Welcome to the Recovery Ministry page for the Diocese of Arizona. Everyone will open this web page for different reasons. If you are suffering from an addiction, please know that we welcome you and do not judge addiction as a sin, but instead a disease that is progressive and sometimes deadly. If you feel that alcohol, drugs, relationships, sex, work, gambling, or food for example has become central to your life, know that many of us have suffered from the cravings that addiction brings. We suggest that you talk to someone: your priest, a therapist, your doctor, or attend one of the many AA, NA, SA, and OA meetings that regularly meet in this Diocese. Within the AA community, you will find others who have found a solution through the 12 steps which will feel somewhat familiar to you. Alcoholics Anonymous grew out of a Christian tradition. The National Recovery Ministry has compiled a booklet (which is attached) that describes and gives more understanding if you want to start a journey toward recovery.
If you have come to this website to find liturgical resources and ideas for holding a Recovery Sunday, this is your place. The Diocese of Arizona follows the resolutions from General Convention which specifically asks that there be a Recovery Sunday each year in each parish.
The National Recovery resources compilation has so much to offer about Recovery Sundays but it takes time to go through it and find what you need. Listed before are some ideas for worship and if you want more Scripture ideas, look at the pamphlet below with the green cover. The coordinator for Recovery Ministries, JoAnn Leach, would like to answer particular questions that you might have for your worship service.
You might have come to this page to find out Diocesan policies about the serving of alcohol or about how to offer the chalice to those who don’t want to drink the wine but hear the words. Both of these policies are listed below.
Our desire is not to be dogmatic or exclude anyone in their spiritual search for sobriety, we offer ourselves as partners along the way.
Alcoholic Beverages Policy for the Diocese
Alcohol should be served under certain conditions which are listed on the Policies and Procedures page for the Diocese under the Alcoholic Beverages Policy
How to Serve Communion to Those Who Do Not Wish to Drink from the Chalice
The Bishop of Arizona recommends that those who do not want to drink from the chalice but still wish to receive the sacrament, cross their arms when offered communion. The chalice bearer will still speak the words of administration of communion without lowering the chalice to the person but will not raise the chalice to the person’s face.
Liturgical Resources for Recovery Worship
The Recovery Ministries of The Episcopal Church has spent years putting together a resource that can be used by each Diocese to explain and expand on Recovery. We live in a culture that is highly addicted and recovery can be difficult in the many situations that we all face.
The Recovery Ministry website is long and very complete, but it can take some time to figure out where things are located. Here is a handy list for those looking for liturgical resources for Recovery Worship.
Eucharist
- A service for recovering persons
- Recovery Eucharist
- 12-step thanksgiving Eucharist
- 2023 Gathering Eucharist
- Rite 3, celebration of life in recovery
- Recovery Dinner Church sample script
Daily Office
Other Resources
Recovery Sunday Worship
The Recovery Ministry of The Episcopal Church for the Diocese of Arizona recommends that one Sunday a year be set aside as Recovery Sunday.
Along with the Liturgical Resources outlined above, here is an online Resource Booklet for Recovery and Recovery Sunday from The Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church. Copyright 2017.
If you would like to purchase a physical copy of this or other Episcopal Recovery Ministry publications, you can visit their website HERE
For more resources and information, you can visit The Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church.
If you have any questions, you can reach out to the Diocesan Recovery Ministry Coordinator, The Rev. JoAnn Z. Leach ( jzleach@gmail.com )