Red Letter Advent - Love
O Come All Ye Faithful
Oh come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
Oh come ye oh come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Highest most holy
Light of light eternal
Born of a virgin a mortal He comes
Son of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Sing choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above
Glory to God
In the highest
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Welcome!
Today, we will unbox the love that Jesus offers. Red Letter Advent is a 25-day experience of unboxing the four gifts Jesus wants you to receive and give away: hope, peace, joy, and love. Savor every precious moment of this week, and finally open the present you have always longed for! You are invited to join us in person on Christmas Eve at 4:30pm at St. Peter's or enjoy the “Greatest Gift” message on demand where ever you celebrate Christmas.
If you’re new here and want to find out a bit more about our service, have questions, or want to connect, click the button below. Thanks for joining us! We’re so glad you’re with us.
Love
Ephesians 3:17-19 - And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
What Child Is This?
What child is this who laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping
This this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste haste to bring Him laud
The babe the son of Mary
Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding
Good Christian fear for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading
Nails spear shall pierce him through
The cross be borne for me for you
Hail hail the Word made flesh
The babe the son of Mary
So bring Him incense gold and myrrh
Come peasant king to own Him
The King of kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him
Raise raise the song on high
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy joy for Christ is born
The babe the son of Mary
Scripture Reading
1 John 4:7-11 (NIV) - Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
STP KIDS Dismissal
STP KIDS is the Children’s Ministry at St. Peter’s Edina, designed for all children from 6 months to 10 years old (Grade 5). Older children are welcome to participate as helpers. Our vision is to partner with parents in raising up a generation of children that will seek their God-given Kingdom mission and impact their world for Jesus!
Message: Love
Open A.I.'s “What’s the proof that somebody loves you?” checklist:
Love can be demonstrated in many ways, and the "proof" of love isn't always something tangible or measurable.
1. Consistency
2. Present
3. Genuine Concern
4. Acceptance
5. Affection
6. Emotional Support
7. Patience
8. Time and Attention
9. Open Communication
10. Unconditional Love and Forgiveness
1. Consistency
Their actions match their words — they don't just say "I love you," they show it.
They keep promises and follow through on commitments.
2. Present
They prioritize spending time with you.
They offer affection like hugs, kisses, or touch.
3. Genuine Concern
They remember the small details about you, like your favorite food, songs, or dreams.
4. Acceptance
They accept you as you are respecting your individuality.
They celebrate your wins and comfort you during losses without judgment.
5. Affection
They express love through thoughtful gestures, kind words, and genuine care for your well-being.
6. Emotional Support
They offer support during moments of stress, sadness, or uncertainty.
They encourage you to pursue your dreams and cheer you on.
7. Patience
They are patient when you're struggling emotionally or mentally.
8. Time and Attention
They prioritize spending time with you, even when life gets busy.
They stay present when you're together, not distracted by phones, work, or other responsibilities.
9. Open Communication
They pay attention to what you say and remember details.
They share their thoughts with you in a non-controlling way.
10. Unconditional Love and Forgiveness
They don’t love you only when things are perfect.
Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Angels We Have Heard On High
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria
In excelsis Deo
Gloria
In excelsis Deo
Shepherds why this jubilee
Why your joyous strains prolong
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heav'nly song
Gloria
In excelsis Deo
Gloria
In excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord the newborn King
Gloria
In excelsis Deo
Gloria
In excelsis Deo
Announcements
Prayer
If you are in need of prayer, we would love the opportunity to pray with you! You can post a prayer on our online prayer wall, or submit a private prayer to our prayer team.
Lo, How a Rose Is Growing
Lo how a rose is growing
A bloom of finest grace
The prophets had foretold it
A branch of Jesse's race
Would bear one perfect flower
Here in the cold of winter
And darkest midnight hour
The rose of which I'm singing
Isaiah had foretold
He came to us through Mary
Who sheltered Him from cold
Through God's eternal will
This child to us was given
At midnight calm and still
This flower so small and tender
With fragrance fills the air
His brightness ends the darkness
That kept the earth in fear
True God and yet true man
He came to save His people
From earth's dark night of sin
Communion
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod holds the Biblical teaching that in Communion we receive the true body and blood of Jesus Christ with the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins. If you are a baptized Christian who has been instructed in the Biblical teaching of the real presence of the Christ in this meal and grace through faith in Christ, and if you agree with our confession of faith, please join with the fellowship of disciples in Holy Communion.
“Everyone should examine themselves first, and then eat the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.” (1 Corinthians 11:28-29)
The Lord’s Prayer
All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer Over Love Packs
Blessing
John 13:34-35 - “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Joy To The World
Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let ev'ry heart
Prepare Him room
And heav'n and nature sing
And heav'n and nature sing
And heav'n and heav'n
And nature sing
Joy to the earth the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat repeat the sounding joy
*All Bible translations are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise specified