Meet Marge Burke

 

I am a cradle Episcopalian, baptized when I was six weeks old.  It was in the church where I grew up that I knew, without a doubt, that I was loved, loved by God and by the members of the church.  My Christian formation took root there.  I belonged.  While I probably couldn’t articulate my understanding of stewardship then, I understood it in an unconscious way. We had partitioned envelopes where we placed our offering each week, one half for the local parish and one half for mission outreach.   But, it was more than money, it was time and talent, that I gave, too.

The first Sunday Donald and I came to Holy Cross, back in the late ’70’s, there were more of us than them—the two of us, our two boys and my parents and only four members of Holy Cross.  In spite of that small number, we felt we belonged and we began to support the church regularly, with the three “t’s”—time, treasure and talent—even though we were only “summer” people until we retired here.   We continue to do that today.

My ministry often takes me far from the sanctuary of Holy Cross, yet, I take both the solace and strength I receive here with me where ever I go.  You pray for me when I am away at meetings, just as I regularly pray for each of you.   We belong to each other.  Therefore, it is important that we all support this place with our time, talent and treasure, not just for us—the members of Holy Cross—but for those beyond our walls whom we also serve.