ARMOR: Newcomer Meeting

Introduction & Rosary (~25 minutes)
Ensure everyone has a Rosary and direct everyone to the Rosary website. If there are no newcomers, use the Regular Meeting script instead.)
 

• Hello and welcome to this ARMOR meeting.
• This is a closed meeting intended only for those who struggle with addictive behavior and who desire to live virtuously today and every day, one day at a time.
• Please help to minimize distractions by taking this time to silence your cell phone.
• To protect the anonymous nature of this ministry, please refrain from telling others who you see or what you hear in this meeting. This is our “River Rule.”
• As we prepare to pray the rosary, let’s take a moment to introduce ourselves by first name only and to announce any prayer intentions. I'll begin, and we'll continue to my right. My name is _____, I'm a child of God, and I pray for _____. (Continue until everyone has introduced themselves and offered a prayer intention.)
• We offer up these intentions as we pray the [Week 1=Joyful, 2=Sorrowful, 3=Glorious, 4=Luminous, 5=Sorrowful] _____ Mysteries of the Rosary. Who would like to lead one of the Mysteries? (Assign each Mystery to a volunteer.)

• We will now begin the reading portion of the meeting, and we'll read _____ starting on page _____ and ending on page _____. I'll begin, and we'll continue to my left with each person reading a paragraph or more before passing to the next person. Please keep in mind the number of people here and allow enough material for others to read. If you prefer not to read, just say "pass" when it's your turn. (Continue until the selected reading has been read in its entirety.)
• Let’s take some time now for anyone to share their thoughts on the reading. I'll set a timer for 3 minutes, after which the person who is sharing should finish their commentary. The floor is open. (Continue until everyone has shared or the maximum time is reached.)
• That ends our time for sharing thoughts on the readings.

• Since this is a Newcomer Meeting, we'll take time now for anyone to share a brief summary of either their life history that led to ARMOR or their struggles and fruits that they experienced in striving to live virtuously during the past week. Please refrain from using obscene language or referring to unresolved legal matters, and listen to the speaker without interrupting. If you wish to give feedback, please do so briefly from your own experience regarding what has worked or not worked for you. I'll set a timer for 3 minutes, after which the person who is sharing should finish their commentary. The floor is open. (Continue sharing until everyone has shared or maximum time is reached.)
• Thank you all for your participation. If you weren’t able to share or would like to share more, please follow-up with someone here after the meeting.

• Before we close the meeting, let's share some brief announcements.
  • Facilitator report (e.g. next meeting, facilitator volunteer, and reading?)
  • Librarian report (e.g. inventory and needs for books?)
  • Outreach report (e.g. coordinating monthly give back outing?)
  • Social report (e.g. options and scheduling for next social outing?)
  • Any other announcements?
• Please use the ARMOR website at ARMOR.LiveVirtuously.Today as a guide to ARMOR Up and strive to live virtuously today and every day, one day at a time.
• Everyone is encouraged to seek spiritual direction and professional counseling for help outside these meetings.
• Remember our “River Rule” and refrain from telling others who you saw or what you heard in this meeting.
• If you know someone who struggles with addictive behavior, please invite them to join us by directing them to the ARMOR website.
• Finally, let’s close the meeting with the Lord’s Prayer.

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