The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica

Featured Articles - July, 2008

Pat Gomez is New M&L Chair

Pat Gomez has agreed to chair the Membership and Leadership (M&L) Committee. Pat brings a strong background in program development and coordination to the position. She is a long-time Unitarian with leadership experience in other congregations. The committee and welcoming program will greatly benefit from her history, ideas, and leadership.

Pat will lead the development of much that is still in the conceptual stages, as well as coordinate many existing M&L programs. The Membership and Leadership group — and other welcoming program coordinators who would like to participate — will convene in August. At that meeting the group will help Pat decide on this year’s agenda and meeting schedule.

Appreciation is due to past M&L cochairs Marsha Smith and Laurel Bleak, who will stay involved in the committee as new member coordinators.

Please welcome Pat as the new M&L chair. And, better yet, offer your support and ideas for the coming year.

— Marsha Smith

Michael Eselun will Speak July 20

Michael Eselun, a member of UUCCSM since 2004, will be in the pulpit on Sunday, July 20, speaking on “The Gothic Heart: Finding Meaning where You Will.” He has been a guest speaker previously at our church, with sermons entitled “Coming Out: It’s Everybody’s Business,” “What about My Itinerary?” “My Trip to the Holy Land,” and most recently “Where Theology Meets the Road.” He has also been a guest speaker for an impressive number of UU congregations: Canoga Park (Emerson), Conejo Valley, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo, North Hills (Sepulveda), Pasadena, Riverside, San Dieguito, South Bay, Studio City, Ventura and Verdugo Hills. Raised Roman Catholic, Michael has traveled circuitous spiritual and professional paths through a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) internship and to employment as a chaplain at the UCLA Medical Centers at both the Santa Monica and Westwood hospitals.

After graduating from high school Michael became a professional dancer — his first vocation. He danced in musical theater, Las Vegas, and television musical variety shows including a Bing Crosby Christmas Special. In 1978 he earned a bachelor’s degree at UCLA, majoring in design, and worked as an independent professional designer — his second vocation. In the early 1990s an economic recession dried up Michael’s design business, and he needed to find something else to do. He was granted an emergency teaching credential and tried substituting in the Inglewood public school district but lacking proper training and support, and being an out gay man, he found the situation untenable. At the same time he volunteered with Project Nightlight, which provided spiritual support to people who were — at that time — dying of AIDS at an alarming rate.

At the end of the 1990s Michael attended a shamanic retreat for gay men and was reminded of his previous work with Project Nightlight. His sister-in-law, a chaplain-in-training, suggested that he apply to the UCLA Hospital pastoral education program. He contacted them not expecting anything, but his application was rated highly and his interviews went well. He was admitted, even though that program usually accepts only graduate students who have a Masters of Divinity degree or are studying toward that certification.

Michael completed all four CPE units at UCLA, totaling 1,600 hours, in January 2003, and demonstrated superior qualities as a chaplain. Incorporating UU principles, he skillfully builds contacts and confidence withpatients, engages with whatever religious thoughts and feelings they have, and fearlessly faces an unending and varied series of acute situations.

Michael works part time (officially four hours a day, five days a week) in three units within the UCLA Hospital — Adult Psychiatric, Hematology Oncology, and Palliative Care — but he often spends time with patients and family members well beyond his four-hour shift. A large part of his job includes bereavement counseling and support.

Michael serves as the co-chair of “GLIDE” (Gays and Lesbians in Dialogue for Equality), an organization that he co-founded. He also continues to do professional design work on a limited basis.

Michael lives with his partner of 30 years, Scott, at their home in West Hollywood. He would like to continue working as a hospital chaplain until he retires someday. He finds the work intense, but rewarding. Every day he can make a difference in someone’s life. His journey has led him to the heart of Unitarian Universalism.

— Rob Briner

Help the Church and Save on Income Taxes

Did you know you can donate appreciated securities to the church and avoid taxes on the capital gains? The church can sell the stocks with no tax liability and you can use the fair market value as a charitable contribution if you itemize deductions. Please also remember the church when you are revising your will or setting up a trust. Contact Melinda Ewen for more information.

We want to give a special thanks to Dorothy and Howard Westley, who have given a very substantial amount of stock to the church over the last three years. These stocks were sold to meet their annual pledge of financial support and make large donations to our capital campaign. The generosity of the Westleys is indicative of their love for the church and their support of it over the last five decades.

Pancake Breakfast Photos

The Dean Voegtlen Memorial Annual Pancake Breakfast was held last month. A tasty time was had by all.

	UU Pancake Devotees
Flapper Joyce
	Greg brings out the bacon while Katie converses.
Blueberry or banana?
	Let me at 'em!
Greg dishes it out while Chef Bob tends the batter.

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