Celebrate Recovery Canada

Open Share Group Format for CRI

“Good Evening. My name is _____________ I am a believer that struggles with _____________.

1. Welcome and Opening prayer.
   (Option, short version of the serenity prayer: God Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.)
   
   This meeting is specifically for those that struggle with______________, and for those who are exploring this area of recovery for themselves.
   
   
2. Introductions.
   “Let’s take a minute now to introduce ourselves. I’ll begin, and we’ll go around the circle. “My name is_______________; I’m a believer that struggles with _______________.


3. Read group guidelines. Before we open the meeting for sharing, we have group guidelines.
   These guidelines are designed to provide a safe and productive meeting for everyone. Please listen carefully and honor these guidelines throughout the meeting.”
   
   SMALL GROUP GUIDELINES
   
   Keep your sharing focused on your own thoughts, feelings, and actions. Please limit your sharing to 3-5 minutes.
   There is NO cross talk please. Cross talk is when two people engage in a dialogue during the meeting. Each person is free to express feelings without interruptions.
   We are here to support one another. We will not attempt to “fix” another. Anonymity and Confidentiality are basic requirements What’s shared in the group stays in the group. The only exception is when someone threatens to injure themselves or others.
   Offensive language has no place in a Christ-centered recovery group, including no graphic descriptions.


4. Leader’s focus. Leader reads through lesson acrostics from large group teaching then presents the topic question(s). (Testimony topic: What part of the testimony touched you the most?)


5. Ask those who would like to respond to the focus question to share first, and then transition the meeting to open sharing for those remaining.


6. Wrap up. After sharing time, thank everyone for participating. Optional: Individual prayer requests as time allows.


7. Closing Prayer. “Now, after a moment of silent prayer for those who are still struggling, let’s close in prayer.” (Or pray specifically for the person on one’s right or left.)

 
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