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I was born with a gift. The gift of art. As a child, I would get up early and draw pictures. It was my passion, even then. Later, the Navy recognized my gift and my job was to draw maps. I was able to carve a living out of life with my gift in spite of my disease of overeating. Fast forward to retirement. I’ve learned that one must have meaningful, useful work in retirement or one’s life grows stagnant. Early on in retirement HP saw fit to grant me another gift. I came back to OA after an almost 20-year absence. Around that time, Ocean & Bay Intergroup was looking for a webmaster. I politely declined when asked two times. But a loving, trusted servant asked me a third time and I said yes. I think that may have been the wisest decision I have ever made in my entire life. I now live in a joyous world of service that is never a chore. I wake up grateful every morning that I have this charmed life of service and to play a part in helping others to rise above this disease.
Lately I have witnessed the same kind of opportunity being offered to members of Ocean & Bay to become chairperson of Intergroup. It is my profound wish that one of my OA fellows takes that opportunity to grasp the baton that is being offered to them and experience the rich full life I have known in the last five years.
Your loving servant, Mike M.
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“As OA members we may donate many hours of service to each other,…”
— The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, p. 171
I have noticed in my home groups that people who remain in recovery are people who continue to give service. Service gives me practice at freeing myself from the bondage of self. I am gaining this freedom by concentrating on things outside myself. Every time I concentrate on what a fellow OAer is saying, I am breaking one of the strands that binds me to myself. Every time I go to a service meeting and try to speak about what is best for OA as a whole, rather than what is best for me, I am breaking one of the strands that binds me to myself. Every time I listen to a fellow compulsive overeater and encourage her recovery, I am breaking one of the strands that binds me to myself. Every time I give service without counting the hours I give or looking for any reward, I am filled with freedom, friendship, joy, and abstinent recovery.
October 10, Voices of Recovery
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He said, “In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love. In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile. In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm. I realized, through it all, that in the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger, something better, pushing right back.”
—Albert Camus
Here's one member's response to this poem:
Hey, l am often too disorganized in my thoughts to come to this space for spiritual sustenance. Usually I find exactly what my HP has planted for me. Today I see amongst the gems mention of clutter and disorganization! OK, HP. Alright now, you are going to have to take this! I am powerless as usual.
—Anonymous
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Serenity Prayer
“God grant me the serenity to
Accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And the Wisdom to know the difference.”
Attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr
The OA Promise
“I put my hand in yours, and together we can do what we could never do alone.
No longer is there a sense of hopelessness,
no longer must we each depend upon our own unsteady willpower.
We are all together now, reaching out our hands for power and strength greater than ours,
and as we join hands, we find love and understanding
beyond our wildest dreams.”
also known as Rozanne’s Prayer
Prayers from the Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous)
3rd Step Prayer
“God, I offer myself to thee--to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will.
Take away my difficulties, that victory over them
may bear witness to those I would help
of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of Life.
May I do Thy will always.”
Big Book page 63
4th Step Prayer
“God, help me to show tolerance, pity and patience. This is a sick man. How can I be helpful to him? God save me from being angry. Thy will be done.”
(Resentments)— Big Book page 67
Fear Prayer
“God, I ask that you remove my fear and direct my attention to what you would have me be.”
Big Book page 68
Sex Prayer
“God, I ask that you would mold my ideals, and help me to live up to them. Where I have done harm, God show me what I should do about each specific matter.”
Big Book page 69
Forgiveness
“God, I am sorry for what I have done, and have an honest desire to let You take me to better things.”
Big Book page 70
Sanity and Strength Prayer
“God, I earnestly pray for the right ideal, for guidance in each questionable situation, for sanity, and for the strength to do the right thing.”
Big Book page 70
5th Step Prayer
“God, I thank You from the bottom of my heart that I may know you better.”
Big Book page 75
6th Step Prayer
“God, I still cling to some things that I have admitted are objectionable. Help me to be willing to let them go.”
Big Book page 76
7th Step Prayer
“My Creator, I am now willing that You should have all of Me, good and bad.
I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character
which stands in the way of my usefulness to You and my fellows.
Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do Your bidding.”
Big Book page 76
8th Step Prayer
“God, I ask for the willingness to make amends for the damage I have done in the past.”
Big Book page 76
9th Step Prayer
“I pray that I may be given strength and direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences may be.”
Big Book page 79
Change Prayer
“I am sorry for what I have done. God willing, it shall not be repeated.”
Big Book page 81
Morning Prayer
“My creator, show me the way of patience, tolerance, kindness and love.”
Big Book page 83
10th Step Prayer
“I pray, God, that You remove my selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear.”
Big Book page 84
Daily Prayer
“How can I best serve Thee—Thy will (not mine) be done.”
Big Book page 85
11th Step Prayer
“God, I pray for forgiveness for the wrongs I have done today. I ask that I be shown what corrective measures should be taken.
Big Book page 86
11th Step Prayer
“Lord, make me a channel of thy peace
that where there is hatred, I may bring love
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony
that where there is error, I may bring truth
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith
that where there is despair, I may bring hope
that where there are shadows, I may bring light
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted
to understand, than to be understood
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.
Amen.”
AA 12 Steps and 12 Traditions Book, page 99
(Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi)
Decision Prayer
“God, I am faced with indecision and I am unable to determine which course to take. I ask You for inspiration, an intuitive thought, or a decision. God, I pray to be shown what my next step should be. Give me whatever I need to take care of my problems. Especially free me from self-will so that I may be of help to others. What can I do today to help others?”
Big Book page 86
During the Day Prayer
“I am agitated (doubtful), God. Please give me the right thought or action. I am no longer running the show. Thy will be done.”
Big Book page 87
Morning Prayer
“God, please direct my thinking; especially, that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonesty or self-seeking motives. What can I do for the man that is still sick?”
Big Book pages 86 and 164
A Blessing
“May God bless You and keep You.”
Big Book page 164
Acceptance Prayer
“And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation—some fact of my life—unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world by mistake. Until I could accept my compulsive overeating, I could not stay abstinent; unless I accept life completely on life’s terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitude.
Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage, all the men and women merely players.” He forgot to mention that I was the chief critic. I was always able to see the flaw in every person, every situation. And I was always glad to point it out, because I knew you wanted perfection, just as I did. OA and acceptance have taught me that there is a bit of good in the worst of us and a bit of bad in the best of us; that we are all children of God and we each have a right to be here. When I complain about me or about you, I am complaining about God’s handiwork; I am saying that I know better than God.”
Big Book page 417
Set Aside Prayer
(or lay aside prayer)
God, today help me set aside everything I think I know about You, everything I think I know about myself, everything I think I know about others, and everything I think I know about my own recovery so I may have an open mind and a new experience with all these things. Please help me see the truth.
This prayer comes from the Chapter to the Agnostic, primarily pages 47 and 48
Source: Maritimes Intergroup
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How nature loves the incomplete. She knows if she drew a conclusion it would finish her.
—Christopher Fry
There is never an end to change, to growth. I have seen selfish desires vanish, self-pity disappear; I have attained qualities that at one time seemed entirely out of reach. All are the products of growth, the ongoing rewards of struggle. I often think, in the midst of pain, “If I can just get through this, I will be fine.” But no sooner do I get through it than another problem shows up, and the process begins again. How far can I go? Beyond my wildest imagination. The quality of my life has no limit. For today: Do I draw conclusions such as, “I am always like that” and “I can never learn that”? Now that I am living one day at a time, I can take always and never out of my vocabulary.
October 2, For Today
| The OA service structure is a democratic, inverted pyramid where individual groups support the broader organization through a chain of delegated service levels. | Ever wondered who keeps the recovery lights on? Welcome to our behind-the-scenes tour of the OA service structure — a friendly, democratic upside-down pyramid where individual groups cheerfully support the wider fellowship. It’s more than a chart: it’s the cooperative backbone that lets us delegate service, stay connected, and keep showing up for one another, one helpful step at a time. Dive in and see how every level lifts the next. | For Today: Audiobook version of OA's daily reader is now available | |
Come hear ideas on how you can encourage
service in your Intergroup.
We will also have time for you to
share your best practices, so be prepared!
OCTOBER 25, 2026 4:00 - 5:00 pm ET
Meeting ID: 883 1592 7438
Passcode: 088613
All OA members are welcome, but
PLEASE do not post on social media.
| You Will Not Be Fired From These Jobs! | |
In volunteer jobs there are no firings, no bosses, and no watching your back. Your “pay” is that good feeling you get from giving back what you have so freely been given - a solution that works. Overeaters Anonymous shows the way to stay abstinent and free from compulsive eating, bingeing, bulimia and other eating disorders. Help continue the good work of Ocean & Bay Intergroup and volunteer. There are more opportunities to volunteer and do service. Ocean & Bay Intergroup will accept nominations in October for two positions that will soon open up: Chair and Recording Secretary. Apply today! Please consider nominating yourself or someone who you think will do a good job.
For position descriptions, click here.
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Looking for new perspectives on spirituality in recovery? Seeking the Spiritual Path: A Collection from Lifeline is now available as an audiobook, bringing together more than 70 OA member stories that reflect a range of spiritual and secular experiences. Members share their personal journeys with spirituality, offering experience, strength, and hope that can help you explore the Eleventh Step and consider what spiritual growth may look like in your own daily recovery.
Now available with virtual voice narration, the audiobook offers another way to connect with these stories wherever listening fits into your day.
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2026 Marathons sponsored by
Virtual Intergroup of Overeaters Anonymous
712-432-5200; Conference ID 4285115# Meetings every hour from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET around regularly scheduled meetings
Moderator Information: OA members are welcome to moderate at Marathons. When you sign up at the link below, you will receive a script and helpful information. For more information or questions, email Marathon Coordinator.
To moderate a meeting go to https://signupschedule.com/oamarathons
Dash Information: Dash monitors are trained members who help ensure meetings on the “712” phone lines are held without disruption. Marathon moderators may serve as their own dash monitor, following training.
Dash Monitor Recruitment Campaign: Additional dash monitors are needed! For more information or to register for training, contact Imelda.
Those who have received training may sign up for a particular Marathon at https://signupschedule.com/oadashboarders
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Find connection, recovery, and growth at our Overeaters Anonymous events—Step studies, retreats, anniversaries, and workshops. Think fellowship, humility, relapse-proofing, and the occasional spiritual epiphany.
Ready to join a meeting that might change your day—or your life? Click here to see upcoming OA events and grab your spot: friendly faces, real talk, and tools for staying well.
| Please consider writing down your thoughts and sending them to us. We’d love to print them in our newsletter. Thanks a lot. |
Ocean & Bay Sticker Store and More
| Ocean & Bay Intergroup has made use of an on-demand e-commerce store to sell a variety of items. What began as a simple idea to design and print a sticker to help spread the message of recovery has turned into an opportunity for you to purchase Ocean & Bay-branded merchandise. That's because every design we created can be applied to pillows, T-shirts, water bottles, community message boards, and so much more. So take a look at our store and feel free to take what you need and leave the rest. | |
Enhance Your Program with a New Journal
| | Every OA meeting in the Ocean & Bay Intergroup is expected to send a meeting representative to the monthly Intergroup meeting. In the 7th tradition spirit of being self-supporting, this includes giving service. At your next business meeting, choose a member to represent your meeting at the Intergroup monthly meeting. Let your meeting’s voice be heard. Please contact Nancy at chair@oceanandbay.org if you have any questions. | | |
The PIPO Committee meets on the 3rd Monday of every month at 10:00 a.m. This month that’s Monday, October 19. All are welcome.
Here is the Zoom info:
Zoom ID: 875 7170 5051
Passcode: 776158
We’d love for you to join us.
| | Service Bodies here to help with your recovery. | | |
SPECIAL FOCUS MEETINGS
You are welcome at any OA meeting, and we hope you’ll try many of the meetings on our Intergroup and oa.org meeting lists! Some of our members find they also benefit from OA meetings with members who share similar experiences, so we are sharing this list of some of the special focus resources that are available in OA.
100 Pounders: Click Here
American Sign Language & Closed Caption – This meeting offers ASL interpretation Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. Eastern: ASL Tues 8pm
Anorexics and Bulimics in OA – special focus meetings: Anorexics/Bulimics in OA
Asian-Pacific Islander OA: Click Here
Atheist, Agnostics, Secular - special focus meetings: Click Here
Bariatric Surgery: Click Here
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) – special focus meetings: BIPOC Intergroup
Health Issues: Click Here
LGBTQ special focus meetings for OA: bit.ly/ckslist and Click Here
OAMen.org is dedicated to distributing information about meetings, resources, and support for men in OA: Men in OA
Young People in OA – resources for those under 30 who suffer from compulsive eating include Meetings for young persons and https://oayoungadults.org/
For more special focus meetings, you can go to OA.org:
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go to Find a Meeting
- select a type of meeting (face-to-face, online, telephone, or non-real-time)
- click on "additional search options" and select the desired special focus
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Mission & Vision Ocean & Bay Intergroup is dedicated to supporting individuals in need of recovery from compulsive eating (e.g.: overeating, bulimia, anorexia) through carrying the OA message and empowering all meetings within the Intergroup.
Strategic Goals
1. Help members strengthen their personal recovery
2. Increase the number of sponsors
3. Increase the number of newcomers
4. Increase the retention of newcomers
5. Help those in relapse
6. Inspire people to give more service
7. Increase outreach activities, including outreach to members and healthcare professionals
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Please note that every effort has been made to adhere to OA's policy for newsletter publications. Opinions and experiences expressed within are those of the individual writer and not OA as a whole.
SUBMISSIONS: This is your newsletter! We welcome your contributions of news items or commentary.* Deadline: 15th of each month. Example: Deadline 10/15 for November newsletter.
Please email : newsletter@oceanandbay.org
*May be edited as space allows.
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Ocean & Bay Intergroup
PO Box 2243, East Greenwich, RI 02818
Note: Make checks payable to Ocean and Bay Intergroup
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