william sloane coffin eulogy for alex

That clarifies the sight Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. Justice is at the heart of religious faith. So. And of course I know, even when pain is deep, that God is good. William Sloane Coffin Jr. in 1987. You gave me what God gives all of us minimum protection, maximum support. 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. 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. I mentioned the healing flood of letters. What do you think it is? But its a fact: few of us are naturally profound. Sloan from Doonesbury; New Documentary: WWilliam Sloane Coffin: A Lover's . Only reverance can restrain violence - reverance for human life and the environment.". So set, before its echoes fade, I walked a mile with Sorrow William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church, and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. 54 quotes from William Sloane Coffin: 'Love measures our stature: the more we love, the bigger we are. 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. A good question, Suzy. You can purchase individual prayers for $1.34 (includes processing fees). Q: What should we be mindful of when we make defense policy? But when children die, they take away the future as well. Shoulder-high we bring you home, 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. The Theology of William Sloane Coffin. The Rev. Well, so I wanted them to know, they had a pastor. But . "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." 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. The reality of grief is the absence of God "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Another consolation, of course, will be the learning which better be good, given the price. Robert Browning Hamilton. 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. BBC Northern Ireland presenter William Crawley discusses the often controversial political, religious and ethical issues of the day. (Lord Byron). (There's words for everything else.) Stories and Reflections on Service, Ram Dass and Paul Gorman, Knocking on Heavens Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death, Katy Butler, Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, Sogyal Rinpoche. T he Rev. Why are they unhappy if they think he is in paradise with 72 virgins or are they just feeling sorry for themselves? William Sloane Coffin (2003) at Chautauqua Institution 1,555 views Feb 19, 2018 On July 20, 2003, Rev. Wind your head in John!! Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. By a departing light We see acuter quite Than by a wick that stays. William Sloane Coffin, Jr., (born June 1, 1924, New York, New York, U.S.died April 12, 2006, Strafford, Vermont, U.S.), American clergyman and civil rights activist who achieved national prominence as the chaplain (1958-75) at Yale University, where he became a familiar figure on campus, championing civil rights and opposing the Vietnam War. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. Then he moves on to the next town. The night after Alex died I was sitting in the living room of my sister's house outside of Boston, when the front door opened and in came a nice-looking, middle-aged woman, carrying about eighteen quiches. I was first introduced to this sermon years agoin a college communications course, and I have thought of it with surprising regularityever since. Thursday, February 15, 2007. I swear to you, I wouldnt be standing here were I not upheld. Why aren't people in the streets today the way they were in the civil rights movement, the antiwar movement? Either it is god's will or there is no god! Bill Coffin's legacy is ministry . William Sloane Coffin Jr., was arrested several times during the civil rights movement. And there are large accidents, like the one your dad was in. Still there is much by way of consolation. So what is the role of the university chaplain? He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church, and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. William Sloane Coffin. "Eulogy for Alex" by William Sloane Coffin This is the tenth year of the complete 10 year collection of sermons. @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. 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. 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. Q: We've been talking about a lot of big problems. William Sloane Coffin challenged the nation with his passionate calls for social justice. But I also, couldnt think of anything else for the moment, but about Alex, and his death. They accepted that it was god's will. That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. Just click the play button. She chattered all the way; It just happened. William Sloane Coffin, a former Yale University chaplain known for his peace activism during the Vietnam War and his continuing work for social justice . _______________ Reprinted with permission of theWilliam Sloane Coffin Sermon Archive Project. I know how lucky I am! Quotes. And thats what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. And read the poems. But violent deaths, such as the one Alex died to understand those is a piece of cake. The prayers are presented in several multi-year collections. And of course I know, even when pain is deep, that God is good. 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. Alex, as he was called, was killed in a car accident in 1983 when he was only. When a person dies, there are many things that can be said, and there is at least one thing that should never be said. Last year Union Theological Seminary in New York gave him its highest medal. But violent deaths, such as the one Alex died to understand those is a piece of cake. 20. And that's what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. This is amazing. Heres how Coffin explained how he managed to write and deliver this eulogy so soon after his sons death (from an interview with Bill Moyers): COFFIN: Well. Townsman of a stiller town. Another consolation, of course, will be the learning which better be good, given the price. It remains a heartfelt classic in homiletics. Less sceptical commentators may point to mechanical -- and possibly human -- failure on a notoriously dangerous road. William Sloane Coffin also wrote about this in his eulogy for his son, Alex, who was killed in a car accident at age 24. Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave. ABERNETHY: I spoke with Coffin about growing old. by Rev. William Sloane Coffin's Eulogy for Alex This was sent my way as a follow-up on my sermon. What can be done to turn this public support into organized opposition? Coffin delivered his sermon "Eulogy for Alex" at Riversid e Church. 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." View all William Sloane Coffin Quotes. By a departing light I'm sure there must be something somewhere in the Bible which says words to that effect. But the point is this. And then, Im a preacher. The cause of violence is not ignorance. When parents die, as my mother did last month, they take with them a large portion of the past. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. What is the religious challenge at our universities? Fragrant is the blossom. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" And the name died before the man. Very on the point I think. 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. Theres something in the flight That clarifies the sight And decks the rays. These prayers may be purchased separately but they are included in the actual sermons too. 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. He was 81.. Rev. It all makes me wonder if its not a matter of God willing or letting, but more like the laws of nature. Q: It must make you terribly frustrated to see all the things you think are wrong and not being righted, and not be able to play the part in leading those movements that you once did. So, I wrote the sermon about it. I too have thought Gods heart is the first to break. How are you able to look at the world as it is and still have the capacity for feeling joyful? I was first introduced to this sermon years ago in a college communications course, and I have thought of it with surprising regularity ever since. 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). The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love. Yes, but at least, "My God, my God"; and the psalm only begins that way, it doesn't end that way. A formula, A phrase remains.but the best is lost. He became famous while at Yale in the 1960s for his opposition to the Vietnam War. When you scroll down this page you will find all of Bill's Riverside sermons organized by year. When parents die, as my mother did last month, they take with them a large portion of the past. Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. 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 William Sloane Coffin. I mentioned the healing flood of letters. Lewis wrote, They say the coward dies many times; so does the beloved. These are some of the popular topics this blog covers. 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). Would it be abhorrent to find that intensely funny? 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. 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? We see acuter quite MOYERS: Youre not supposed to outlive your children, are you? After the death of his wife, C.S. How does a true Christian operate in a pluralistic world? Q: Let me ask you to look back a little bit at some of the great movements you were part of. I said. Download Sermon Scripture List(84 kb - PDF). But its a fact: few of us are naturally profound. These are all end of sermon prayers from the Sunday sermon delivered at Riverside Church. The civil rights movement: What do you remember with the greatest pleasure or what was the greatest lesson of it? BBC 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. By a departing light 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. Alex. 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. Coffin about his experiences as a Freedom Rider from NPR; Read a transcript of an interview with Rev. That makes two of us. While he was a student, my father heard the feisty William Coffin preach as a young chaplain at Yale. Yale University's chaplain, the Rev. 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. Q: How about your own death? 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. Ill say you dont, lady! I said. Man and boy stood cheering by, And set you at your threshold down, In your prayer life do you tend to direct your prayer life to Jesus or God? Ten days after Alex's death, he delivered this extraordinary sermon to his congregation at Riverside Church in New York City. What should churches be doing in the face of whats going on in our country right now? Elegant and curled -- William Sloane Coffin. What makes you think you dont limp?, Love measures our stature. 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. Protestant preacher William Sloane Coffin after the death of his college-age son in an accident confesses to blowing up at a neighbor. And silence sounds no worse than cheers 15 But when children die, they take away the future as well. 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