Project goal
To bring the OA Fellowship together to experience and share the joy that the AA Promises found in Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Edition (the Big Book) bring us all.
Resources needed
- Volunteers: Three coordinators or hosts; twelve volunteers to share one AA Promise each; three volunteers to light the last three candles; and other volunteers to read/lead the Serenity Prayer, the OA Preamble, the Twelve Steps of OA, and the Twelve Traditions of OA.
- Materials: Fifteen taper candles, one larger candle for the center, large table to hold all sixteen candles, and small congregational candles for anticipated number of attendees (Note: electric candles can be used).
- Venue: One large enough to hold the anticipated number of attendees.
Implementation process
Recommended lead time is ninety days to ensure both that the entire OA Fellowship hears about the event and volunteers are given time to prepare for sharing. The ceremony should be between sixty and ninety minutes. See the outline below for specifics.
Additional comments
This is a beautiful ceremony in which the OA Fellowship can celebrate the true miracle of recovery. It is important to be mindful of the amount of time each participant shares on an AA Promise; a timer can be used to keep everyone aware of the time. The goal is unity. Please leave enough time for everyone to share their experience, strength, and hope in the closing circle.
Results
This event has been well-attended in the past, and many have shared that this is a beautiful way to celebrate recovery.
Outline for Candle Lighting Ceremony
1. Welcome of Attendees
Host: “I welcome all of you. Is anyone from out of town? Is this anyone’s first Overeaters Anonymous (OA) meeting? Everyone should have a candle for the closing.”
Volunteers read the Serenity Prayer, the OA Preamble, the Twelve Steps of OA, and the Twelve Traditions of OA.
2. Large Candle Lighting
Two people—the person at this event who has been in OA recovery the longest and a newcomer attending their first meeting today—light the large candle together. This candle is in the center of the large table, with fifteen smaller candles set around the edge of the table.
3. Coordinator/Host Announcements
Host discusses a few housekeeping items, including locations of tissues and the restroom, instruction that attendee cell phones be turned off, and that the attendees’ individual candles will not be used until the closing of the ceremony.
4. Ceremony
Host: “We will now read the AA Promises from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, found on pages 83–85. Please limit your share on your assigned Promise to three to five minutes so that all may have time to share at the end.”
Each participant lights a candle using the center candle, reads a AA Promise aloud, and shares their experience, strength, and hope concerning that Promise for three to five minutes. The next participant follows with the next AA Promise, in order.
5. Lighting of Remaining Three Candles
Three different participants each take a turn lighting a remaining candle, announcing what their candle represents as stated below. No sharing will be done for the lighting of these candles.
- “For the founders of OA who have passed on.”
- “For people still suffering, both inside and outside of these rooms.”
- “For all of us here, everyone in OA, everyone in Twelve Step programs, and the entire planet—for we truly are one.”
6. Attendee Candle Lighting
Attendees form a large circle. Host lights their congregational candle from the center candle and then lights the first attendee’s candle. From there, that attendee lights the next candle, and so on, until all attendees’ candles are lit.
Attendees share in the circle. Potential sponsors are encouraged to identify themselves.
7. Serenity Prayer
After all who care to share do so, the host asks for a moment of silence, followed by the Serenity Prayer.
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