William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. Lewis wrote, They say the coward dies many times; so does the beloved. 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." 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. 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. You can stay up to date with Will & Testament via these feeds. 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. But I do not approve. I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the cold ground. But assuming they did, if they hadn't (it was supposed to be god's plan all along) there would be no Christian religion and no savior who died to save everyone else. Q: As you look back on everything you've done in your wonderful life, what are you most proud of? William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. I was moved to tears, to be perfectly honest. Then he moves on to the next town. But I'm an atheist. "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." Click the cart icon next to a prayer in the player below to add a prayer to your cart. So why were they angry? Above all, he condemns what he sees as the country's self-righteousness. Apr 17, 2014 at 12:00 am. Coffin on defense issues from the Center for Defense Information; Read Coffin's eulogy for his son Alex; Relive the past with Rev. "The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love." --- William Sloane Coffin. 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. Why? Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. Every sermon constitutes a powerful reminder of his legacy-challenging the conscience of a nation. I was first introduced to this sermon years agoin a college communications course, and I have thought of it with surprising regularityever since. Q: What should we be mindful of when we make defense policy? I know how lucky I am! If you had a pastoral visit with the president, what would you say? Yale University's chaplain, the 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? #Power Of Love #Truth #Love. 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. Read more. #Ignorance #Self #Violence. The post A Eulogy for Alex appeared first on The Art of Manliness. 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. What do you say to those people? And round that early-laurelled head 25 William Sloane Coffin Jr. (June 1, 1924 - April 12, 2006) was an American Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. Rev. tragic death of at least 26 Polish pilgrims, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Jonathan Merritt and the ethics of "outing". As the . I walked a mile with Sorrow I know, but I do not approve, and I am not resigned. Q: You preached that wonderful sermon after your son's death, and there were some ideas in there about what is "God's will.". All too often we speak when we should be listening Reprinted with permission of theWilliam Sloane Coffin Sermon Archive Project. Justice is at the heart of religious faith. If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. These are some of the popular topics this blog covers. In your prayer life do you tend to direct your prayer life to Jesus or God? Houseman, To an Athlete Dying Young. And I wept and I wept. Townsman of a stiller town. 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.. Alex, as he was called, was killed in a car accident in 1983 when he was only. Robert Browning Hamilton. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. Rev. 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 . 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 decks the rays. 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 I'm not a believer but at least I appreciate when people demonstrate that they actually believe in what they say they do. is the blossom. No matter where they're going or what they're going to experience, the primary reason people mourn a death is because they know they'll miss the person who died and won't see them again. 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 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). Interview with Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. I read someone say recently that this is only a training ground for eternity. Please address any specific reforms that demand priority. 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 . Q: What's the essential connection for you between religious faith and justice? 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. Quotes. See more stories about iPad, HBO, How-To. Refusing to cede the battlefield of morality to conservatives, he argues that "compassion demands . 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. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. 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. I too have thought Gods heart is the first to break. And home we brought you shoulder-high. Podcast #862: Heal the Body With Extended Fasting Podcast #761: How Testosterone Makes Men, Men How Saunas Can Help Save Your Body, Mind, and Spirit Podcast #852: The Brain Energy Theory of Mental Illness This is the third year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyone's protection, just for everyone's unending support. And [a lot of people] think that emotional mediocrity is the good life. Click the cart icon next to a sermon in the player below to add a sermon to your cart. 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. RN: What do you think should be done strategically and tactically by the peace movement? I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. And I wept and I wept. Lewis wrote, They say the coward dies many times; so does the beloved. Because there are no rankling unanswered questions, and because Alex and I simply adored each other, the wound for me is deep, but clean. One of the most powerful statements in this sermon was the following: The reality of grief is the solitude of pain, the feeling that your heart is in pieces, your mind's This album is a collection of prayers from the end of the sermons; 1977-1979. Here If You Need Me by Kate Braestrup is the autobiography of the chaplain for the Maine game warden who herself was widowed with four young children when her husband a state trooper was killed in a car accident. Individual prayers and sermons can be purchased by clicking the cart icon next to each prayer or sermon title. View all William Sloane Coffin Quotes. Theres such wisdom in these words that Ive found it bears re-reading from time to time. You can purchase individual prayers for $1.34 (includes processing fees). The Theology of William Sloane Coffin Thursday, February 15, 2007 Moral lassitude Interview with Religion & Ethics Newsweekly August 27, 2004 Q: You have, in the course of your life, participated in a good many great causes and have done so with a lot of passion. You gave me what God gives all of us minimum protection, maximum support. This is beautiful!!! We see acuter quite BTW, anonymous was I ere I saw Suomynona WTB, but I'm sure you guessed that right away. A powerful eulogy. Rememberallproceeds will go directly to support the WSC scholarships at Union Theological Seminary in N.Y.C. And thats what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. Why would someone grieve for a loved one who is in heaven or in paradise. But the point is this. You gave me what God gives all of us minimum protection, maximum support. c a m p u s l i f e ; m e s s a g e Unfortunately he left the building April 12th, 2006. To be one with the dull, indiscriminate dust. 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. She chattered all the way; After the death of his wife, C.S. And read the poems. The time you won your town the race These prayers may be purchased separately but they are included in the actual sermons too. Bill Coffin was such a man. Alex. The document has moved here. 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