So why the grief, self pity? Tony Campolo retells an incident involving William Sloane Coffin following the death of his son, Alexander. Well compared to heaven isn't all of life suffering? RN: What should the U.S. government do now? Its presence in my mind has been so frequent, especially recently after the loss of a dear friend, that I finally decided to share it here. Lewis wrote, They say the coward dies many times; so does the beloved. ABERNETHY: I asked Coffin to think back on the civil rights and other protest movements he helped lead. Didnt the eagle find a fresh liver to tear in Prometheus every time it dined?. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind. 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. 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. It withers quicker than the rose. Every sermon constitutes a powerful reminder of his legacy-challenging the conscience of a nation. Ill say you dont, lady! I said. 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. There are small accidents, like knocking over your milk at the dinner table. After the death of his wife, C.S. Still there is much by way of consolation. Lewis wrote, They say the coward dies many times; so does the beloved. 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. 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. The Rev William Sloane Coffin A radical preacher and antiwar activist, he took on the American establishment Christopher Reed Thu 13 Apr 2006 19.04 EDT The upbringing of William Sloane. 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. This album is a collection of prayers from the end of the sermons; 1982-1983. And read the poems. Thanks for posting this. What can be done to turn this public support into organized opposition? And home we brought you shoulder-high. Will was tyring to elicit thoughts about the whole concept of a god's will. _______________ Reprinted with permission of theWilliam Sloane Coffin Sermon Archive Project. 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.". After one year at Yale, Coffin joined the U.S. Army, in which he served until 1947, when he returned to Yale, graduating with a B.A. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. 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 reality of grief is the solitude of pain, the feeling that your heart is in pieces, your mind's a blank, that "there is no joy the world can give like that it takes away." Get All Beings Everywhere delivered to your inbox. And of course I know, even when pain is deep, that God is good. 20. But I do not approve. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. For instance, the Christians persecuted the Jews for nearly two thousand years because as they said, they believed the Jews killed Jesus. I swear to you, I wouldnt be standing here were I not upheld. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born to considerable wealth and social position on June 1, 1924, in New York City. William Sloane Coffin Jr. offers one more complicated blessing. I agree about the need for silence regarding those grieving. I do hope that many will learn what not to say to a grieving loved one. But the things I learned from her 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. And thats what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. ashington, Jan. 5--Five men, including Dr. Benjamin Spock, the author and pediatrician, and the Rev. 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. Robert Browning Hamilton Or, in Emily Dickinsons verse: By a departing light We see acuter quite Than by a wick that stays. You blew it." There's something in the flight MOYERS: Youre not supposed to outlive your children, are you? Lewis wrote, They say the coward dies many times; so does the beloved. View all William Sloane Coffin Quotes. This website is the home of the William Sloane Coffin Sermon Archive Project. The use of Gods will or God has chosen to take whatever the phrase has always made me uncomfortable. How are you able to look at the world as it is and still have the capacity for feeling joyful? I think in the end they pay him a fortune to make the dead go back to their graves. It just happened. 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. 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. Download Sermon Scripture List(84 kb - PDF). I know how you feel I think you raise an important point when you say There are many kinds of silence, and one of them is a humbled, respectful listening silence Required fields are marked *. Never do we know enough to say that. If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. Of course its a crutch. 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). History The company was founded as a rug importer and seller on March 2, 1843 by William Sloane who had just emigrated from Kilmarnock, Scotland, a town famous for weaving fine carpets and rugs. 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 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. This is amazing. This is beautiful!!! 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.) If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. 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 Runners whom renown outran The answers quick and keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love, 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.". During WWII, Coffin joined the army and later served as a CIA agent after the outbreak of the Korean War. The silence of God over the cross is our model here. Listen to an interview with Rev. The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. There's something deep in there that involves joy and hope. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. Rev. These prayers may be purchased separately but they are included in the actual sermons too. That makes two of us. Instantly I was up and in hot pursuit, swarming all over her. Very on the point I think. And silence sounds no worse than cheers 15 William Sloane Coffin challenged the nation with his passionate calls for social justice. W. & J. Sloane was a furniture and rug store in New York City that catered to the wealthy. Additionally, a 301 Moved Permanently error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request. "Eulogy for Alex" by William Sloane Coffin O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Individual prayers and sermons can be purchased by clicking the cart icon next to each prayer or sermon title. I swear to you, I wouldnt be standing here were I not upheld. Another consolation, of course, will be the learning which better be good, given the price. I was impressed by the Amish last year when that young girl was killed. 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