It is truly a labor of love (a lot of labor; a lot of love) to digitally "Save Bill's Voice." Delivered from the Riverside Church pulpit over his ten years as senior minister, there were over 300 sermons in need of archiving to a digital format. Smart lad, to slip betimes away RN: What about the Educational system as it relates to democracy? William Sloane Coffin, a United Church of Christ Minister known globally for his peace and justice advocacy, died April 12, 2006, at his home in rural Strafford, Vt. Details are given further below. A formula, A phrase remains.but the best is lost. " William Sloan Coffin, who died yesterday at 81, was among the foremost pacifists of his generation, and set the mold for the liberal activist preacher ." Coffin, the model for Doonesbury's Reverend Sloan, was a Freedom Rider, Yale chaplain, champion for social justice and one of the most respected leaders of the anti-Vietnam war movement. 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. Lewis wrote, They say the coward dies many times; so does the beloved. 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). I'm puzzled by all of this. By a departing light And then, Im a preacher. Itsjust one of those things I think is worth a read by all. Editor's note: Ten days after his son, Alex, drove off a bridge and was killed in a car accident, Reverend William Sloane Coffin delivered the following sermon to his congregation at Riverside Church in New York City. And Christ spent an inordinate amount of time delivering people from paralysis, insanity, leprosy, and muteness. But when children die, they take away the future as well. But when children die, they take away the future as well. In your prayer life do you tend to direct your prayer life to Jesus or God? How does a true Christian operate in a pluralistic world? Famously, at the height of that conflict . 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.. You can purchase individual prayers for $1.34 (includes processing fees). Either it is god's will or there is no god! 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. But the things I learned from her And silence sounds no worse than cheers 15 These sermons were delivered from the pulpit at Riverside Church, N.Y.C. Runners whom renown outran When she saw me, she shook her head, then headed for the kitchen, saying sadly over her shoulder, "I just don't understand the will of God." That makes two of us. 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. I'm sure there must be something somewhere in the Bible which says words to that effect. (Lord Byron). Continue the suffering of living in preference to going to heaven just so you'll have their company around. Didnt the eagle find a fresh liver to tear in Prometheus every time it dined?. Required fields are marked *. The title of the sermon is "Alex's Death" and it comes on the heals of Rev. Among the healing flood of letters that followed his death was one carrying this wonderful quote from the end of Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms": "The world breaks everyone, then some become strong at the broken places.". It is self-interest. The Theology of William Sloane Coffin Thursday, February 15, 2007 Eulogy for Alex 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. So he has a hand in making our lives better but not worse? And thats what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. The question seems more pointed given the context -- a group of devout believers making a religious pilgrimage -- but the same question is struggled over every day by people of faith who experience suffering or have to watch a loved one suffer. I was impressed by the Amish last year when that young girl was killed. Actually, its even more worth a listen; its considerably more powerful inthe oral form in which it was delivered, and the audio can be accessed here. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. Thats why immediately after such a tragedy people must come to your rescue, people who only want to hold your hand, not to quote anybody or even say anything, people who simply bring food and flowers the basics of beauty and life people who sign letters simply, Your brokenhearted sister. In other words, in my intense grief I felt some of my fellow reverends not many, and none of you, thank God were using comforting words of Scripture for self-protection, to pretty up a situation whose bleakness they simply couldnt face. God is dead set against all unnatural deaths. Welcome to the sermons and prayers download page. Ill say you dont, lady! I said. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. 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. But if anyone dare speak in response to this tragic accident, they could learn much from William Sloane Coffin, the American justice activist who died last year, about what not to say to someone whose heart is breaking. So people are feeling sorry for themselves instead of happy for the one they believe is now in heaven. Very on the point I think. William Sloane Coffin Jr., chaplain of Yale University, were indicted today on charges of conspiring to counsel young men to violate the draft laws. I know how lucky I am! The Blessing of Grace by The Rev. Of late there have been a few deaths of former classmates or their spouses and what has struck me is how often God is at the helm of these deaths. Another consolation, of course, will be the learning which better be good, given the price. January 6, 1968 Spock and Coffin Indicted For Activity Against Draft By FRED P. GRAHAM . But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. Theres such wisdom in these words that Ive found it bears re-reading from time to time. But when children die, they take away the future as well. She chattered all the way; This is the fifth year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. 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.. Less sceptical commentators may point to mechanical -- and possibly human -- failure on a notoriously dangerous road. One of the most powerful statements in this sermon was the following: The reality of grief is the solitude of pain, the feeling that your heart is in pieces, your mind's Download Sermon Scripture List(84 kb - PDF). How much suffering? Rev. On Saturday afternoon at 1:30, the Rev. Listen to an interview with Rev. Embed. And Christ spent an inordinate amount of time delivering people from paralysis, insanity, leprosy, and muteness. William Sloane Coffin also wrote about this in his eulogy for his son, Alex, who was killed in a car accident at age 24. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. But . This is amazing. I read someone say recently that this is only a training ground for eternity. We all do what we know how to do, maybe. The scripture reading for each sermon can be found below in PDF format. These prayers may be purchased separately but they are included in the actual sermons too. This is the second year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. But the point is this. I think it will serve as a reminder of many stupid things we all have said to people who are grieving the main one probably being This album is a collection of prayers from the end of the sermons; 1977-1979. Today's Times asks the inevitable question following the tragic death of at least 26 Polish pilgrims in the French Alps: What kind of God would allow something like this to happen? Cars skid out of control on icy roads, healthy cells are consumed by cancerous ones. And that's what happens to the horror of all those townsfolk. When sorrow walked with me. But the point is this. "A spiritual person tries less to be godly than to be deeply . Q: You preached that wonderful sermon after your son's death, and there were some ideas in there about what is "God's will.". Still there is much by way of consolation. Because there are no rankling unanswered questions, and because Alex and I simply adored each other, the wound for me is deep, but clean. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church, and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. The prayers are presented in several multi-year collections. And ne'er a word said she; That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. Thousands of people have died without the benefit of a poetic father! Gracious God, whose own Son's term of service to humanity was so full that its brevity was no distress, we call to mind on this Memorial Sunday those "who will not grow old as we who are left to grow old," those whose lives were too brief for us but long enough, perhaps, for thee. by Rev. Thursday, February 15, 2007. Because there are no rankling unanswered questions, and because Alex and I simply adored each other, the wound for me is deep, but clean. #Power Of Love #Truth #Love. 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. 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. After the death of his wife, C.S. RN: What do you think should be done strategically and tactically by the peace movement? Not because our diverse readership will agree with all of its theological underpinnings, but because I think it offers wise advice on what to say (and not say) when someone dies tragically, a poignant window on the human experience, and a lesson in the art of effective rhetoric(hence why we were discussing it in a communications class). The garland briefer than a girls. Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. RN: Any comparisons between the domestic opposition to the Iraq War/Occupation with the domestic opposition to the Vietnam War? Every sermon constitutes a powerful reminder of his legacy-challenging the conscience of a nation. William Sloane Coffin. ABERNETHY: I asked Coffin to think back on the civil rights and other protest movements he helped lead. William Sloane Coffin, who died Wednesday at the age of 81 of congestive heart failure, was known as a civil rights activist and outspoken critic of the Vietnam War. Ralph Nader: With the majority of Americans in poll after poll turning against the U.S. war and occupation in Iraq and with many retired Generals, diplomats and intelligence officials opposed to the invasion in the first instance why is the organized opposition not greater? Individual prayers and sermons can be purchased by clicking the cart icon next to each prayer or sermon title. The time you won your town the race William Sloane Coffin Sr. (April 15, 1879 - December 16, 1933) was an American businessman. William Sloane Coffin Compassion, Sentimental, Individual William Sloane Coffin (2004). Last year Union Theological Seminary in New York gave him its highest medal. Podcast #862: Heal the Body With Extended Fasting Podcast #761: How Testosterone Makes Men, Men How Saunas Can Help Save Your Body, Mind, and Spirit Podcast #852: The Brain Energy Theory of Mental Illness William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born on June 1, 1924, in New York City to William Sloane Coffin, Sr. and Catherine Butterfield Coffin. Q: Your faith and the nature of God and God's love -- what is the bedrock there for you? That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. So, I wrote the sermon about it. 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. I mentioned the healing flood of letters. We have to be forced down. But violent deaths, such as the one Alex died to understand those is a piece of cake. Didnt the eagle find a fresh liver to tear in Prometheus every time it dined?. And thats what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. _______________ Reprinted with permission of theWilliam Sloane Coffin Sermon Archive Project. in 1949. In my email signature, I have this quote by him: The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love.. It all makes me wonder if its not a matter of God willing or letting, but more like the laws of nature. There is no god!! God did not bash the truck into your fathers car. Read more. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church, and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. William Sloane Coffin Jr. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. (born 1924) was a Yale University chaplain who spoke out against the Vietnam War and was indicted as a criminal by the United States government for conspiring to aid young men to avoid the military draft.. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born to considerable wealth and social position on June 1, 1924, in New York City. 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 worlds army of the bereaved. He liked it here. The use of Gods will or God has chosen to take whatever the phrase has always made me uncomfortable. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. 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). Additionally, a 301 Moved Permanently error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request. Another consolation, of course, will be the learning which better be good, given the price. Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead, Why would someone grieve for a loved one who is in heaven or in paradise. Nationalism at the expense of another nation, is just as wicked as racism at the expense of another race. They are gone. These sermons were delivered from the pulpit at Riverside Church, N.Y.C. A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew, Bill Coffin's legacy is ministry . This is the eighth year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. 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. and what an inspiring Eulogy by William Sloane Coffin concerning his Son and his Faith. We have to be forced down. This brings up additional illogic in religion. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. There are a lot of excuses that people give for not participating more in the kinds of things that you used to lead. No matter where they're going or what they're going to experience, the primary reason people mourn a death is because they know they'll miss the person who died and won't see them again. Seems a good deal for him - get all the praise when things go our way but none of the blame when things go wrong due to no fault of our own. Still there is much by way of consolation. When a person dies, there are many things that can be said, and there is at least one thing that should never be said. very good question Anne. In this best-seller, Coffin gives a powerful record of his remarkable public life, offering his. 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. what do you say? The reality of grief is the absence of God "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" William Sloane Coffin Jr. (June 1, 1924 - April 12, 2006) was an American Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. I feel scorched by how much he insists on truthfulness in grief. They said it was god's will, that she is in heaven now and they moved on without the tearjerking remorse many who call them true believers in a faith feel. And the folks in Riverside Church had to know whether or not they still had a pastor. When its true and painful, say it softly, None of us have the right to avert our gaze. And early though the laurel grows And home we brought you shoulder-high. But its a fact: few of us are naturally profound. That's why immediately after such a tragedy people must come to your rescue, people who only want to hold your hand, not to quote anybody or even say anything, people who simply bring food and flowers the basics of beauty and life people who sign letters simply, "Your brokenhearted sister." William Sloane Coffin. Coffin questioned authority throughout his career, using civil . He was ordained in the Presbyterian church and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. Houseman, To an Athlete Dying Young. And I wept and I wept. Will was tyring to elicit thoughts about the whole concept of a god's will. A different man named Alex Hamilton who was a British broadcaster used the saying in 1978. Rev. So why the grief, self pity? There was a funny one on the Twilight Zone where as I recall, the story opens with people from all over a small Western town sitting around in a bar lamenting the loss of their beloved dearly departed. After earth has stopped the ears: Now you will not swell the rout I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. The cause of violence is not ignorance. Want to start taking action on the content you read on AoM? 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. In his younger days he was an athlete, a talented pianist, a CIA officer, and later chaplain of Yale University, where the influence of H. Richard Niebuhr . I know how lucky I am! 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. The Collected Sermons of William Sloane Coffin By William Sloane Coffin Book Review An impressive collection of sermons by William Sloan Coffin delivered from 1977 to 1982. Letters to a Young Doubter By William Sloane Coffin Book Review Letters by the inimitable Christian progressive on faith, doubt, Jesus, and the insanities of a world awash . By a departing light Of course its a crutch. After the death of his wife, C.S. Hope arouses, as nothing else can arouse, a passion for the possible. I know. But the things I learned from her 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 . tragic death of at least 26 Polish pilgrims, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Jonathan Merritt and the ethics of "outing". 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. 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 worlds army of the bereaved. 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. "The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love." --- William Sloane Coffin. ), Podcast #858: The Affectionate, Ambiguous, and Surprisingly Ambivalent Relationship Between Siblings, How to Fight Entitlement and Develop Gratitude in Your Kids, How and Why to Hold a Weekly Marriage Meeting, You Dont Have to Be Your Dad: How to Become Your Familys Transitional Character, Podcast #810: How to Turn a Boy Into a Man, Sunday Firesides: Climb the Ladder of Love, Podcast #865: How to Win Friends and Influence People in the 21st Century, Podcast #863: Key Insights From the Longest Study on Happiness, Podcast #875: Authority Is More Important Than Social Skills, Podcast #874: Throw a 2-Hour Cocktail Party That Can Change Your Life, 9 Mental Distortions That Are Sabotaging Your Social Life, How to Make the Perfect Snowball: An Illustrated Guide, Podcast #869: The Survival Myths That Can Get You Killed, Skill of the Week: Survive Falling Through Ice, Podcast #848: The 5 Priorities of Short-Term Survival, William Sloane Coffin Sermon Archive Project, Man Knowledge: Legends of the Northwest Mountain Men, A Simple Guide to Writing and Delivering a Eulogy, A Kind of, Sort of Eulogy for the Declarative Sentence, 30 Days to a Better Man Day 21: Write Your Own Eulogy, Man Knowledge: 5 Pirates Every Man Should Know. William Sloane Coffin, a former Yale University chaplain known for his peace activism during the Vietnam War and his continuing work for social justice . William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born to considerable wealth and social position on June 1, 1924, in New York City. #Firsts #Leap #Wings. But the point is this. That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Unfortunately he left the building April 12th, 2006. My dad, who became a doctor, has a weathered copy of Alexs Death which he has xeroxed on many occasions to give to friends and colleagues experiencing loss. ashington, Jan. 5--Five men, including Dr. Benjamin Spock, the author and pediatrician, and the Rev. The still-defended challenge-cup. RN: Why do you think most of the anti-war groups stopped their marches in 2004 and became quiescent compared to 2003? When you scroll down this page you will find all of Bill's Riverside sermons organized by year. Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave. Click the cart icon next to a prayer in the player below to add a prayer to your cart. c a m p u s l i f e ; m e s s a g e William Sloane Coffin Jr., a Presbyterian minister and social activist who was an outspoken leader of the civil rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s and '70s, died Wednesday at his . I too have thought Gods heart is the first to break. But just one thing before you read it Heres one of my favorite Coffin-isms, from an interview with Bill Moyers when Coffin was 80: Chirping optimism is terrible. Than by a wick that stays. Below you will find one of my favorite sermons "Preached from the Piano Bench" at Riverside Church. William Sloane Coffin Jr. (June 1, 1924 - April 12, 2006) was an American Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. Reverend William Sloane Coffin was an outspoken minister, long-time civil rights advocate, and international peace movement activist. This is the tenth year of the complete 10 year collection of sermons. When she saw me, she shook her head, then headed for the kitchen, saying sadly over her shoulder, I just dont understand the will of God. Instantly I was up and in hot pursuit, swarming all over her. So why were they angry? What can be done to turn this public support into organized opposition? @art-of-manliness / art-of-manliness.tumblr.com, Editors note: Ten days after his son, Alex, drove off a bridgeand was killed in a car accident, Reverend William Sloane Coffin delivered the following sermon to his congregation at Riverside Church in New York City. I agree about the need for silence regarding those grieving. Robert Browning Hamilton Or, in Emily Dickinsons verse: By a departing light We see acuter quite Than by a wick that stays. Ten days after Alex's death, he delivered this extraordinary sermon to his congregation at Riverside Church in New York City. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. (born 1924) was a Yale University chaplain who spoke out against the Vietnam War and was indicted as a criminal by the United States government for conspiring to aid young men to avoid the military draft. For all she had to say. COFFIN: What this country needs, what I think God wants us to do, is not practice piecemeal charity but engage in wholesale justice. You can stay up to date with Will & Testament via these feeds. All too often we speak when we should be listening The Rev. #Hope #Passion. Lewis wrote, "They say 'the coward dies many times'; so does the beloved. A good question, Suzy. 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. This is the sixth year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. Anonymous- I think people are grieving because they're sad to see someone go. Realist- I'm struggling to understand how what you said relates to anything I posted above whatsoever. Will or william sloane coffin eulogy for alex is no God me, and later received ministerial standing in the player below add. And ne'er a word said she ; that is what makes the valley of the Riverside Church had know. A word said she ; that is what makes the valley of complete... `` my God, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ''... How much he insists on truthfulness in grief, my God, hast! 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