Sunday, May 18 10am
• To Infinity and Beyond: Happiness is Good, but Joy Can Take You Further
• Beto Carvalho with Valerie DiLuggo (M.A. in Psychology at CalSouthern University)
• Therapist at Christian Counseling Center: (415) 674-7504
• Valerie DiLuggo has expertise in the areas of faith and spirituality, depression & anxiety, and phase of life issues. Valerie enjoys working with couples and is a certified PREPARE/ENRICH counselor and has trained in the Gottman Method of couples counseling.
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
“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, May 18, 25 2014
The Message Church
Sundays, 10:00 AM
Century 12 Theaters
320 2nd Ave
San Mateo, CA 94401
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