This Little Light of Ours:
A Sermon Preached by the Rev. Susan Allison-Hatch

Three weeks ago, our kids made a banner—a huge banner of sparkle and light and golden threads.  The light of Christ shinning in the darkness.  They made the banner for you and me.  Tonight, our kids greeted us with pieces of that banner.  Tokens of Christ’s light.   

Today the Church celebrates the Great Feast of Epiphany.  It’s one of the oldest celebrations in the church calendar—older even than Christmas!  Long before there were Nativity sets or Christmas trees or Midnight mass on Christmas Eve or Santa or St. Nick or even presents under the tree, there were celebrations marking Epiphany—the shining and showing of Christ’s light in the world—a light so bright that it demands not one day or twelve days of Christmas but an entire church season; a light so bright that it shines through all of us and all who have ever followed Christ.  You and I, we each carry within us part of Christ’s light.  Like Christ, we carry God’s light to the world. 
 
Think of it—each of us and those wise ones too—beacons and bearers of that light. 
Think of it—God’s light shining in each of us in our own particular and sometimes peculiar way.  George’s and Meranda’s and Shakei’s light.  Crystal’s and Jeremy’s and Silas’s light.  Lissa’s light and Pat’s and Shawntelle’s too.  Will’s light and Terese’s, Zoe’s  light and Mara’s , Sally’s, Mary Lou’s and Elena’s too.  Christy’s and Crystal’s shining lights.  Susanna’s, Scott’s, Tim’s, David’s and Dennis’s.  Yours and mine and all of our lights—like those panels on the ball they drop on New Year’s Eve—each brilliant and beautiful and unique.   

Perhaps you know the song, “This Little Light of Mine.”  It starts like this:
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Each of us—each and every one of us and those wise ones of old as well—has a light to shine.  Like the song implies we have to decide to let it shine.  
Won’t let Satan blow it out,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Won’t let Satan blow it out,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Sometimes we have to be really determined to let our light shine.  There are folks and forces that want to snuff it out.

Won’t let bullies snuff it out,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Won’t let bullies snuff it out,
I’m gonna let shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Sometimes we feel so down, so depressed, it’s hard to let our light shine.

Won’t let sadness darken it,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Won’t let sadness darken it,
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

And sometimes times get hard—so hard you think the light’s gone out.

Won’t let hard times snuff it out,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Won’t let hard times snuff it out,
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

But that light’s not only our light—that light is part of God’s light.  God’s light does not go out. 

All around St. Michael’s Church
I’m gonna let it shine.
All around St. Michael’s Church,
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Ours are lights that light the world.
In the halls and locker room,
I’m gonna let it shine.
In the halls and locker room,
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

Even in my hardest class,
I’m gonna let it shine
Even in my hardest class,
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

In the car ride home,
I’m gonna let it shine.
In the car ride home,
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

You and I, we each carry within us part of Christ’s light.  Like Christ, we carry God’s light to the world. 

This little light of ours,
We’re gonna let it shine
This little light of ours,
We’re gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Sorry, the full text for this sermon is not available at this time.