Because I’m Happy: The Message Church Uses a Hit Pop
Song, Popcorn and
Weekly Gatherings to Help People Find Emotional Health
5-week series held at
movie
theater in San Mateo seeks to make emotional care and
well-being a top
priority
SAN MATEO, California, April 17, 2014 – Starting this Easter
Sunday, April 20th, The Message Church in San Mateo will begin a 5-week series
titled “Because I’m Happy: how to beat stress, anxiety, depression and be
really free”. The church meets at the Century 12 movie theaters in downtown San
Mateo. Each Sunday gathering will consist of live music, talks, Q&A, and
personal stories designed to give people tools to be emotionally well.
“I love the Pharrell Williams’ pop hit ‘Happy’. You can’t hear it
without singing along”, says Beto Carvalho, who serves as pastor at the church.
“But as a social phenomenon, I’m a little intrigued by anyone repeating ‘I’m
happy, I’m happy’, over and over. It’s almost as if they are trying to convince
themselves. In reality, happiness is hard to hold on to because it is linked to
external events. Emotional health, on the other hand, is an internal reality
that carries us through the good and the bad”.
Alex O, a regular attender at The Message, would agree. He claims
that it was a series like this that saved his life. “I used to have bouts of
deep depression, to the point where I tried to commit suicide. That’s when I
knew I had to change and started attending services. The support and guidance
I’ve received in this community has helped me turn my life completely around”.
Guest speakers will include Dr. Fernando Carvalho, a pastoral
counselor, as well as psychologists from Christian Counseling Center of
northern California. “We live in one of the most beautiful and wealthiest
regions in the U.S. It is also one of the most stressful”, states Dr. Jonathan
Arnold, clinical psychologist and president of Christian Counseling Center,
“Our emotional health is put to the test everyday, and we cannot continue to
sacrifice it. We must make our emotional care and well-being our highest
priority”.
To that end, the Happy Series will use biblical stories and
concepts, but the church emphasizes that it is intended for and open to
everyone, regardless of being religious or not. Thousands postcards have
been sent to San Mateo and Foster City residents as an open invitation. Those
who miss the morning messages can subscribe to The Message Church podcast
on iTunes.
The Message Church was started in 2007 and since 2013 meets at
the Century 12 movie theater in downtown San Mateo every Sunday at 10:00
AM. Its motto is, “Where nobody is perfect, beginners are welcome, socks
are optional... but grace is required”.
5-Week Series - Sundays, April 20, 27, May 4, 11, 18, 2014
The Message Church
Sundays, 10:00 AM
Century 12 Theaters
320 2nd Ave,
San Mateo, CA 94401
Christian Counseling Center Contact:
The Message Church Contact:
Valerie Kerr
(650) 242-5919
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