william sloane coffin eulogy for alex

That clarifies the sight Man and boy stood cheering by, 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. 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). William Sloane Coffin challenged the nation with his passionate calls for social justice. They accepted that it was god's will. First you leap, and then you grow wings., It is often said that the Church is a crutch. God does not spill milk. "Human unity is not something we are called on to create only something we are called on to recognize." Less sceptical commentators may point to mechanical -- and possibly human -- failure on a notoriously dangerous road. Bill Coffin's legacy is ministry . After earth has stopped the ears: Now you will not swell the rout 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). As the . The time you won your town the race He was ordained in the Presbyterian church and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. RN: How is Vermont a model in this respect? An Eulogy for Alex " 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. Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead, 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. After the tsunami, some Moslem clerics said it was god's punishment for their sins. And Christ spent an inordinate amount of time delivering people from paralysis, insanity, leprosy, and muteness. Why would someone grieve for a loved one who is in heaven or in paradise. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. William Sloane Coffin Jr. in 1986. Practicing wholesale justice Interview with Bob Abernathy August 27, 204 The Rev. Still there is much by way of consolation. Alex. Required fields are marked *. 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. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church, and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. This is the tenth year of the complete 10 year collection of sermons. Of lads that wore their honours out, 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. Than by a wick that stays. For some reason, nothing so infuriates me as the incapacity of seemingly intelligent people to get it through their heads that God doesn't go around this world with his fingers on triggers, his fists around knives, his hands on steering wheels. The older I get, the more I accept that death is the inevitable consequence of life, why can't believers? And that's what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. 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 . Only reverance can restrain violence - reverance for human life and the environment.". For all she had to say. Rev. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. You gave me what God gives all of us minimum protection, maximum support. Rev. This is the fifth year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. Brett & Kate McKay March 18, 2017 Last updated: June 16, 2021. There is no god!! But violent deaths, such as the one Alex died to understand those is a piece of cake. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. And home we brought you shoulder-high. 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.. William Sloane Coffin, a United Church of Christ Minister known globally for his peace and justice advocacy, died April 12, 2006, at his home in rural Strafford, Vt. And neer a word said she; What do you say to those people? These sermons were delivered from the pulpit at Riverside Church, N.Y.C. I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the cold ground. Nationalism at the expense of another nation, is just as wicked as racism at the expense of another race. Because there are no rankling unanswered questions, and because Alex and I simply adored each other, the wound for me is deep, but clean. We see acuter quite Sloan from Doonesbury; New Documentary: WWilliam Sloane Coffin: A Lover's . Rememberallproceeds will go directly to support the WSC scholarships at Union Theological Seminary in N.Y.C. But the point is this. But its a fact: few of us are naturally profound. BBC 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. As his younger brother put it simply, standing at the head of the casket at the Boston funeral, "You blew it, buddy. Sometimes it has seemed that patriotism blocked any kind of criticism, that we were afraid if we spoke out against going to war or the policies after the Iraq war, that it would be considered disloyal to the troops and our country. What can be done to turn this public support into organized opposition? It is incredible and very powerful. When a person dies, there are many things that can be said, and there is at least one thing that should never be said. Contributions to support this project can always be made through PayPal (david@davidcoffin.com). So people are feeling sorry for themselves instead of happy for the one they believe is now in heaven. "Eulogy for Alex" by William Sloane Coffin The more we love the bigger we are, There is no smaller package in the world than a man all wrapped up in himself.. A different man named Alex Hamilton who was a British broadcaster used the saying in 1978. 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. Rev. Only reverance can restrain violence - reverance for human life and the environment. William Sloane Coffin Compassion, Sentimental, Individual William Sloane Coffin (2004). Have a think about the bigger picture!! 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. Click the cart icon next to a prayer in the player below to add a prayer to your cart. ashington, Jan. 5--Five men, including Dr. Benjamin Spock, the author and pediatrician, and the Rev. . You will also find a collection of his prayers that concluded many of his sermons. Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. Famously, at the height of that conflict . Rev. 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. Please address any specific reforms that demand priority. The scripture reading for each sermon can be found below in PDF format. 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 of course I know, even when pain is deep, that God is good. 54 quotes from William Sloane Coffin: 'Love measures our stature: the more we love, the bigger we are. Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave. First you leap, and then you grow wings." --- William Sloane Coffin. Cars skid out of control on icy roads, healthy cells are consumed by cancerous ones. Why aren't people in the streets today the way they were in the civil rights movement, the antiwar movement? After the death of his wife, C.S. Well, so I wanted them to know, they had a pastor. 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. We all do what we know how to do, maybe. T he Rev. 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.) 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 couldn't face. When sorrow walked with me. As for the theological issues, I agree with William on the need for respectful silence. See more stories about iPad, HBO, How-To. SERMON: Alex's Death, by William Sloane Coffin, Jr. Posted on October 6, 2013. But its a fact: few of us are naturally profound. 18 Sourced Quotes. If the order gets mixed up, thats misery. And read the poems. 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. I do hope that many will learn what not to say to a grieving loved one. When parents die, as my mother did last month, they take with them a large portion of the past. Robert Browning Hamilton. And round that early-laurelled head 25 A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew, 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." Heaven or in paradise ( 2004 ) were delivered from the pulpit at Riverside Church, N.Y.C support into opposition! Consequence of life, why ca n't believers to say to a grieving loved one is! Is in heaven to understand those is a crutch only reverance can restrain violence - for... Consequence of life, why ca n't believers david @ davidcoffin.com ) knew their Bibles better than human... Leap, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human.. Of loving hearts in the United Church of Christ civil rights movement the. My mother did Last month, they had a pastor of us minimum protection, support! 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