February 2025 News
What’s Love Got To Do With It? The impact of unconditional love on recovery….
We never expect to learn about love when we admit we are alcoholics. Testing the powers of love at every turn in our active addiction we took it for granted. “Self-centered to the core” we only saw that those who loved us kept getting in the way of our drinking. How could it be then that love would transform us? Love from strangers would soon open our heart in ways we didn’t even know was possible…or even necessary! We thought our hearts were open….but there were conditions….ahhhh the “should” and “should nots”…the rules and regulations in our definitions of conditional love.
Unconditional love, also known as “agape” love, is spiritual love at its highest level and given without expectation. Bill W and Dr Bob, “enlightened” men way ahead of their time, have taught us how to live the principals of unconditional love through working the steps.
- Acceptance: Most of us experience the relief of acceptance when attending our very first meeting. Even more so as the acknowledging nods accompany our shares depicting powerlessness over our disease and need for help. (Steps 1,2,3)
- Empathy, compassion, forgiveness: – the middle steps encourage us to come to terms with our own shortcomings thus allowing us to be forgiving and compassionate towards others. (Steps 4-5-6-7)
- Consciousness of how our behavior affects others: We are gently guided through this journey of self-awareness that can change our lives exponentially….and the lives of others (Steps 8-9-10-11)
- Altruism – Sponsorship is a “no-strings-attached” commitment for the good of another person, regardless of mistakes, with no expectations of reward or gain. However, as sponsors soon find out, the rewards are abundant. (Step 12)
Recovery is a journey, not a destination. Our commitment to sobriety and practicing these principals in all our affairs, are certain to expand our capacity to love, and be loved, unconditionally. What’s love got to do with it? EVERYTHING! Keep coming back!
Thank you, Beth S., for this amazing introduction in this month’s newsletter!
As it’s February, the first month, let’s look at Step 2, Tradition 2 and Concept 2.
Step 2: “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
The moment they read Step Two, most A.A. newcomers are confronted with a dilemma, sometimes a serious one. How often have we heard them cry out, “Look what you people have done to us! You have convinced us that we are alcoholics and that our lives are unmanageable. Having reduced us to a state of absolute helplessness, you now declare that no one but a Higher Power can remove our obsession. Some of us won’t believe in God, others can’t and still others who do believe that God exists have no faith whatever He will perform this miracle. Yes, you’ve got us over the barrel, all right – but where do we go from here”?
Reprinted from The Twelve and Twelve – page 25, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
Tradition 2: “For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.”
Where does A.A. get its direction? Who runs it? This, too, is a puzzler for every friend and newcomer. When told that our Society has no president having authority to govern it, no treasurer who can compel the payment of any dues, no board of directors who can cast an erring member into outer darkness, when indeed no A.A. can give another a directive and enforce obedience, our friends gasp and exclaim, “This simply can’t be. There must be an angle somewhere.” These practical folk then read Tradition Two and learn that the sole authority in A.A. is a loving God as he may express Himself in the group conscience.”
Reprinted from The Twelve and Twelve – page 132, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
Concept 2: “When, in 1955, the A.A. groups confirmed the permanent charter for their General Service Conference, they thereby delegated to the Conference complete authority for the active maintenance of our world services and thereby made the Conference – excepting for any change in the Twelve Traditions or in Article 12 of the Conference Charter – the actual voice and the effective conscience for our whole society”
Reprinted from A.A. Service Manual/Twelve Concepts for World Services (with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
Southern Delaware Intergroup Monthly Meeting — Join us on Thursday, February 6th at 6 pm via Zoom. Meeting ID: 987-8110-5001, Passcode: 914711. Our intergroup is a resource for 12-Step work and Alcoholics Anonymous information in Southern Delaware. Please consider volunteering for a service opportunity, which includes most Intergroup committees. For more information about what each Committee does, see our Service Committees page and plan to attend our next intergroup meeting.
Rehoboth Roundup 2025: – K.I.S.S.
Date: February 14 – 16, 2025 Venue: Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center
The primary purpose of the Rehoboth Roundup is to carry the message of all 12 Step recovery programs, based upon the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), through an annual conference sponsored by the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) community that is open to all people. Information at: https://rehobothroundup.org/
Northeast Regional A.A. Service Assembly (NERAASA)
The 34th Annual Northeast Regional A.A. Service Assembly (NERAASA) will be online this year. Hosted by Southern New Jersey Area 45, the dates are February 21 through February 23. Registration is only $35.00.
The purpose of NERAASA is for GSRs, DCMs, Area Committee Members and Intergroup and Central Office Representatives of the Northeast Region to discuss General Service Conference related issues and concerns affecting AA as a whole, as well as pertinent aspects of recovery, unity and service common to the Areas of the Northeast Region. All AA members located in this region are encouraged to attend.
The weekend agenda includes panel presentations, roundtable sharing sessions, AA speaker meetings, and an interactive “Ask It Basket”. Attendees can expect to participate in discussions, hear presentations, attend breakout rooms on specific service-related topics and enjoy social activities in a virtual environment. Roundtable sessions will include Accessibilities, Special Needs and Remote Communities, Archives, Area Chairpersons, Corrections, Cooperation with Professionals/Public Information, DCMs, Delegates, Grapevine/LaVina, GSRs, Intergroup/Central Offices, Literature, Newsletters, Past Delegates, Registrars, Secretaries, Treasurers, Treatment/Bridging the Gap, Website/Technology, and Young People. For more information go to: https://area45snjaa.org/neraasa-2025/
Second Printing of Plain Language Big Book Available Now!
The recently published Plain Language Big Book is a tool to help readers understand the book of Alcoholics Anonymous, which was first published in 1939. The book has been written to present the original ideas and same spiritual message of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous in simpler language. The first printing was so well-received that a second printing recently occurred due to high demand. Check https://onlineliterature.aa.org to order.
What each attendee can expect to do:
- Take part in the Thursday night party, flag ceremony, stadium meetings and the Saturday night Old-Timers Meeting.
- Over 20+ hospitality suites, collecting pins and how some people bring to share and trade
- More than 250 meetings to choose from, including clergy panels, international and, of course, A.A. topic related.
And there is much more! For more information about the Convention, please visit: https://www.aa.org/international-convention
What’s Your Favorite slogan, phrase or prayer?
We have been asking for submissions for our newsletter (see article below) and our member Annette W. was kind enough to send in a submission that we are able to feature here! We are asking for a favorite slogan, phrase or prayer.
“There are no big I’s or little U’s.”- There are no big I’s and no little u’s because it is a “we” program. It is not about “you” or “me”; it’s about “we”.
Thank you, Annette W.!
REMINDER!
Want To Be Part of the Newsletter? We would love to hear from you!
Here are some topic ideas:
- How you worked a specific step.
- A favorite A.A. slogan and how it has helped you.
- How you got your first service position.
- Something your sponsor said that impacted you.
You can submit entries to support@sussexaa.org.
Subscribe to this Newsletter via E-mail!
Subscribing to this Newsletter via e-mail is very easy. Simply email “subscribe” to support@sussexaa.org or sign up online and you will receive the monthly email on the 1st of each month.