CASA

Prayer 56 Groups

For Those Suffering Addiction

Prayer 56 Groups are intended a a weekly support and prayer group where the wonder, power and peace of Christ can affirm and encourage members of the Church in their recovery program. The Prayer 56 Groups is not intended to take the place of 12 Step meetings or working the Steps in the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or Alanon/Naranon, rather to acknowledge that God 'as we know God', is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

The Prayer 56 Group Service Meeting Outline

Preamble
(Statement of Purpose)

The Prayer 56 Group is a community of men and women within the Anglican Community who have been victims of addiction.We gather to affirm the truth of Christ's teachings as found in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, that our Lord will indeed look with compassion on all who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. We believe in the cleansing that comes from self-examination, repentance, and penitence, and that spiritual healing as with physical healing takes place from the inside. We gather to affirm God's unfailing mercy, and our belief in His strength being the fulfillment of our needs. We are men and women who have made a decision with open minds and hearts to accept all available help for recovery from our addictions, and affirm that by sharing with one another, we will find support and inspiration in our recovery. We gather to share our Christian faith that in turning our life and will over to the care of God, and by practicing prayer and meditation, we will grow in the knowledge of His will for us, and we will learn more of that trust in Him that passes all understanding. In so doing, and in sharing our faith, we believe that we will be relieved of our fears. We believe that God can and will continue to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, and that by His power and grace, we will be filled with love and understanding for those affected by our illness.

CANTICLE: (selected one from the following Psalms)

• 13 A Song of Praise: Benedictus es Domine
• 14 A Song of Penitence: Kyrie Pantokrator
• 15 The Song of Mary: Magnificat
• 16 The Song of Zechariah: Benedictus Dominus Deus
• 17 The Song of Simeon: Nunc dimittus
• 18 A Song to the Lamb: dignus es
• 19 The Song of the Redeemed: Magna et Mirabilia
• 20 Glory to God: Gloria in Excelsis
• 21 You are God: Te Deum laudamus

GROUP: Prayer of St. Thomas Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us: granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. AMEN

DISCUSSION: ( members share with one another at this time)

Please include in one's personal sharing

• The awareness of God's presence in your life
  ( general or specific and recent) Spiritual aids you are using
• Particular needs
• Solutions ( footwork) begun
• Thanksgivings for God's grace

CLOSING: LEADER: "And the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up: and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." (James 5:15)

GROUP: "The Lord's Prayer"

PRAYER 56

O blessed Lord, you ministered to all who came to you: look with compassion upon all who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy; remove from them the fears that best them; strengthen them in the work of their recovery; and to those who care for them, give patient understanding and persevering love.