what do you say? Rev. A different man named Alex Hamilton who was a British broadcaster used the saying in 1978. I know, but I do not approve, and I am not resigned. 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. When sorrow walked with me. I swear to you, I wouldn't be standing here were I not upheld. . SERMON: Alex's Death, by William Sloane Coffin, Jr. Posted on October 6, 2013. The Rev. 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. This website is the home of the William Sloane Coffin Sermon Archive Project. I'm always puzzled at these Moslem women who wail like Banshees when their terrorist sons are killed as what they believe to be martyrs. For all she had to say. Download. William Sloane Coffin Jr. (June 1, 1924 - April 12, 2006) was an American Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. There are a lot of excuses that people give for not participating more in the kinds of things that you used to lead. And read the poems. Theres such wisdom in these words that Ive found it bears re-reading from time to time. Updated February 2023. Lewis wrote, They say the coward dies many times; so does the beloved. 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. This album is a collection of prayers from the end of the sermons; 1982-1983. But when children die, they take away the future as well. Read more. You gave me what God gives all of us minimum protection, maximum support. 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. Still there is much by way of consolation. I think in the end they pay him a fortune to make the dead go back to their graves. The recipient of the Coffin award will be someone who shares Coffin's passionate and prophetic witness, a courageous devotion to the dignity and worth of . That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. No. These sermons were delivered from the pulpit at Riverside Church, N.Y.C. COFFIN: No. This is the fourth year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. You can purchase individual sermons for $4.42 (includes processing fees). But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. After earth has stopped the ears: Now you will not swell the rout Famously, at the height of that conflict . 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.. Rev. Today's Times asks the inevitable question following the tragic death of at least 26 Polish pilgrims in the French Alps: What kind of God would allow something like this to happen? But violent deaths, such as the one Alex died to understand those is a piece of cake. He attended Deerfield Academy and Phillips Academy Andover before beginning his studies at Yale University in 1942. So set, before its echoes fade, A good question, Suzy. RN: What do you think the churches and the National Council of Churches should be doing that they are not now doing regarding the war-occupation? What do you think it is? 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 And decks the rays. And of course I know, even when pain is deep, that God is good. Yale University's chaplain, the Rev. Hope arouses, as nothing else can arouse, a passion for the possible. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyone's protection, just for everyone's unending support. Like A.E. The use of Gods will or God has chosen to take whatever the phrase has always made me uncomfortable. And the name died before the man. Well compared to heaven isn't all of life suffering? These are some of the popular topics this blog covers. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. As his younger brother put it simply, standing at the head of the casket at the Boston funeral, You blew it, buddy. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born to considerable wealth and social position on June 1, 1924, in New York City. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. 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. Coffin's son, Alex, tragic death in an automobile accident. And that's what happens to the horror of all those townsfolk. And set you at your threshold down, 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. View all William Sloane Coffin Quotes. It is self-interest. But when children die, they take away the future as well. What do you say to those people? Rev. That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. You gave me what God gives all of us minimum protection, maximum support. We all do what we know how to do, maybe. c a m p u s l i f e ; m e s s a g e The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. 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. What makes you think you dont limp?, Love measures our stature. Smart lad, to slip betimes away 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.) Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave. After the death of his wife, C.S. He was ordained in the Presbyterian church and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. But oh, the things I learned from her Robert Browning Hamilton. Different cultures have different views of death. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born on June 1, 1924, in New York City to William Sloane Coffin, Sr. and Catherine Butterfield Coffin. Runners whom renown outran Can you explain what that means for you? MOYERS: Youre not supposed to outlive your children, are you? -- William Sloane Coffin. 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. She chattered all the way; I said. 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 . The answers quick and keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love, A Eulogy for Alex Editor's note: Ten days after his son, Alex, drove off a bridge and was killed in a car accident, Reverend William Sloane Coffin delivered the following sermon to his congregation at Riverside Church in New York City. Of course its a crutch. 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. It seems to me for those believers who grieve, their religion brings them little more comfort than those who don't. Q: As you look back on everything you've done in your wonderful life, what are you most proud of? It is incredible and very powerful. 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.". Didnt the eagle find a fresh liver to tear in Prometheus every time it dined?. William Sloane Coffin Jr. (June 1, 1924 - April 12, 2006) was an American Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. Just click the play button. Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death, Joan Halifax, Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs and Communicatoins of the Dying, How Can I Help? He was 81.. 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. 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. William Sloane Coffin Jr. offers one more complicated blessing. Thanks for posting this. January 6, 1968 Spock and Coffin Indicted For Activity Against Draft By FRED P. GRAHAM . ABERNETHY: I spoke with Coffin about growing old. 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. This is the seventh year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. Something I wrestle with is the balance between pastoral presence and prophetic witness as a minister. and what an inspiring Eulogy by William Sloane Coffin concerning his Son and his Faith. The silence of God over the cross is our model here. And thats what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. God did not bash the truck into your fathers car. 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. (There's words for everything else.) 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. It is self-interest. I was first introduced to this sermon years agoin a college communications course, and I have thought of it with surprising regularityever since. As his younger brother put it simply, standing at the head of the casket at the Boston funeral, You blew it, buddy. I mentioned the healing flood of letters. William Sloane Coffin. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" By a departing light 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. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. But was he a criminal? RN: How is Vermont a model in this respect? You will also find a collection of his prayers that concluded many of his sermons. 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? But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. They are gone. 00:00 $ 75.00 Sermons from Riverside Church 1982 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. So why the grief, self pity? Hello Select your address 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). Crowned with lilies and Laurel they go; but I am not resigned. We only recommend products we genuinely like, and purchases made through our links support our mission and the free content we publish here on AoM. But when children die, they take away the future as well. 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. This album is a collection of prayers from the end of the sermons; 1977-1979. 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.. These sermons were delivered from the pulpit at Riverside Church, N.Y.C. Bill Coffin was such a man. Ive read and re-read this passage many times: I told them, It was an accident. How do you separate patriotism from criticism? 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. Rev. On Saturday afternoon at 1:30, the Rev. Less sceptical commentators may point to mechanical -- and possibly human -- failure on a notoriously dangerous road. So. But the things I learned from her There's something deep in there that involves joy and hope. Hope arouses, as nothing else can arouse, a passion for the possible., I love the recklessness of faith. And decks the rays. William Sloane Coffin challenged the nation with his passionate calls for social justice. 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. And, in spite of all of this, God is wherever love can be found. 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