North Oak AA Group

If you’ve ever attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and listened to us read “How it Works” then you’re aware that the big book mentions the agnostic. It’s actually an entire chapter about those who lack, or question, a higher power: The Chapter to the Agnostic (Chapter 4).

If you haven’t read this chapter, you’re in luck! This blog post is a deep dive into the chapter, what it means to be an agnostic (or atheist) and how AA can still work for you.

First, what is an agnostic or atheist? Simply put, when asked if one believes in a higher power, the atheists say “no, absolutely not” and the agnostic is more inclined to say “I don’t know” and often added with the well meaning thought of “I don’t care to know.”

Second, how prevalent is this thought? The big book mentions that half the original AA members and founders were agnostic citing science of thought over faith. A recent 2024 study finds that 11-15% of the world and 28% of Americans are agnostic. If the North Oak Hall was founded for smaller, more personal, one hour meetings and tries to limit their meetings to 10-15 members then likely there are two agnostics in the room in every meeting. What’s fascinating is that this number increases when looking at those aged 18-29 years old to 39%. And if we separate the stats further by sex, almost half (43%) of women in this age group are agnostic and about 35% of men. So if you identify as agnostic or adjacent to such thought, you truly are not alone.

So how does this play out in the AA literature? I’m so glad you asked! In the big book, the conclusion that you are an alcoholic is followed by the opinion by Bill et. al. that the only path to recovering from this illness is a spiritual experience. That’s one hard pill to swallow if you’ve been agnostic or atheist for any length of time. Even seemingly impossible. However the authors double down on their beliefs here about healing from alcoholism with grace: ‘to be doomed to an alcoholic death or to live in a spiritual basis are not always easy alternatives to face.* (Page 44).

Here’s the kicker, if what you’ve been doing isn’t working for you, why are you still trying to tackle alcoholism with the same tools you came into the disease with? “If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered long ago… lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves.” (pg 44-45).

The book encourages you to find a Power that makes sense to you that is outside of YOU. It doesn’t have to be the Christian God, or Buddha or any religiously affiliated deity. It can even be the “GOD” in the room – faith in the “Group Of Drunks”. If a hall and their fellows are following the big book, they should be encouraging you to do what works for you, today, when it comes to the “God” question. Not preaching at you to join a Bible study! So take a deep breath! No one should be trying to convert you. “The main object is to find a Power greater than yourself that will solve your problem.* (Pg 45).

It’s important to note that the founders, authors of the big book, understand that “some of us have been violently anti-religious” due to “honest doubt and prejudice,” or in the modern age we may include the word ‘trauma.’ (pg. 45). Or we thought it was the easy way out. But step two doesn’t ask you to believe in a power greater than yourself. It asks you to be WILLING to believe in a power greater than yourself. The authors found that as soon as they were able to tackle what holds them back from believing, or being willing to believe, in a power greater than themselves, they got results – “…even though it was impossible for any of us to fully define or comprehend that power…” (page 46).

“Much to our relief, we discovered we did not need to consider another conception of God. Our own conception, however inadequate, was sufficient to make the approach and to effect a contact with [the Power greater than ourselves].” (Page 46).

The most thought provoking (and probably controversial point for the agnostic/atheist) is that it takes faith to both believe in a higher power and to believe there is no higher power. Ahhhh!! I imagine your knee jerk reaction is that it’s science over faith! That’s ok. Chapter four describes this thought well.

Chapter 4, We Agnostics, discusses the concept of faith well. If we’re atheist and so certain there is no power greater than ourselves, we ultimately have to choose to believe this because there is no proof one way or another, right? Faith is ultimately the ability to believe in an idea, concept or person with complete trust. “Everybody nowadays, believes in scores of assumptions for which there is good evidence, but no visual proof. And does not science demonstrate that visual proof is the weakest proof?” (Page 48). They give an example of flight (remember this book was originally published in 1939). The earth was believed to be flat at one point. Man had proven that we could not fly yet the Wright brothers did it! Or later, there was the belief that we couldn’t land a man on the moon but we did it. Things change. New facts are presented. Did the agnostic or atheist give faith a fighting chance? “…A fair hearing?” (Page 50). “Are not some of us just as biased and unreasonable about the realm of the spirit as were the ancients about the realm of the material?” (Pg 51).

Ultimately, when it comes to being willing to open yourself up to a higher power, we have to be fearless (page 55). And being fearless is hard and sometimes triggering. This program demands rigorous honesty (page 58). So if we’re being honest with ourselves it might be time to ask ourselves a few questions about our identity and beliefs;

What is my fear when it comes to faith or belief in a higher power?
Where does this fear stem from?
What is blocking me from moving forward with being willing to believe in a higher power?
What is faith to me?
Where do I place my faith currently?
Am I certain of my current agnostic or atheist beliefs? And if so, is this not also faith?

The higher power struggle bus is real and not talked about nearly enough. Just remember, you are not alone! There is likely someone else in your meeting also struggling. Join us and let’s discuss it at your next meeting! There is no shame in admitting this is your current struggle.

The rooms of AA are built to meet you where you’re at. It is a space where people of all different beliefs—and no belief at all—sit side-by-side, united by the single shared purpose of staying sober. Remember, the only requirement is a desire to stop drinking. You don’t have to change your worldview to sit in these rooms; you just have to bring an open mind.

Hello and welcome to the North Oak AA Group Blog! We have an exciting event coming up in the area we wanted to share with you!

Liberty United Methodist Church (100 Sunset Avenue Liberty Mo) is hosting the Many Faces of Grapevine Event.

This will discuss all things Grapevine related with speakers, games, food and a raffle. There will even be a spot where you can write your own grapevine story and have it submitted which is kinda exciting! So get those gears turning about your own experience, strength and hope and join us if you can!

They are going to host Grapevine Jeopardy too! So come prepared if you’re feeling competitive or just bring your smiling, happy self and join us!

Admission is $15.

The event is on Saturday, August 15th from 9am to 4:30 pm.

Hello everyone! This is a friendly announcement that the Venmo for North Oak Group’s AA Hall is inactive. You can still donate in the basket in person or to the Central Office.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate everyone who has been able to donate previously in this manner.

Thank you for your patience as we figure out next steps for donations outside of physical monies in the basket.

Welcome to the North Oak AA Group blog and thanks for stopping by! You are not alone anymore!

This month we have quite a few things going on. First things first, announcements:

The annual North Oak Alcoholics Anonymous Picnic will take place July 11th starting at noon at the Gladstone Central Park. Grilled meats and water will be provided. Please bring a side or a desert. See sign up sheet on the back board for letting us know how many people you are bringing and what dish you will tease our taste buds with! The whole family is welcome!

The Lending Library at the hall is now available! Example library content is shown below alongside the sign up sheet. How does it work? Any member can sign the sheet (second image below) to note what book they are borrowing with the date they checked it out of the hall. You can then bring it home, read it and bring it back. Don’t forget to check it back in with the Date Checked in on the same line you checked it out.

We are still looking for a Meeting Coordinator to serve on the Service Committee. The Meeting Coordinator is responsible for coordinating all meeting leaders to ensure all scheduled daily meetings are covered both with a regular leader and a substitute of a leader cannot make a meeting. The Coordinator maintains the sign up white board, ensures all leaders have a key to the building and are trained in before/after meeting procedures. If you are interested, contact Sean or come to the next Steering Committee meeting on Wednesday Aug 5 at 7 pm at the hall. Sponsors are highly encouraged to bring this opportunity up with their sponsees. The only requirement is a year of sobriety. The expectation is to serve for 2 years in this position.

This leads nicely to pointing out that the next Steering Committee meeting is August 5, 2026 at 7 pm. This is North Oak ‘s Alcoholics Anonymous business meeting for the hall. All are welcome to come and listen.

The next Group Conscious Meeting is Saturday August 22nd at noon at the hall. “Our group conscious is the collective voice of membership. We ask that all members participate regularly. Our unity and recovery depend on your input and presence.” Topics to be covered include; soda machine, AED/CPR first aid and training, the spirit of rotation and availability of Steering Committee positions for 2027. A potluck lunch will follow the meeting.

Game night has been a success! We continue to gather the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month (the 5th and the 19th). 9-11:00 PM.

SNL continues forward with speakers each Saturday night beginning at 8 pm at the hall. The following scheduled speakers are;

1. July 4: Tony V. (15 years) and Sam R. (5 years)
2. July 11: Chris S. (44 years), Mike C. (30 years) and Dan L. (3 years)
3. July 18: Katy (22 years) and Sarah (2 years)
4. July 25: Don D. (15 years) and Mark E. (1 year)

Come and listen to them share their stories. All are welcome. Anyone is welcome to also come and grab their coin for any milestone (24 hours, 1/2/3/6/9 months and any annual birthday celebration).  “Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened and what we are like now.” Hearing your journey gives a suffering Alcoholic the ultimate gift: HOPE. Sign up on the back board (bright green neon poster board) to share your experience, strength and hope at one of our upcoming SNLs! Please arrive early and remember there is additional parking at the post office and the dentist office.

Don’t forget to send the birthday tradition donation to the Central Office ($1/year of sobriety) via kc-aa.org/donation, via an envelope found at the hall for the Central Office or in person at the Central Office.

Some Reminders:

1. When there are scheduled Alcoholics Anonymous OR Al-Anon OR Alateen meetings we need to be mindful of how our voices can carry beyond the closed doors from the bullpen.
2. The temporary sponsor list is found on the boards in the back of the hall. We’ve had more women sign up lately which is great but can we ever truly have enough? Therefore, ladies! We want you and your experience, strength and hope to share with potential female sponsees. If you’re ready and available, please sign up your name and number on that list.
3. Don’t forget to check the back boards regularly for updated events and information including but not limited to the temporary sponsor list, the celebration calendar, service and volunteer opportunities, city-wide fellowship fun and events, Area AA Group information and the NOG reports.
4. Alateen is still holding meetings Wednesdays in the Al-Anon room from 6-7 pm. Alateen is a supportive fellowship designed specifically for teenagers (typically ages 13-18) whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. It provides a safe, anonymous space where young people can share experiences, learn effective coping skills and connect with peers from similar family dynamics. Audrey is your point of contact for any questions.
5. Parking: Please only park in designated spots, at the post office across the street or at the dentist office behind the hall (in the East lot only).

That’ll do it for now. Thanks for reading and see you at the hall!

Curious about upcoming events at your local North Oak Group AA hall this month? If so, you’re right where you need to be.

First and foremost, welcome to the written summary of June’s newsletter for Alcoholics Anonymous. You are not alone anymore!

First things first, announcements:

Saturday night live continues every Saturday from 8-9 pm. This is an open speaker meeting (ie: all alcoholics and non-alcoholics alike are welcome to join us).

On June 6, Diane K, Danica & John F are celebrating 36, 3 & 43 years, respectively! On June 13th, Shannon & Sean are both celebrating 4 years! Congratulations everyone!

Oh, but wait, that’s only half the month?! I’m so glad you’re paying attention. Yes, we don’t have any scheduled speakers for June 20th or 27th yet. So we need YOU! Are you ready to share your experience, strength and hope? If so, next time you’re at the hall, kindly sign up on the green poster board aka Birthday calendar!

Important!! Remember not to park in fire lanes. Extra parking is provided at the post office across the street and the dentist office behind our building. (See below for exact addresses and instructions.)

Did someone say game night???
The last group conscious meeting replaced the Friday candlelight meetings with a bi-weekly Game Night!! Every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month between 9:30pm and 11:30 pm we will gather for games. All are welcome!

This month, you can find us on June 12 and June 26 playing board games. So bring your favorite game or just your winning personality & let’s have some fun! Someone has already signed up to bring Catan -a fun worker placement game- & is ready to teach anyone how to play.

Need to borrow some literature?
David, the GSE for the steering committee, is working on a lending library focusing on Alcoholic’s Anonymous literature. They will be securing many copies of the Grapevine and more. Stay tuned for extra details coming soon!

Hey girl hey!
Are you ready to be a Temporary Sponsor but have not signed up yet? The need for female sponsorship is at a critical level right. Men, we’ll take you too, of course! But woman – we need you!

We also need more female speakers for our Valley Hope visits. See the back boards for more information!

Looking for a service opportunity?
We’re still looking for a meeting coordinator. You would be responsible for; coordinating ALL meeting leaders; ensuring there is coverage for all scheduled meetings; maintaining the sign-up white board; ensuring all leaders have a building key; ensuring all leaders are trained in standard procedures pre & post meetings & that a meeting is covered in a scheduled leader’s absence.

Interested? Join us at the next Steering Committee meeting, July 1, 2026 at 7pm, or talk to Sean.

24/7 hotline is full! But you can be a backup!
Thank you to everyone who signed up for the hotline!! We have met the need for the allotted times we volunteered as a group to coordinate!!

However, if you were hoping to get on this bandwagon, there’s a sign up sheet on the back wall that allows for you to put your name down as a back up, if needed.

EVENTS WORTH NOTING
1. June 12 from 930pm-1130 pm is board game night! Another game night will be followed on June 26.

2.  Wednesday July 1 at 7 pm: Steering Committee meeting

3. TBD: July (11th or 18th) will be the Summer Potluck! Keep your eyes open for a set date here soon! This is a family friendly event! We kindly ask you to just bring your big ol’ smiles and a side dish or dessert. More details will be posted ASAP 🙂

REMINDERS
Please keep the noise level down while meetings are in progress. We are so happy to see fellowship outside of meetings! However, we’ve been getting a little too excited (loud) when our meeting is over but other meetings are in progress. This courtesy extends to AlAnon and Ala-Teen meeting time slots as well.

What is the meeting schedule, you ask??
You can find all our meeting times here: https://northoakaa.com/meeting-schedule/

A reminder about parking:
We’re growing awfully fast and parking can be a pain sometimes. This is your friendly reminder that additional parking can be found at the post office across the street (7170 N. Broadway St., Kansas City, MO 64118).

Alternatively, there is a dentist office located at 231 NW 72nd Street called Rechtien Dental. When they are not open (ie: for Saturday night live and the weekends) they generously allow us to utilize the EAST side of their parking lot. If you enter the lot then make a right, you will find yourself parked behind the hall. There is a slight hill with a wooden fence. The fence has a gap if you would like to enter the back AA parking lot through there by foot. Alternatively, you can walk west to 72nd street and make a left onto Broadway to find the hall.

Highlighting Ala-teen!!
Are you of the ages 10-20 affected by other’s drinking and looking for a supportive fellowship without your parents? We have the exact place for you! Come by the hall Wednesdays from 6-7 pm. Contact Aubrey if more details are needed.

Ala-teen is a supportive, safe and anonymous space where young people can share experiences, learn effective coping tools and connect with peers.

Wrapping up:
Well, I think I’ve “talked” your ear off long enough. Don’t forget to stay up to date through our blog, the newsletter (in house), and the back boards if you’re looking for a temporary sponsor, service opportunities, events and more!

Remember, one day at a time. And with that, I pass.

We’re looking for a member to take over our website duties! Be sure to stop by Group Conscience to discuss this among other items.

Put that smartphone to good use!

We’re looking for volunteers to take the KC Central Hotline phone for a few days each month. Discussion plans for our next Group Conscience on May 16th.

Cheer on your boys in blue!

Come claim your personal cup spot on our wall. We will donate unwanted cups.