I am saddened to receive the news that one of my professors from seminary has gone to glory. As with the passing of all saints, it is a joy to meditate on the reception that awaits us when we cross over the threshold of death. Yet, as one still left behind in this world where all things are seen as in a mirror, darkly, I still experience the loss.
Rev. Dr. Marguerite Shuster, whose obituary you can find here, was my homiletics professor. I took my general homiletics (preaching) course from her, as well as my first preaching practicum. It was from Dr. Shuster that I learned the art of allowing a sermon to flow out of precise and thoroughgoing exegesis. It was through the patience in her gentle voice and incisive intellect that I learned how to receive criticism of my work that both convicted me and encouraged me to go and do better. It was through her engagement with difficult questions, homiletical, theological, and ethical that I saw how it was fully possible to be both firmly convinced and humbly open to conversation.
It was because of Dr. Shuster that I was given the blessing of the Parish Pulpit Fellowship, that allowed Sara and I to travel 12 countries over 7 months, soaking up experience for my 20 years as a small-church solo pastor.
It was because of Dr. Shuster that I have relished every opportunity to teach the skills of preaching, whether to second-career lay pastors, curious Ruling Elders, or high school students. I am certain Dr. Shuster's voice in my heart affects my work with speech and debate students.
I still tell people stories about how much Dr. Shuster influenced my thinking, my preaching, and my pastoral work. She and her ministry are still very much a part of God's work in my life.
I thank God for Marguerite Shuster. I am sad that she has left this world. But I hope that because of her influence I may continue to be a better proclaimer of Jesus Christ.
love,
emrys
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