Holy and gracious God,
the giver of light and life,
we thank you for this gift of life.
We thank you for those who come into our lives as prophets,
pointing us toward that most precious gift,
your Son.
We thank you for those we travel with us
as we seek to know more fully who we are
as your people.
Come to us this day
and every day.
Come to us in the trials and tribulations.
Be with us in through the storms of life,
weather
and otherwise.
Come to us in our birthings
and in our dyings.
Come to us
and comfort us.
Come to us
and give us your peace.
Come to us
that we might see the way.
Come to us
that we can be
Your hands and heart.
Come to us
that we might be
the source
of healing
and reconciliation
in this broken world.
O Come, Emmanuel.
Come.
Amen.
The Rev. Terri C. Pilarski is an Episcopal priest serving a church in Dearborn, MI. She is a long time blogger (seekingauthenticvoice.blogspot.com) and member of the RevGalBlogPals since 2006.
Icon of the pregnant Theotokos written by Terri C. Pilarski for Advent
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RevGalBlogPals 
Thank you for your wonderful and powerful prayer. I am stunned by the icon and the implication that Mary is no one and nothing except a vessel.
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I wish the whole icon showed in the header, just seeing her belly is unfortunate. I was drawn to this icon because it tells the power of her as the Theotokos, the God-bearer. I remember being that big and full of yet to be born baby.
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