12-Step Programs

                        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.

The Episcopal Church has long recognized that certain otherwise good, intelligent, sane, potentially high functioning people lose the ability to control their relationship with substances such as alcohol or other drugs. (In fact, one of the founders of AA was an Episcopalian, and the meeting format was influenced by the Oxford Movement of the Church of England and Episcopal Church.)

 There is now very clear scientific evidence that alcoholism and other drug addictions are brain chemistry disorders with a strong genetic component.  Often willpower, reason, sacraments and prayer are not enough to overcome the disordered behavior.  That is why St. Mary’s hosts 12-Step meetings.  (For more on the Episcopal Church’s understanding of addiction, see www.episcopalrecovery.org.) 

St. Mary’s currently hosts three 12-Step groups:

AA Big Book/Step Meeting on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 pm.

AA Woodburn Group on Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm. 

NA Meeting, “Woodburn Hope,” on Friday evenings at 7 pm.

St. Mary’s respects the non-religious character of AA and NA.  However, if a member of a meeting would find it helpful to talk to a clergyperson about their changing understandings of God and their Higher Power, or to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation as part of their Fifth Step work, Vicar Jaime would be happy to talk to them.