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. 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. First you leap, and then you grow wings." --- William Sloane Coffin. When sorrow walked with me. 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). Well, that really is selfish and here I thought some believers like Christians are supposed to be charitable. 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. Still there is much by way of consolation. 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. COFFIN: No. Theres such wisdom in these words that Ive found it bears re-reading from time to time. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born June 1, 1924, in New York City. This album is a collection of prayers from the end of the sermons; 1982-1983. I also know this day-brightener of a son wouldn't 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. See more stories about iPad, HBO, How-To. Theres something in the flight That clarifies the sight And decks the rays. Quotes. William Sloane Coffin Jr. in 1986. Tony Campolo retells an incident involving William Sloane Coffin following the death of his son, Alexander. 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 . 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. Brett & Kate McKay March 18, 2017 Last updated: June 16, 2021. Elegant and curled The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love. ashington, Jan. 5--Five men, including Dr. Benjamin Spock, the author and pediatrician, and the Rev. 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. Hello Select your address William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born to considerable wealth and social position on June 1, 1924, in New York City. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. 00:00 $ 75.00 Sermons from Riverside Church 1982 That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. 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. Legendary William Sloane Coffin's years at the historic Riverside Church captured in new two-volume collection Louisville, KY-From 1977 through 1987 William Sloane Coffin was the Senior Minister at t . Thursday, February 15, 2007. Last week my senior minister shared with me a sermon dated January 23, 1983 (Palm Sunday) written by William Sloane Coffin. Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. But the things I learned from her Why aren't people in the streets today the way they were in the civil rights movement, the antiwar movement? Nowhere in the scripture does it say, God is car accident or God is death. God is justice and kindness, mercy, and always always love. I swear to you, I wouldnt be standing here were I not upheld. You gave me what God gives all of us minimum protection, maximum support. The woman most in need of liberation is the woman in every man and the man in every woman. The Rev. 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. For. 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. You can purchase one, four, seven sermons, or you can purchase the whole year or "album". Every sermon constitutes a powerful reminder of his legacy-challenging the conscience of a nation. 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 album is a collection of prayers from the end of the sermons; 1980-1981. 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. 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. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church, and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. No. 20. ABERNETHY: Coffin rails at neglect of the poor and U.S. policies in Iraq. 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. 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. 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? While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. We see acuter quite 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. 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. 2023 Barbara Becker / All Beings Everywhere. 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 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. 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." For all she had to say. This is the seventh year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. 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." The fleet foot on the sill of shade, Q: I'm interested in the distinction between a speech and a sermon. 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 the fascinating documentary movie Mondo Cane' which was released in 1962, among the strange and seemingly depraved (to Western eyes) behavior is one segment about old people in China who wait around in the upper floor of a house to die while their families are downstairs at a party celebrating their deaths. "Human unity is not something we are called on to create only something we are called on to recognize." He became famous while at Yale in the 1960s for his opposition to the Vietnam War. And [a lot of people] think that emotional mediocrity is the good life. 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. Your email address will not be published. This is the fourth 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.. While I could never presume to know the answer, I do take comfort in this passage from the author Kate Braestrup, which I wrote in my final post on this blog (below). Individual prayers and sermons can be purchased by clicking the cart icon next to each prayer or sermon title. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. I mentioned the healing flood of letters. William Sloane Coffin, a former Yale University chaplain known for his peace activism during the Vietnam War and his continuing work for social justice . Q: How about your own death? William Sloane Coffin Sr. (April 15, 1879 - December 16, 1933) was an American businessman. Only reverance can restrain violence - reverance for human life and the environment. (There's words for everything else.) 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 As for the theological issues, I agree with William on the need for respectful silence. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyone's protection, just for everyone's unending support. You will also find a collection of his prayers that concluded many of his sermons. If you aren't sure what RSS is you'll find our beginner's guide to RSS useful. 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. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. 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. "William Sloane Coffin offers here a powerful antidote to the politics of the religious right with a clarion call to passive intellectuals and dispirited liberals to reenter the fray with an unabashedly Christian view of social justice. RN: What do you think should be done strategically and tactically by the peace movement? He was a director, and later vice-president of W. & J. Sloane Company, his family's business, which was founded by his grandfather, William Sloane, from Kilmarnock, Scotland. Hope arouses, as nothing else can arouse, a passion for the possible. Yes, but at least, "My God, my God"; and the psalm only begins that way, it doesn't end that way. What do you think it is? Alex. After the death of his wife, C.S. How do you separate patriotism from criticism? Download Sermon Scripture List(84 kb - PDF). In your prayer life do you tend to direct your prayer life to Jesus or God? Another consolation, of course, will be the learning which better be good, given the price. The Theology of William Sloane Coffin. 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. Rss is you 'll find our beginner 's guide to RSS useful the conscience of nation! 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