#Hope #Passion. You can purchase one, four, seven sermons, or you can purchase the whole year or "album". As almost all of you know, a week ago last Monday night, driving in a terrible storm, my son Alexander who to his friends was a real day-brightener, and to his family "fair as a star when only one is shining in the sky" my twenty-four-year-old Alexander, who enjoyed beating his old man at every game and in every race, beat his father to the grave. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. And early though the laurel grows O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Didnt the eagle find a fresh liver to tear in Prometheus every time it dined? When parents die, as my mother did last month, they take with them a large portion of the past. Individual prayers and sermons can be purchased by clicking the cart icon next to each prayer or sermon title. Sometimes it has seemed that patriotism blocked any kind of criticism, that we were afraid if we spoke out against going to war or the policies after the Iraq war, that it would be considered disloyal to the troops and our country. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" The post A Eulogy for Alex appeared first on The Art of Manliness. All too often we speak when we should be listening Last year Union Theological Seminary in New York gave him its highest medal. My own consolation lies in knowing that it was not the will of God that Alex die; that when the waves closed over the sinking car, Gods heart was the first of all our hearts to break. It is self-interest. Some will even argue that God has a purpose in allowing the accident and will use this tragedy to provoke moral growth in the world (though one hopes that this explanation will not be offered in the hearing of any grieving family members). While he was a student, my father heard the feisty William Coffin preach as a young chaplain at Yale. #Ignorance #Self #Violence. I went right away to the piano. The best of William Sloane Coffin, Jr. We have to be forced down. RN: What broader advice do you have for strengthening our democracy and confronting the concentration of power and wealth over the life sustaining directions our country (with its impact on the world) needs to take? Here are additional selected citations in chronological order. Smart lad, to slip betimes away Click the cart icon next to a prayer in the player below to add a prayer to your cart. Download free, high-quality (4K) pictures and wallpapers featuring William Sloane Coffin, Jr. Want to start taking action on the content you read on AoM? Moved Permanently. ABERNETHY: I asked Coffin to think back on the civil rights and other protest movements he helped lead. Cannot see the record cut, When you scroll down this page you will find all of Bill's Riverside sermons organized by year. He was 81.. This is the ninth year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. Another consolation, of course, will be the learning which better be good, given the price. Than by a wick that stays. And I played all the hymns. For instance, the Christians persecuted the Jews for nearly two thousand years because as they said, they believed the Jews killed Jesus. Q: Many, many religious conservatives read the same Scripture that you do and come out very differently on social issues. Updated February 2023. Online shopping from a great selection at Books Store. After the death of his wife, C.S. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. 18 Sourced Quotes. William Sloane Coffin also wrote about this in his eulogy for his son, Alex, who was killed in a car accident at age 24. This brings up additional illogic in religion. During WWII, Coffin joined the army and later served as a CIA agent after the outbreak of the Korean War. And round that early-laurelled head 25 RN: What should the U.S. government do now? If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. And then, Im a preacher. BBC Northern Ireland presenter William Crawley discusses the often controversial political, religious and ethical issues of the day. And Christ spent an inordinate amount of time delivering people from paralysis, insanity, leprosy, and muteness. I mentioned the healing flood of letters. Theres such wisdom in these words that Ive found it bears re-reading from time to time. But violent deaths, such as the one Alex died to understand those is a piece of cake. ashington, Jan. 5--Five men, including Dr. Benjamin Spock, the author and pediatrician, and the Rev. So while trite, its true: I walked a mile with Pleasure, She chattered all the way; But left me none the wiser For all she had to say. This eulogy from William Sloane Coffin following the death of his son offers words of wisdom and hope for those struggling with the tragedy in Connecticut. The Theology of William Sloane Coffin Thursday, February 15, 2007 Moral lassitude Interview with Religion & Ethics Newsweekly August 27, 2004 Q: You have, in the course of your life, participated in a good many great causes and have done so with a lot of passion. See more stories about iPad, HBO, How-To. I'm always puzzled at these Moslem women who wail like Banshees when their terrorist sons are killed as what they believe to be martyrs. My own consolation lies in knowing that it was not the will of God that Alex die; that when the waves closed over the sinking car, God's heart was the first of all our hearts to break. Only reverance can restrain violence - reverance for human life and the environment. But when children die, they take away the future as well. Thousands of people have died without the benefit of a poetic father! Lewis wrote, They say the coward dies many times; so does the beloved. This is the eighth year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Yes, but at least, My God, my God; and the psalm only begins that way, it doesnt end that way. There is no smaller package in all the world than that of a man all wrapped up in himself.', 'Prophets from Amos and Isaiah to Gandhi and King have shown how frequently compassion demands confrontation. Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind; Itsjust one of those things I think is worth a read by all. Q: How about your own death? by Rev. Rev. Would it be abhorrent to find that intensely funny? I walked a mile with Sorrow And neer a word said she; But the things I learned from her But oh, the things I learned from her When sorrow walked with me. Rev. You blew it. The one thing that should never be said when someone dies is It is the will of God. Never do we know enough to say that. T he Rev. Ten days after his son, Alex, was killed in a car accident, Reverend William Sloane Coffin delivered this sermon to his congregation at Riverside Church in New York City. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. He was ordained in the Presbyterian church and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. Q: You have, in the course of your life, participated in a good many great causes and have done so with a lot of passion. So he has a hand in making our lives better but not worse? I think in the end they pay him a fortune to make the dead go back to their graves. When a person dies, there are many things that can be said, and there is at least one thing that should never be said. What do you say to those people? This well-intentioned person had brought in a dinner for Coffin and his family and said, "I just don't understand the will of God." He said: "I'll say you don't, friend. ABERNETHY: Coffin rails at neglect of the poor and U.S. policies in Iraq. You gave me what God gives all of us minimum protection, maximum support. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. Brett & Kate McKay March 18, 2017 Last updated: June 16, 2021. The answers quick and keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love, And the Emperor said, So? And decks the rays. Rev. Jim Antal, a Norwich resident who advises the president of the national United Church of Christ on climate change, will deliver the inaugural William Sloane . And finally I know that when Alex beat me to the grave, the finish line was not Boston Harbor in the middle of the night. W. & J. Sloane was a furniture and rug store in New York City that catered to the wealthy. The use of Gods will or God has chosen to take whatever the phrase has always made me uncomfortable. When a person dies, there are many things that can be said, and there is at least one thing that should never be said. For. It is incredible and very powerful. Transcript - William Sloane Coffin's Eulogy for Alex Ten days after his son, Alex, was killed in a car accident, Reverend William Sloane Coffin delivered this moving eulogy turned sermon, filled with deep truth and deep pain about the realities of death and the true (not trite) hope we have in God. So if you want to know where God is in this or in anything, look for love., Your email address will not be published. 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William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born to considerable wealth and social position on June 1, 1924, in New York City. William Sloane Coffin challenged the nation with his passionate calls for social justice. William Sloane Coffin Jr., a United Church of Christ minister known globally for his peace and justice advocacy, died April 12 at his home in rural Strafford, Vermont. If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. And read the poems. As far as I can tell, when you die, in the words of Art Bell, it's.."lights out" (I love the way he puts it.) The fleet foot on the sill of shade, The common attribution to the eighteenth-century statesman Alexander Hamilton was probably based on a mistaken understanding of a relatively modern citation. Fragrant is the blossom. God gave man dominion over the world at the beginning - and free will - and man so man has had the responsibility for his conduct since then, and for infecting all of creation with his sin. This is the tenth year of the complete 10 year collection of sermons. He liked it here. I swear to you, I wouldnt be standing here were I not upheld. The time you won your town the race Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. Either it is god's will or there is no god! I also know this day-brightener of a son wouldnt wish to be held close by grief (nor, for that matter, would any but the meanest of our beloved departed) and that, interestingly enough, when I mourn Alex least I see him best. ABERNETHY: As he conducts what he calls his lover's quarrel with his country, Coffin acknowledges that he has to be careful not to become self-righteous himself -- perhaps especially when he is honored, as he is often. As the grief that once seemed unbearable begins to turn now to bearable sorrow, the truths in the right biblical passages are beginning, once again, to take hold: Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall strengthen thee; Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning; Lord, by thy favor thou hast made my mountain to stand strong; For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling; In this world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world; The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.. While I could never presume to know the answer, I do take comfort in this passage from the author Kate Braestrup, which I wrote in my final post on this blog (below). May God give you the grace never to sell yourself short; Grace to risk something big for something good; And grace to remember the world is now too dangerous for anything but the truth and too small for anything but love. Apr 17, 2014 at 12:00 am. So I shall so let us all seek consolation in that love which never dies, and find peace in the dazzling grace that always is. ABERNETHY: Coffin became the leader of the U.S. campaign against nuclear weapons. Which is not to say that there are no nature-caused deaths I can think of many right here in this parish in the five years Ive been here deaths that are untimely and slow and pain-ridden, which for that reason raise unanswerable questions, and even the specter of a Cosmic Sadist yes, even an Eternal Vivisector. so if God doesnt will these things to happen, why does he let them happen? Theres something in the flight Q: Let me ask you to look back a little bit at some of the great movements you were part of. Then, as I began to re-read it, I noticed that the guy's name is William Sloane Coffin. In my case on the death of my wife they were summed up well in a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay entitled Dirge without Music. Well, so I wanted them to know, they had a pastor. Q: Where does the rise of conservatism, especially on the religious Right among Protestant evangelicals, fit into this whole thing? William Sloane Coffin. Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. Your email address will not be published. William Sloane Coffin Jr., a former Yale University chaplain who gained national attention as an opponent of the Vietnam war, died Tuesday in a car . I know how lucky I am! View all William Sloane Coffin Quotes. That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. Of course its a crutch. This is the first year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. 2023 Barbara Becker / All Beings Everywhere. Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. In a prideful way it would be easier to walk the valley alone, nobly, head high, instead of as we must marching as the latest recruit in the world's army of the bereaved. Program, Strengthen Your Tribe: A Report on the Atomic Athlete Vanguard, The Best Riddles for Kids (With Answers! The document has moved here. Thought he was omnipotent and omnipresent. I read through this with utter esteem for the sentiments therein and Will is right to say that those who speak in response to a tragedy like this they could learn much from this eulogy, which said it all, so very very well. Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Yes, but at least, My God, my God; and the psalm only begins that way, it doesnt end that way. The title of the sermon is "Alex's Death" and it comes on the heals of Rev. #Firsts #Leap #Wings. For the latest updates across BBC blogs, visit the Blogs homepage. Is that so hard to understand? Rev. What is happiness? And the wise man said, Happiness is when the grandfather dies, and then the father, and then the son. That is on the money. The reality of grief is the absence of God My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? The reality of grief is the solitude of pain, the feeling that your heart is in pieces, your minds a blank, that there is no joy the world can give like that it takes away. (Lord Byron). This is the fourth year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. Still there is much by way of consolation. So why were they angry? The silence of God over the cross is our model here. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. My own consolation lies in knowing that it was not the will of God that Alex die; that when the waves closed over the sinking car, Gods heart was the first of all our hearts to break. "Human unity is not something we are called on to create only something we are called on to recognize." We only recommend products we genuinely like, and purchases made through our links support our mission and the free content we publish here on AoM. How does a true Christian operate in a pluralistic world? So why the grief, self pity? The recipient of the Coffin award will be someone who shares Coffin's passionate and prophetic witness, a courageous devotion to the dignity and worth of . Every sermon constitutes a powerful reminder of his legacy-challenging the conscience of a nation. But its a fact: few of us are naturally profound. That makes two of us. A different man named Alex Hamilton who was a British broadcaster used the saying in 1978. Rev. William Sloane Coffin. When parents die, as my mother did last month, they take with them a large portion of the past. William Sloane Coffin Jr. offers one more complicated blessing. That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. Q: You preached that wonderful sermon after your son's death, and there were some ideas in there about what is "God's will.". And his body was too badly damaged in the accident for his soul to stay in it anymore, and so he died. We all do what we know how to do, maybe. When a person dies, there are many things that can be said, and there is at least one thing that should never be said. William Sloane Coffin served as chaplain of Yale University and Williams College, was senior minister of Riverside Church, and is President Emeritus of SANE/FREEZE: Campaign for Global Security. And set you at your threshold down, Among the healing flood of letters that followed his death was one carrying this wonderful quote from the end of Hemingways A Farewell to Arms: The world breaks everyone, then some become strong at the broken places. My own broken heart is mending, and largely thanks to so many of you, my dear parishioners; for if in the last week I have relearned one lesson, it is that love not only begets love, it transmits strength. In other word, good patriots are not nationalists. I know all the right biblical passages, including Blessed are those who mourn, and my faith is no house of rest, came from fellow reverends, a few of whom proved they knew their cards; these passages are true, I know. If the order gets mixed up, thats misery. Didnt the eagle find a fresh liver to tear in Prometheus every time it dined?. This album is a collection of prayers from the end of the sermons; 1980-1981. When sorrow walked with me. There are a lot of excuses that people give for not participating more in the kinds of things that you used to lead. Rights and other protest movements he helped lead will be the learning which be. Every time it dined? name is William Sloane Coffin, Jr. we have to be forced.! 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Early-Laurelled head 25 RN: what should the U.S. campaign against nuclear weapons became leader.