Our Minister and Staff

Our New Minister, Reverend Chloë Briedé:

A lifelong UU, Rev. Chloë’s parents were active in a small house UU congregation in Gallup, New Mexico. Later, when she was 12 years old, her family moved to Yorktown, Virginia, where they joined the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Peninsula (UUFP) in Newport News. The UUFP was a second home for her.

While attending George Mason University, Rev. Chloë was active in various anti-war and environmental justice groups. She spent time as a community organizer in New Brunswick, NJ, and working on political campaigns in Northern Virginia. She also studied internationally in Taiwan at a Buddhist monastery and in Egypt at the American University in Cairo.

After college, although Rev. Chloë had ministry as her eventual goal, she wanted to spend time helping others. She served with AmeriCorps for two years and subsequently at the American Red Cross before enrolling at Harvard Divinity School. After graduating from seminary in 2018, she did a clinical pastoral education residency where her direction to parish work became clear. She wanted to spend time building long-term community relationships in a church. She subsequently served as the Intern Minister at First Parish in Arlington, MA, as the Interim Director of Religious Education at Old Ship Church in Hingham, MA, as the Interim Minister at the UU Community Church of Augusta, ME, and most recently, as the Interim Minister at Pacific Unitarian Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Rev. Chloë is in Preliminary Fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association and is an Accredited Interim Minister in Training.

Rev. Chloë lives with her partner, Div Bhagia (they/them), who is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Cal State Fullerton. They enjoy taking long walks with their rat terrier mix, Dobby. Rev. Chloë enjoys hiking, cooking, crafting, board games, and square dancing. She is a member of Orange County’s LGBTQ+ Square Dance Club. She also loves to learn about astronomy, ecology, and history when she is not reading for church. She identifies as an agnostic with a deep affinity for Buddhism.

If you’d like to get in touch with Rev. Chloë, you can reach her via phone at (424) 430-0455 and via email at minister@emersonuuc.org”

Reverend Rebecca Benefiel Bijur
Affiliated Community Minister

As Emerson’s Affiliated Community Minister, Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur works with St. Joseph Center to advance social and economic equity for people experiencing homelessness. She leads worship at Emerson several times a year and also serves as additional support to our Pastoral Care Committee. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School and Yale University, Rev. Bijur has served UU congregations and social justice communities in Southern California since 2010. She lives in Santa Monica with her husband and three children.  Her work as a nonprofit and social justice leader is an important part of the mission and ministry of this church, and supports the movement of Unitarian Universalism beyond the walls of the congregation. Her website:  www.rebeccabijur.com

Rebecca LaScala,
Office Administrator

Rebecca is originally from Kansas City. She lives in Simi Valley with her husband, 2 step-children and dog. She enjoys hiking, the beach, watching sports, adventure vacations, arts/crafts and supporting her community.

 

 

Kevin Mathie

Music Director

Kevin Mathie is a professional pianist and composer who has more than a decade of experience in the music and entertainment industries. He has garnished several awards and recognitions both as a composer and as the music director/conductor for The Grand Theatre and Salt Lake Acting Company based out of Salt Lake City, UT. Kevin has increasingly been involved in composing for film/tv/commercials. This transition has brought him to sunny LA, a city that he has absolutely fallen in love with. Kevin is currently a freelance composer, and is also a composer with the Los Angeles based music production collective HotTraxInc.com. He is also an accompanist for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. You can read more about Kevin’s experience and hear his music at www.kevinmathie.com

Kevin began his association with Emerson UU Church as pianist in July 2017, and became our Music Director in October 2018.

Eloise Porter

Choir Director

Eloise is a native of Los Angeles and a product of the Los Angeles Unified School District.  She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Illinois in Vocal Performance and a B.A. from Occidental College in Choral Music where she studied choral conducting and voice.  She also received Artist-Teacher Certification through the Choral Music Experience Institute where she studied with Doreen Rao. Trained in the Kodaly method of music education, she has over 30 years of experience in the schools teaching young people from Kindergarten to college.  Singing is her first love, and she continues to maintain a private voice and piano studio and to sing in various choral groups around the city.

Luccia “Lucy” Graham

Religious Education Childcare Assistant

I have a degree in Child Development and I specialize in children with special needs, offering comprehensive and personalized care tailored to the specific needs of children. My role at Emerson is to look after children during the church service and the Religious Education program and offer a nice and safe environment where kids can be themselves and have fun. I have all current certificates required by law when working with children. In my free time I like dancing, cooking, and everything that has to do with nature.