City On Purpose Newsletter - Discipleship night, birthday party, plant sale, and so much more!
We have a lot of fun events for you to check out this week!
Happy September!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend! Hopefully, you were chilling the AC away from the heat yesterday. With the changing of the seasons, new events are starting back up. If there are any events you want us to include, reply to the newsletter to let us know. Also, to get ahead of the cat people out there, there is a dog event included in this week’s newsletter. For balance enjoy a photo of this sweet cat hanging out at the monastery!
PS. If anyone has any tickets for sale for the sold-out Arctic Monkeys show next week, please hit me up.
With that, here are this week’s resources, information, and fun stuff to do around town:
Fun things to do - happening this weekend …
September 7th (Thursday) Thank God It's Thursday
September 8th (Friday) Birthday Party for Blessed Virgin Mary
September 9th (Saturday) Doggy Daze of Summer
September 9th (Saturday) Twilight Kayak Paddle
September 10th (Sunday) Georgia Plant Swap + Sale Grant Park
September 12th (Tuesday) September Discipleship Night
Sunday Sermon Series
Want to quickly know what your favorite Christian leaders had to say last Sunday? Our Sunday Sermon Series rounds up some of the most popular homilies and sermons for you in easy-to-digest summaries. You can read the short summaries below and longer summaries are on the City on Purpose website here.
Fr. Mike Schmitz
In his homily, Fr. Mike Schmitz discusses the crucial importance of learning to say "no" in our lives, especially in the context of managing commitments and invitations as students return to campus. He notes that people often struggle with saying "no" due to the fear of missing out or hurting others' feelings. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the ability to say "no" is vital for establishing healthy boundaries and personal growth. He draws parallels between this skill and a toddler's inclination to say "no" when they begin to realize their sense of self. Fr. Mike underscores the idea that saying "no" is not a rejection of the self but a recognition that our lives are meant for something greater, which is exemplified in Saint Paul's teachings in Romans 12:1-2, where believers are called to offer themselves as living sacrifices to God, making every moment an act of spiritual worship. In conclusion, he encourages listeners to practice the art of saying "no" to distractions and self-centeredness, enabling them to live meaningful lives in service to God and the greater good. Read the full summary here.
Cathedral of Christ the King
In his Labor Day homily, Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer extends a warm welcome to Mass attendees and acknowledges recent natural disasters, highlighting the suffering they've caused. He shares his experiences as a priest and bishop, emphasizing that witnessing others' suffering, while challenging, can lead to personal growth and a deeper connection with God. The Archbishop encourages reflection on personal experiences of suffering, underscoring that it can teach valuable lessons. He also discusses the role of prayer and community support in mitigating suffering and fostering personal growth, concluding that suffering can ultimately lead to personal transformation through faith and community support. Read the full summary here.
Buckhead Church: “Icon: Empowering the Invitation of the Cross”
In Andy Stanley's sermon, he underscores the cross as Christianity's central symbol, representing not just belief but a transformative way of life. He highlights how the 1st-century audience perceived the cross as an invitation to an unconventional lifestyle, emphasizing the empowering aspect of this invitation to manifest God's power in one's life. Stanley discusses the contemporary misconception of faith as a one-time event, advocating for a continuous, counter-cultural commitment challenging self-centeredness.
Examining a biblical passage involving disciples James and John seeking power, Stanley stresses Jesus' teaching that greatness lies in servanthood. He underscores Jesus' selfless mission, culminating in the call for humility and service in daily life. Stanley urges listeners to embrace the cross's invitation, reflecting Jesus' way and demonstrating God's power through their actions. Read the full summary here.
Trinity Anglican Church
The core of Kris McDaniel’s sermon explores a passage from Matthew, where Jesus reveals his impending suffering after Peter acknowledges him as the Messiah. This leads to a discussion on suffering and aligning one's will with God's, emphasizing its inevitable presence in life. McDaniel focuses on Peter's fearful reaction and highlights the importance of responding to suffering by deepening one's faith. He encourages the congregation to practice saying "yes" to God, even when it means saying "no" to personal desires. The sermon concludes with the idea that life matters to God and that navigating challenges shapes one's character. McDaniel invites reflection on areas of confusion, unmet expectations, and fear, urging confession and obedience to God. Read the full summary here.
Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities
Looking for a job change? Or want to use your gifts for a volunteer opportunity? We’ve included some job and volunteer opportunities in local ministries, churches, and organizations
St. Lawerence Catholic Church - St. Lawerence Catholic Church is searching for a bilingual front office receptionist. This person is responsible for welcoming, greeting, and providing information to all who enter or telephone the parish front office. Duties include but are not limited to registrations, welcome packets, scheduling Mass intentions, updating phone messaging, distributing mail, and preparing bulk mailings. If you’re interested in the position, contact blake@saintlaw.org.
Holy Spirit Catholic Church - Holy Spirit Catholic Church is searching for a part-time contemporary choir director. This position is responsible for directing the choir at the 5:30 p.m. Sunday Mass, leading rehearsals during the week, and recruiting singers and musicians. Requirements: background in music and a knowledge of Catholic liturgy. If you’re interested in the position, contact jbohling@hsccatl.com.
If your company is hiring and want to let our community know about the open role, simply reply back to this newsletter with the information. We'd love to include it!
Roommates and Housing Opportunities
Female Roomate - A female is searching for an available room or a roommate to get an apartment. She is looking in the Smyrna area but is also open to Midtown, Virginia Highlands, or Old Fourth Ward. If you’re interested, check out the post here.
Buckhead Room - A male is searching for a new roommate in the Downtown Buckhead area. It is a three-bedroom and three-bathroom property. There is a patio area and access to the community grounds. If you’re interested, check out the post here.
Audio Content We Think You'll Like
[Podcast] Honest To God - Pro-Life is the Right Life - Why to be Pro-Life
Click here to listen on Spotify!
While it’s no secret the Church’s stance on abortion, what about those who identify as Pro-Life? We go beyond Church doctrine into the personal views of our panelists on the reasons behind being pro-life aside from just “the Church says so” or “I just do what I'm told.” One panelist even works at a Pregnancy Aid Clinic, being on the front lines of the issue and coming face-to-face with women facing the question of whether to have a baby, some of whom do and some don’t.
Dinner Groups
A special Catholic DinnerGroup is happening this weekend! Join the app here! This dinner group is called Cor Unum Dinner and Game Night (ages 21-39) and has a maximum of 8 guests. You can join this group as a guest. The dinner group web app has a chatroom you can use to interact with your group members.
How to Subscribe: If someone forwarded you this newsletter and you'd like to receive them yourself, you can subscribe at substack.com/@cityonpurpose
How to Unsubscribe: You can totally unsubscribe at any time, but we hope you don’t! Rather, if you have feedback, we’d love to hear it and make this something you truly want to receive. If you'd prefer to stay off the list, simply click the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of this email and you'll be removed.
We hope you enjoy and share any feedback you think would make this better!