Rev. #Hope #Passion. 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 use of Gods will or God has chosen to take whatever the phrase has always made me uncomfortable. These are all end of sermon prayers from the Sunday sermon delivered at Riverside Church. What should churches be doing in the face of whats going on in our country right now? 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'm sure there must be something somewhere in the Bible which says words to that effect. Yes, but at least, "My God, my God"; and the psalm only begins that way, it doesn't end that way. 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. These prayers may be purchased separately but they are included in the actual sermons too. When a person dies, there are many things that can be said, and there is at least one thing that should never be said. 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.. Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. Will was tyring to elicit thoughts about the whole concept of a god's will. The Blessing of Grace by The Rev. And thats what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. But violent deaths, such as the one Alex died to understand those is a piece of cake. is the blossom. They accepted that it was god's will. 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. I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Lewis wrote, They say the coward dies many times; so does the beloved. William Sloane Coffin. Moved Permanently. William Sloane Coffin was a man with a wild career: he fought in World War II, worked for the CIA after the war, became a "man of the cloth", was thrown in jail as a civil rights marcher with Dr. Martin Luther King, and was an academic, author, and an activist. Only reverance can restrain violence - reverance for human life and the environment. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. Welcome to the sermons and prayers download page. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyone's protection, just for everyone's unending support. Rev. When parents die, as my mother did last month, they take with them a large portion of the past. As for the theological issues, I agree with William on the need for respectful silence. God is dead set against all unnatural deaths. I do hope that many will learn what not to say to a grieving loved one. But the point is this. 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. And that's what happens to the horror of all those townsfolk. I mentioned the healing flood of letters. Famously, at the height of that conflict . Runners whom renown outran #Ignorance #Self #Violence. Shoulder-high we bring you home, Man and boy stood cheering by, "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. what do you say? So if someone says, "Are you saved?" ABERNETHY: I spoke with Coffin about growing old. But oh, the things I learned from her When its true and painful, say it softly, None of us have the right to avert our gaze. You blew it. The one thing that should never be said when someone dies is It is the will of God. Never do we know enough to say that. But violent deaths, such as the one Alex died to understand those is a piece of cake. 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. For all she had to say. Individual prayers and sermons can be purchased by clicking the cart icon next to each prayer or sermon title. 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 RN: What should the U.S. government do now? Robert Browning Hamilton. 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. Didnt the eagle find a fresh liver to tear in Prometheus every time it dined? When parents die, as my mother did last month, they take with them a large portion of the past. 20. Rev. The more we love the bigger we are, There is no smaller package in the world than a man all wrapped up in himself.. Elegant and curled If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. A powerful eulogy. 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 . Ill say you dont, lady! I said. These are some of the popular topics this blog covers. You can purchase one, four, seven sermons, or you can purchase the whole year or "album". "Hope arouses, as nothing else can arouse, a passion for the possible.". very good question Anne. 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. Every sermon constitutes a powerful reminder of his legacy-challenging the conscience of a nation. But . Receive small business resources and advice about entrepreneurial info, home based business, business franchises and startup opportunities for entrepreneurs. 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. Can you explain what that means for you? Reprinted with permission of theWilliam Sloane Coffin Sermon Archive Project. " 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. 54 quotes from William Sloane Coffin: 'Love measures our stature: the more we love, the bigger we are. The scripture reading for each sermon can be found below in PDF format. 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. William Sloane Coffin. Embed. So what is the role of the university chaplain? You blew it. The one thing that should never be said when someone dies is It is the will of God. Never do we know enough to say that. We all do what we know how to do, maybe. SERMON: Alex's Death, by William Sloane Coffin, Jr. Posted on October 6, 2013. 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.". Why would someone grieve for a loved one who is in heaven or in paradise. After earth has stopped the ears: Now you will not swell the rout And round that early-laurelled head 25 Rev. Seems a good deal for him - get all the praise when things go our way but none of the blame when things go wrong due to no fault of our own. It seems to me for those believers who grieve, their religion brings them little more comfort than those who don't. 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. . What can be done to turn this public support into organized opposition? Did you perhaps mistake me for someone else?? 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). I know that. But I do not approve. Download. 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. You can purchase individual prayers for $1.34 (includes processing fees). If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. 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). For the latest updates across BBC blogs, visit the Blogs homepage. Because there are no rankling unanswered questions, and because Alex and I simply adored each other, the wound for me is deep, but clean. They said it was god's will, that she is in heaven now and they moved on without the tearjerking remorse many who call them true believers in a faith feel. 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. ABERNETHY: In our conversation, Coffin quoted words he liked, words he attributed to Irenaeus, an early church father: "The glory of God is a human being fully alive." I know, but I do not approve, and I am not resigned. How does a true Christian operate in a pluralistic world? -- William Sloane Coffin. Than by a wick that stays. I swear to you, I wouldnt be standing here were I not upheld. Of lads that wore their honours out, 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? Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind; That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. I mentioned the healing flood of letters. (Lord Byron). But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. William Sloane Coffin. Very on the point I think. @art-of-manliness / art-of-manliness.tumblr.com, 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. I feel scorched by how much he insists on truthfulness in grief. It is self-interest. I know how lucky I am! 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 is amazing. 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? But was he a criminal? When parents die, as my mother did last month, they take with them a large portion of the past. Q: Your faith and the nature of God and God's love -- what is the bedrock there for you? 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. Another consolation, of course, will be the learning which better be good, given the price. 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