by Rev. 2023 Barbara Becker / All Beings Everywhere. For all she had to say. To them Western attitudes would be incomprehensible. 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. Coffin to his congregation at 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. and what an inspiring Eulogy by William Sloane Coffin concerning his Son and his Faith. He was 81.. Do you think about that? If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. And, in spite of all of this, God is wherever love can be found. "Eulogy for Alex" by William Sloane Coffin 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. Like A.E. 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. They have gone to feed the roses. Rev. Rev. I wrote the sermon. When sorrow walked with me. and Yale Divinity School. 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. BBC Northern Ireland presenter William Crawley discusses the often controversial political, religious and ethical issues of the day. He attended Deerfield Academy and Phillips Academy Andover before beginning his studies at Yale University in 1942. William Sloane Coffin. Then he moves on to the next town. #Power Of Love #Truth #Love. 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. I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the cold ground. Q: Why do you think that is, in the country as a whole? Still there is much by way of consolation. If you aren't sure what RSS is you'll find our beginner's guide to RSS useful. 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. MOYERS: Youre not supposed to outlive your children, are you? 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. If the order gets mixed up, thats misery. I'm puzzled by all of this. Your email address will not be published. Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. Fragrant is the blossom. #Ignorance #Self #Violence. What do you say to those people? Lovers and thinkers into the earth with you. There's something in the flight And there are large accidents, like the one your dad was in. ABERNETHY: I spoke with Coffin about growing old. This is the last year of the complete 10 year collection of sermons. Another consolation, of course, will be the learning which better be good, given the price. And I wept and I wept. RN: Any comparisons between the domestic opposition to the Iraq War/Occupation with the domestic opposition to the Vietnam War? If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. In his younger days he was an athlete, a talented pianist, a CIA agent, and later chaplain of Yale University, where the influence of Reinhold Niebuhr's . William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born to considerable wealth and social position on June 1, 1924, in New York City. And that's what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. Thursday, February 15, 2007. He was ordained in the Presbyterian church and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. 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. To-day, the road all runners come, 5 A powerful eulogy. 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. COFFIN: What this country needs, what I think God wants us to do, is not practice piecemeal charity but engage in wholesale justice. You gave me what God gives all of us minimum protection, maximum support. 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). A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew, I know how lucky I am! We have to be forced down. After the death of his wife, C.S. 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 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). A Prayer by William Sloan Coffin Jr., 1983. 18 Sourced Quotes. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. I swear to you, I wouldnt be standing here were I not upheld. RN: Why do you think most of the anti-war groups stopped their marches in 2004 and became quiescent compared to 2003? This is the seventh year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. Rev. We see acuter quite 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. William Crawley | 12:42 UK time, Friday, 27 July 2007. RN: What do you think should be done strategically and tactically by the peace movement? And decks the rays. And [a lot of people] think that emotional mediocrity is the good life. Only reverance can restrain violence - reverance for human life and the environment.". You can purchase one, four, seven sermons, or you can purchase the whole year or "album". A good question, Suzy. So what is the role of the university chaplain? Would it be abhorrent to find that intensely funny? 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. 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. Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. Q: As you look back on everything you've done in your wonderful life, what are you most proud of? But violent deaths, such as the one Alex died to understand those is a piece of cake. I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. But oh, the things I learned from her 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. When a person dies, there are many things that can be said, and there is at least one thing that should never be said. 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. But oh, the things I learned from her William Sloane Coffin (2003) at Chautauqua Institution 1,555 views Feb 19, 2018 On July 20, 2003, Rev. This invaluable anthology is the first and only collection dedi But was he a criminal? -- William Sloane Coffin. And read the poems. The night after Alex died I was sitting in the living room of my sisters house outside of Boston, when the front door opened and in came a nice-looking, middle-aged woman, carrying about eighteen quiches. When you scroll down this page you will find all of Bill's Riverside sermons organized by year. Contributions to support this project can always be made through PayPal (david@davidcoffin.com). I know that. __________________ 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. The still-defended challenge-cup. The more we love the bigger we are, There is no smaller package in the world than a man all wrapped up in himself.. " 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. If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. 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 was reminded today of this beautiful eulogy by the late William Sloane Coffin for his 24-year-old son, Alex, and I wanted to share it with you. Different cultures have different views of death. April 12, 2006 / 7:32 PM / AP. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. I do hope that many will learn what not to say to a grieving loved one. Rev. Theres something in the flight That clarifies the sight And decks the rays. And of course I know, even when pain is deep, that God is good. At Riverside, the profession of faith is "Jesus is Lord." He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church, and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. As the . Welcome to the sermons and prayers download page. Additionally, a 301 Moved Permanently error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request. 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william sloane coffin eulogy for alex