So why were they angry? For the latest updates across BBC blogs, visit the Blogs homepage. This is amazing. What do you say to those people? We have to be forced down. All too often we speak when we should be listening Bill Coffin's legacy is ministry . Individual prayers and sermons can be purchased by clicking the cart icon next to each prayer or sermon title. By a departing light Didn't the eagle find a fresh liver to tear in Prometheus every time it dined?". Q: I'm interested in the distinction between a speech and a sermon. You can stay up to date with Will & Testament via these feeds. Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave. He was 81. . 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." But the things I learned from her RN: What about the Educational system as it relates to democracy? More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world. so if God doesnt will these things to happen, why does he let them happen? William Sloane Coffin Jr. was an American Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. Why? It is self-interest. For some reason, nothing so infuriates me as the incapacity of seemingly intelligent people to get it through their heads that God doesnt go around this world with his fingers on triggers, his fists around knives, his hands on steering wheels. 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. 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. Listen to an interview with Rev. Itsjust one of those things I think is worth a read by all. For all she had to say. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. I wrote the sermon. Lewis wrote, They say the coward dies many times; so does the beloved. We chaired you through the market-place; 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's social philosophy led him to . William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born to considerable wealth and social position on June 1, 1924, in New York City. Q: Let me ask you to look back a little bit at some of the great movements you were part of. 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 I've 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. And silence sounds no worse than cheers 15 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. This is the second year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. So while trite, it's true: I walked a mile with Pleasure, 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 . A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew, See more stories about iPad, HBO, How-To. 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. The reality of grief is the absence of God "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" 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.. By a departing light But when children die, they take away the future as well. If we (me included) could only get a fraction of a grasp between the difference between time and eternity we would cling much less to time and be closer to God's perspective. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. How do you separate patriotism from criticism? Because there are no rankling unanswered questions, and because Alex and I simply adored each other, the wound for me is deep, but clean. Yale University's chaplain, the Rev. Another consolation, of course, will be the learning which better be good, given the price. I walked a mile with Sorrow January 6, 1968 Spock and Coffin Indicted For Activity Against Draft By FRED P. GRAHAM . Q: Many of us say, "Well, you know, I've got to work hard to support my family, I don't have a lot of time," or "I don't want to seem radical," or "I don't want to cause my neighbors to suspect I'm not fully patriotic." I too have thought Gods heart is the first to break. Different cultures have different views of death. ABERNETHY: Coffin rails at neglect of the poor and U.S. policies in Iraq. Q: What's the essential connection for you between religious faith and justice? There are many kinds of silence, and one of them is a humbled, respectful, listening silence. The woman most in need of liberation is the woman in every man and the man in every woman. Moved Permanently. The cause of violence is not ignorance. If you had a pastoral visit with the president, what would you say? 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. As his younger brother put it simply, standing at the head of the casket at the Boston funeral, "You blew it, buddy. This album is a collection of prayers from the end of the sermons; 1977-1979. 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. While he was a student, my father heard the feisty William Coffin preach as a young chaplain at Yale. 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. Rememberallproceeds will go directly to support the WSC scholarships at Union Theological Seminary in N.Y.C. And set you at your threshold down, 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 . And thats what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. This is the sixth year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. "I'll say you don't, lady!" Until one has personally experienced the loss of a loved one, one can not understand the feelings about the death both positive and negative. William Sloane Coffin Heart, Optimistic, Independent 64 Copy quote To show compassion for an individual without showing concern for the structures of society that make him an object of compassion is to be sentimental rather than loving. In other word, good patriots are not nationalists. The scripture reading for each sermon can be found below in PDF format. Download Sermon Scripture List(84 kb - PDF). The Rev. As his younger brother put it simply, standing at the head of the casket at the Boston funeral, You blew it, buddy. 18 Sourced Quotes. Something I wrestle with is the balance between pastoral presence and prophetic witness as a minister. How much suffering? You gave me what God gives all of us minimum protection, maximum support. 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. When parents die, as my mother did last month, they take with them a large portion of the past. It is difficult to know how to theologise about a tragedy of this order without descending into cliche, trivialisation or offensiveness. You blew it." What makes you think you dont limp?, Love measures our stature. But its a fact: few of us are naturally profound. But its a fact: few of us are naturally profound. Theres something in the flight That clarifies the sight And decks the rays. The more we love the bigger we are, There is no smaller package in the world than a man all wrapped up in himself.. 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. And the name died before the man. 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. The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. c a m p u s l i f e ; m e s s a g e Coffin questioned authority throughout his career, using civil . A powerful eulogy. Because there are no rankling unanswered questions, and because Alex and I simply adored each other, the wound for me is deep, but clean. Continue the suffering of living in preference to going to heaven just so you'll have their company around. I walked a mile with Sorrow It is self-interest. I know how lucky I am! A Prayer by William Sloan Coffin Jr., 1983. Still there is much by way of consolation. But I'm an atheist. Rev. Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. 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. As his younger brother put it simply, standing at the head of the casket at the Boston funeral, You blew it, buddy. This is the seventh year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. Well, so I wanted them to know, they had a pastor. 20. by Rev. 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. http://dlvr.it/Ng3r8d. April 12, 2006 / 7:32 PM / AP. Elegant and curled 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." 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. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. Want to start taking action on the content you read on AoM? Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. To be one with the dull, indiscriminate dust. They have gone to feed the roses. And neer a word said she; If you are interested in purchasing the whole collection on aDVD Data Discplease contact me byemail. 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 . To-day, the road all runners come, 5 Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. 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.. This reflects what that discomfort is and so nice to read it was written by a Reverend. I have a little sentence or two, about the Chinese Emperor who sent his wise man off for a month, to figure out, what is happiness? I was moved to tears, to be perfectly honest. 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 sermon to his congregation at Riverside Church in New York City. During WWII, Coffin joined the army and later served as a CIA agent after the outbreak of the Korean War. William Sloane Coffin Jr. (June 1, 1924 - April 12, 2006) was an American Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. 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 . She chattered all the way; Rev. I swear to you, I wouldnt be standing here were I not upheld. Alex, as he was called, was killed in a car accident in 1983 when he was only. Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead, Do you think about that? 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. 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. Fragrant is the blossom. Refusing to cede the battlefield of morality to conservatives, he argues that "compassion demands . Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. William Sloane Coffin Jr. offers one more complicated blessing. 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. He became famous while at Yale in the 1960s for his opposition to the Vietnam War. William Sloane Coffin Jr., was arrested several times during the civil rights movement. And the folks in Riverside Church had to know whether or not they still had a pastor. Why would someone grieve for a loved one who is in heaven or in paradise. 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. The fact you find that puzzling makes me glad not to be in your family! 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. Receive small business resources and advice about entrepreneurial info, home based business, business franchises and startup opportunities for entrepreneurs. And thats what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. And find unwithered on its curls 00:00 $ 75.00 Sermons from Riverside Church 1982 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. Love without criticism is a kind of betrayal. 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. RN: Why do you think most of the anti-war groups stopped their marches in 2004 and became quiescent compared to 2003? The Theology of William Sloane Coffin. 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. 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. I know how lucky I am! BBC Northern Ireland presenter William Crawley discusses the often controversial political, religious and ethical issues of the day. ( 84 kb - PDF ), was arrested several times during the civil movement! 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