A. should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special
workers. - S.A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or
committees directly responsible to those they serve. - S.A.A. has no opinion on outside issues; hence the S.A.A. name ought never be
drawn into public controversy. - Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need
always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, TV, and films. - Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to
place principles before personalities.
(READING #6) Anonymity Statement (after sharing)
As a gentle reminder for all of us, anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions.
What you heard was spoken in confidence and should be treated as confidential. Please keep
the things you heard here in the confines of your mind. Carry no gossip and always remember
to place principles before personalities.
(READING #7) Promises
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.
(from Alcoholics Anonymous, Third Edition, pp. 83-84)
Thank you to all who read.
(Stop sharing screen)
CHECK-INS
Let’s take a moment to go around the room and introduce ourselves, stating our name and claim and sobriety date, if you so wish. I’ll go first.
(As latecomers join the meeting, ask them to quickly check in with their name and sobriety date.)
MEDITATION
We’ll be reading from Answers in the Heart. Can we please have a volunteer read for us today?
Click here to open the reading (this link opens a new tab). Navigate to the page specified below, and share your screen.
| Date | Page Number |
| Monday, January 13th | 22 |
| Friday, January 17th | 26 |
| Monday, January 20th | 29 |
| Friday, January 24th | 33 |
| Monday, January 27th | 36 |
| Friday, January 31st | 40 |
| Monday, February 3rd | 45 |
(Stop sharing screen)
Thank you ____ for reading today’s meditation to the group.
SHARING
Now it’s time for sharing!
In this meeting, we try to avoid topics that can lead to dissension or distraction. We try not to use offensive language, or descriptions that are too explicit. The emphasis is on honesty, recovery and healing, and how to apply the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions in our daily lives. We use the words ‘I’ or ‘we’ instead of ‘you’ when sharing about our recovery. We do not interrupt or give advice unless asked. We address our sharing to the whole group, not to one or more individuals. No cross talk, please. If someone feels another is getting too explicit, we encourage you to lower your volume your phone or computer, and message the host privately in the chat.
(if there are more than 7 participants on the call)
Would someone like to volunteer to be our spiritual timekeeper for today? Let’s do ___ minute shares.
| Number of Participants | Length of Shares |
| 7 or fewer | N/A – No timekeeper needed. |
| 8-9 | 3 minutes, 30 seconds |
| 10-12 | 3 minutes |
| 13-15 | 2 minutes, 30 seconds |
| 16+ | 2 minutes |
Gentle reminder – please be mindful and mute yourself when you are not sharing. Who would like be our first share of the day?
(Start shares, pausing for seventh tradition at around 12:30pm)
7th TRADITION BREAK
It is now time for our 7th tradition, which states that “Every SAA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.” In this meeting all of our expenses are covered. That said, we do encourage you to donate to your local SAA groups.
Do we have any SAA or related announcements?
This is a virtual chip meeting. Is there anyone on the call celebrating a sobriety anniversary today? 30, 60, 90 days, 6 months, a year, or multiple years? How about a virtual fist bump for everyone in the room? As always, we celebrate the most important day of all, today.
The floor is now open for sharing again.
(Try to close sharing by 12:50pm)
CLOSING
That’s all the time we have for sharing. If you didn’t get a chance to share, please stick around for fellowship afterwards.
In closing, anything you have heard at this meeting is strictly the opinion of the individual participant; the principles of SAA are found in our 12 Steps and 12 Traditions. This is an anonymous program. Please keep the name, address, phone number, and email of anyone you meet or learn about in SAA to yourself. And what we say here, let it stay here. Remember, we never identify ourselves publicly in the press, radio, TV, films, or internet. Neither does anyone speak for SAA.
Would someone like to read either a Vision for You, The Promises, or Acceptance?
(Share screen and scroll to the desired reading)
A Vision for You
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.
The Promises
1. If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half-way through.
2. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
3. We will not regret the past, nor wish to shut the door on it.
4. We will comprehend the word serenity, and we will know peace.
5. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
6. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
7. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
8. Self-seeking will slip away.
9. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
10. Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us.
11. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
12. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises? (PAUSE for group: We think not!) They are being fulfilled among us. Sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.
Acceptance
Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation—some fact of my life— unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world by mistake. Until I could accept my sex addiction, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life’s terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.
(Stop sharing screen)
Thanks everyone for sharing, and for the opportunity to be of service. And thanks again to our timekeeper _______. After a moment of silence, I’d like to ask _______ to lead us out with the US AND WE version of the serenity prayer.
Who Lifts us from shame to Grace?
“God, grant us the serenity
to accept the things we cannot change,
courage to change the things we can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.”
(Chanted)
Keep coming back. It works if you work it, so work it ’cause you’re worth it, and it sucks if you don’t! (Really suuuucks)