Using Groups and name order

I have groups in my contact list [contacts.app] that I use for email [mail.app]. I have them sorted in alphabetical order (which is a must: some people get PO'd because they're not listed 'first.' Dumb, I know. Alpha order is neutral and mitigates that problem.) When I use the group name to address a message, however, the names appear in some other order, not really random because it's always the same, but it's not alphabetical.

Does anyone know of a way to control this? I do need to have all names show, so that group members know who is getting the email.

Right now I have to rely on small text files with the names and e-addresses listed in alpha order that I can copy and paste into each message "To" field, but it's cumbersome. I'd love to have the contacts appear in the message in the same order that they appear in the group list.

Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks.