SETX Church Guide Holiday Feature – Advent in Southeast Texas Churches
To most people the word “advent” means a beginning.
In our Southeast Texas churches Advent marks the beginning of the Christmas season. 
During advent, Southeast Texas Christians celebrate the birth of the Messiah.
One common item associated with Advent is an Advent wreath with lit candles.
There are also special prayers SETX Christian Families pray over the advent season, including:
Southeast Texas ADVENT Prayer 1
Blessed are you, Sovereign Lord, God of our ancestors:
to you be praise and glory for ever.
You called the patriarchs to live by the light of faith
and to journey in the hope of your promised fulfilment.
May we be obedient to your call
and be ready and watchful to receive your Christ,
a lamp to our feet and a light to our path;
for you are our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God for ever.
God of Abraham and Sarah,
and all the patriarchs of old,
you are our Father too.
Your love is revealed to us in Jesus Christ,
Son of God and Son of David.
Help us in preparing to celebrate his birth
to make our hearts ready for your Holy Spirit
to make his home among us.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who is coming into the world. Amen.
Lord Jesus, Light of the world,
born in David’s city of Bethlehem,
born like him to be a king:
Be born in our hearts at Christmas,
be king of our lives today. Amen.
People of God: awake!
The day is coming soon
when you shall see God face to face.
Remember the ways and the works of God.
Christ calls you out of darkness
to walk in the light of his coming.
You are God’s children.
Lord make us one as we walk with Christ
today and for ever. Amen.
SETX ADVENT Prayer 2
Blessed are you, Sovereign Lord, just and true:
to you be praise and glory for ever.
Of old you spoke by the mouth of your prophets,
but in our days you speak through your Son,
whom you have appointed the heir of all things.
Grant us, your people, to walk in his light,
that we may be found ready and watching
when he comes again in glory and judgement;
for you are our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God for ever.
God our Father,
you spoke to the prophets of old
of a Saviour who would bring peace.
You helped them to spread the joyful message
of his coming kingdom.
Help us, as we prepare to celebrate his birth,
to share with those around us
the good news of your power and love.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who is coming into the world. Amen.
Lord Jesus, Light of the world,
the prophets said you would bring peace
and save your people in trouble.
Give peace in our hearts at Christmas
and show all the world God’s love. Amen.
People of God: be glad!
Your God delights in you.
giving you joy for sadness
and turn the dark to light.
Be strong in hope therefore;
for your God comes to save.
You are God’s children.
Lord make us one in the love of Christ
today and for ever. Amen.
SETX ADVENT Prayer 3
Blessed are you, Sovereign Lord, just and true:
to you be praise and glory for ever.
Your prophet John the Baptist was witness to the truth
as a burning and shining light.
May we your servants rejoice in his light,
and so be led to witness to him
who is the Lord of our coming kingdom,
Jesus our Saviour and King of the ages.
Blessed be God for ever.
God our Father,
you gave to Zechariah and Elizabeth in their old age
a son called John.
He grew up strong in spirit,
prepared the people for the coming of the Lord,
and baptized them in the Jordan to wash away their sins.
Help us, who have been baptized into Christ,
to be ready to welcome him into our hearts,
and to grow strong in faith by the power of the Spirit.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who is coming into the world. Amen.
Lord Jesus, Light of the world,
John told the people to prepare,
for you were very near.
As Christmas grows closer day by day,
help us to be ready to welcome you now. Amen.
People of God: return!
You are called to be God’s own.
From the mountains announce the good news.
God comes in justice and peace,
to all who follow his ways.
You are God’s children.
Lord make us one in the peace of Christ
today and for ever. Amen.
SETX ADVENT Prayer 4
Blessed are you, Sovereign Lord, merciful and gentle:
to you be praise and glory for ever.
Your light has shone in our darkened world
through the child-bearing of blessed Mary;
grant that we who have seen your glory
may daily be renewed in your image
and prepared like her for the coming of your Son,
who is the Lord and Saviour of all.
Blessed be God for ever.
God our Father,
the angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary
that she was to be the mother of your Son.
Though Mary was afraid,
she responded to your call with joy.
Help us, whom you call to serve you,
to share like her in your great work
of bringing to our world your love and healing.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who is coming into the world. Amen.
Lord Jesus, Light of the world,
blessed is Gabriel who brought good news;
blessed is Mary your mother and ours.
Bless your Church preparing for Christmas;
and bless 
https://www.facebook.com/SETXChurchGuide/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nfus your children who long for your coming. Amen.
People of God: prepare!
God, above all, maker of all,
is one with us in Christ.
Maranatha!
Come, Lord Jesus!
God, the mighty God,
bends down in love to earth.
Maranatha!
Come, Lord Jesus!
God with us; God beside us,
comes soon to the world he has made.
Maranatha!
Come, Lord Jesus!
We are God’s children,
we seek the coming Christ.
Maranatha!
Come, Lord Jesus!
CHRISTMAS DAY Southeast Texas Advent Prayer
Blessed are you, Sovereign Lord, King of Peace:
to you be praise and glory for ever
The new light of your incarnate word
gives gladness in our sorrow,
and a presence in our isolation.
Fill our lives with your light,
until they overflow with gladness and praise.
Blessed be God for ever.
God our Father,
today the Saviour is born
and those who live in darkness are seeing a great light.
Help us, who greet the birth of Christ with joy,
to live in the light of your Son,
and to share the good news of your love.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who has come into the world. Amen.
Lord Jesus, Light of Light,
you have come among us.
Help us who live by your light
to shine as lights in your world.
Glory to God in the highest. Amen.
People of God: shout and sing!
Tell the good news of peace on earth.
Lord, bring us today into Christ’s peace.
All God’s people say / shout:
Amen.
Angels dance
and the bright star shines.
All creation bows to the Lord of all.
Lord, bring us today into Christ’s light.
All God’s people say / shout:
Amen.
One with us,
yet born to save,
he will show us the way to God.
Lord, bring us today into Christ’s love.
All God’s people say / shout:
Amen.
People of God: shout and sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Amen.
Advent also marks the beginning of singing Christmas carols across Southeast Texas. One fun Advent event for SETX Christian families is singing carols to friends and family. In Southeast Texas, it can be hard to catch people at home during the holidays, so you might want to let people know in advance that you’re coming. If you’d like to have a guaranteed, and appreciative, audience consider making arrangements to carol at a Southeast Texas nursing home. They will appreciate your time and can really be great audiences. If you have a child in band, they can accompany the rest of the family as you sing.
Advent for most Southeast Texas Christians lasts 22-28 days depending on the year.
Advent is a commitment that helps keep the focus of the season on the Savior, not on presents, commercialism or the disease of “more, more, more”.
As in all religious practices, Advent is not just the lighting of the candles or singing of carols that honors this tradition, but rather the dedication to family and faith that lasts almost a whole month. Meditating through an entire month on the miracle birth and God’s love for His children brings a deep peace and fulfillment to one’s life. Like the celebration of Advent, the beginning, Southeast Texas Christian families can start a new year with a renewed sense of purpose and rejuvenation.
Find more information on Advent on Focus on the Family
SETXChurchGuide.com Editor’s Note: Some of the above notes come from our family’s personal experience. One year we bundled our children up for a night of caroling. We were going to surprise five families in our neighborhood with our carefully rehearsed Christmas carols. Sadly, four of the families weren’t home and the lady at the 5th home had gone to sleep early with a migraine. Yikes! This year our oldest has been rehearsing for a month to accompany us on the trumpet. Is he good? I can honestly say he’s loud. Merry Christmas Southeast Texas!
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