An Order for Compline (Night Prayer)
We suggest you use this on Monday 6th April and Wednesday 8th April at 7.30pm
and again on Maundy Thursday 9th April at 10.00pm
The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
All: Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
All: who made heaven and earth.
A short silence for reflection on the past day
All: Most merciful God, we confess to you,
before the whole company of heaven and one another, that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed and in what we have failed to do.
Forgive us our sins, heal us by your Spirit
and raise us to new life in Christ. Amen.
O God, make speed to save us.
All: O Lord, make haste to help us.
This or another suitable hymn may be sung
Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That you, with steadfast love, would keep
Your watch around us while we sleep.
From evil dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Tread underfoot our deadly foe
That we no sinful thought may know.
O Father, that we ask be done
Through Jesus Christ, your only Son;
And Holy Spirit, by whose breath
Our souls are raised to life from death.
The Word of God
Psalm 134 – or other Psalm(s)
1 Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
you that by night stand in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands towards the sanctuary
and bless the Lord.
3 The Lord who made heaven and earth
give you blessing out of Zion.
All: Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Scripture Reading – the following or other passage(s)
You, O Lord, are in the midst of us and we are called by your name; leave us not, O Lord our God.
Jeremiah 14.9
(or)
The servants of the Lamb shall see the face of God, whose name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night: they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 22.4, 5
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
All: Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
All: I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
All: Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Keep me as the apple of your eye.
All: Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
The Nunc dimittis (The Song of Simeon) is said
All: Save us, O Lord, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ
and asleep may rest in peace.
1 Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
2 My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
3 A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Luke 2.29-32
All: Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
All: Save us, O Lord, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ
and asleep may rest in peace.
Prayers – Intercessions & Thanksgivings
The Collect - then silence may be kept.
Visit this place, O Lord, we pray,
and drive far from it the snares of the enemy;
may your holy angels dwell with us and guard us in peace, and may your blessing be always upon us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
The Conclusion
In peace we will lie down and sleep;
All: for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
All: for the night is at hand and the day is now past.
As the night watch looks for the morning,
All: so do we look for you, O Christ.
The Lord bless us and watch over us;
the Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us;
the Lord look kindly on us and give us peace.
All: Amen
(With thanks to Fr.Andrew Bullock)