Preparation

The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
AllAmen.

Our help is in the name of the Lord
Allwho made heaven and earth.

A period of silence for reflection on the past day may follow.

The following or other suitable words of penitence may be used.

AllMost 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.
AllO Lord, make haste to help us.

AllGlory 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.
Alleluia.

The following or other 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

Psalmody

Psalm 91

Refrain: Keep me as the apple of your eye.

1Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High ♦
and abides under the shadow of the Almighty,

2Shall say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my stronghold, ♦
my God, in whom I put my trust.’

3For he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler ♦
and from the deadly pestilence.

4He shall cover you with his wings
and you shall be safe under his feathers; ♦
his faithfulness shall be your shield and buckler. R

5You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, ♦
nor of the arrow that flies by day;

6Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, ♦
nor of the sickness that destroys at noonday.

7Though a thousand fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand, ♦
yet it shall not come near you.

8Your eyes have only to behold ♦
to see the reward of the wicked. R

9Because you have made the Lord your refuge ♦
and the Most High your stronghold,

10There shall no evil happen to you, ♦
neither shall any plague come near your tent.

11For he shall give his angels charge over you, ♦
to keep you in all your ways.

12They shall bear you in their hands, ♦
lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13You shall tread upon the lion and adder; ♦
the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. R

14Because they have set their love upon me,
therefore will I deliver them; ♦
I will lift them up, because they know my name.

15They will call upon me and I will answer them; ♦
I am with them in trouble,
I will deliver them and bring them to honour.

16With long life will I satisfy them ♦
and show them my salvation.

Refrain: Keep me as the apple of your eye.

Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy
and, as you have bound us to yourself in love,
leave us not who call upon your name,
but grant us your salvation,
made known in the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord.

At the end of the psalmody the following is said or sung

Scripture Reading

A sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labours as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest.

Hebrews 4.9-11a

The following responsory may be said

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
AllInto your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
AllI commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllInto your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Keep me as the apple of your eye.
AllHide me under the shadow of your wings.

Gospel Canticle

The Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon) is said or sung.

Refrain:

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. Alleluia.

1Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: ♦
your word has been fulfilled.

2My own eyes have seen the salvation ♦
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;

3A light to reveal you to the nations ♦
and the glory of your people Israel.

Luke 2.29-32

AllGlory 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.

Refrain:

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. Alleluia.