May 29, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Wednesday, May 29.
First Baptist Church of Center is five days away from one of the most important events of our year - Vacation Bible School! It all starts Monday morning, June 3, and includes games and snacks and Bible stories and lots of great songs. This morning, we start a three-day series on stories behind vintage children's church songs.
"This Little Light of Mine" is typically thought of as an African American spiritual, like "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", "Down By the Riverside", and "Wade in the Water". But those songs come from antebellum America, from before the Civil War. This Little Light didn't appear until the 1920's. We don't know who wrote it, but the first recording was made in 1934, and featured, strangely enough, an inmate at the penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas.
In the 1960's, this little children's song was adopted by the civil rights movement. It was sung by the Harlem Boys Choir on the first David Letterman Show after 911. Prince Harry and Meghan Markell had it played at the close of their wedding. And though we don't know who wrote it, we can certainly trace its inspiration... to Matthew 5:14-16.
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light to the whole house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
