JB wrote:

> "Tono" <tono1@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:w5%ac.3006$Bp2.1293@nwrdny02.gnilink.net...
>
>>I'm wondering what meetings are like in other countries. Do they
>
> all
>
>>throw in the christian stuff? Or do some countries throw in their
>
> own
>
>>major religion? Or do some places have a program that truly is
>>"spiritual" and not "religious"?
>>
>>Just curious,
>>
>>Tono
>
>
> I live in the UK. At the meetings I attend, we do not speak any
> prayer or verse or hear any reading that might be found in a Christian
> church service. There follows the format of the two meetings I
> regularly attend:
>
> Group 1 (General Meeting)
>
> 1. Apologies for absence
> 2. The Preamble is read out " Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of
> men and women who share their experience .............."
> 3. Members spend a short time thinking about why they are in the
> rooms
> 4. Reading from "As Bill Sees It" (one of the Officer's chooses
> someone to chose a reading in advance of the meeting. That person
> reads their chosen piece aloud then speaks to it.
> 5. Floor opened for sharing
> 6. AA-related notices read out while the donations cup is passed
> round
> 7. Serenity Prayer - everyone joins in.
>
> Group 2 (12 x 12x Group)
>
> 1. Apologies for absence
> 2. The Preamble (as above) is read out
> 3. Members spend a short time thinking about why they are in the
> rooms
> 4. "I am Responsible when anyone, anywhere reaches out for
> help............ " is read out
> 5. AA-related notices read out
> 6. Reading from the 12 x 12. It's a read round the room
> 7. Speaker. He/she is chosen by the Secretary in advance of the
> meeting. He/she speaks to the Chapter that was read out.
> 8. Floor opened for sharing
> 9. The donations cup is passed round.
> 10. Serenity Prayer - everyone joins in
>
> JB

Take away the "aplogies for absence" and throw in the lords prayer at a
little over half of the meetings, and we are pretty much the same.
Except like I mentioned in another reply, there is a lot of "god" and
"gods will" talk. The strange part is that the "gods will" isn't what
we may think our god or HP would like us to do or how to act, instead,
over here most people put a twist on it making everything that happens
in life "gods will". The 4 year old girl dies in an auto accident... it
was "gods will". I just don't get it.

Tono