Eric Socin Retired United Steel Worker
Local 1010 Mittal Steel Company

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I am a retired steel worker and worked 33 1/2 years as an instrument technician. I joined Gloria Dei by affirmation of faith on August 30, 1998 with Pastor James Milligan presiding. I served on council and was head of property when the parking lot was resurfaced. I have participated with singing in the choir, and in stage shows put on at Gloria Dei near the 4th of July and in the Christmas season. I remember fondly participating in our Tour of Jerusalem events in the Easter season. I participated in the Bethel Bible study program taught by Pastor Milligan. I served for another two years on council under PS Laura Altman and PS Howard Buchholz II. In those two years I served during the call process under council president Barbara Banek and as recording secretary under council president Elaine VonAlmen. Also as recording secretary I worked very hard at getting our congregation's constitution updated with a lot of help via email from Ruth Hamilton of the ELCA. More recently I have worked on publishing our monthly newsletter the Glad Tidings. I participated in our Travelling Road Show Summer Bible School publishing a daily take home flier. I have taken pictures at our social events and made slide shows with the pictures. I have taken on the task of learning how to post a Web Site. I have learned how to write valid source code with HTML and CSS. Enough puffery and now to my plans for future service.

I am excited to be able to serve on council once again as recording secretary. I hope that experience is a good teacher and I will strive to improve on short, to the point and accuracy. As recording secretary I will also attempt to open avenues of communications to help make us an active church community. Active participation by the church community will help us grow. One element in faith is to hope for the unseen. Our committee activities are not as apparent as hoped for and thus they are in effect the unseen.

To quote Paul. Romans chapter 8 verses 22 through 23:

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Comparing redemption to committee and congregation activities may be a stretch for what is hoped for in the unseen. Illustrative purpose is my excuse however for quoting a couple favorite Pauline Bible verses.

My main goal will be to report activities and schedules for meetings and to facilitate communications so that everyone knows what it is, when it is, and how it is with regard to participation. If there is a church function I will see you there. If there is a committee meeting I will try to visit. I will be taking names and pictures for all to see.

PS - I will also archive and post council meeting minutes with committee reports to council on our Web Site with PDF file links after they are approved by council and with blesssings from PS David Trexler.

Your Brother in the Body of Christ,
Waiting Patiently,
Eric Socin