An Order for Night Prayer (Compline)
Saturday, 30 November 2024
Andrew the Apostle
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 143
1Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and in your faithfulness give ear to my supplications;
♦
answer me in your righteousness.
2Enter not into judgement
with your servant, ♦
for in your sight shall no one living be justified.
3For the enemy has pursued
me,
crushing my life to the ground, ♦
making me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4My spirit faints within
me; ♦
my heart within me is desolate.
5I remember the time past;
I muse upon all your deeds; ♦
I consider the works of your hands.
6I stretch out my hands
to you; ♦
my soul gasps for you like a thirsty land.
7O Lord, make haste to
answer me; my spirit fails me; ♦
hide not your face from me
lest I be like those who go down to the Pit.
8Let me hear of your loving-kindness
in the morning,
for in you I put my trust; ♦
show me the way I should walk in,
for I lift up my soul to you.
9Deliver me, O Lord, from
my enemies, ♦
for I flee to you for refuge.
10Teach me to do what
pleases you, for you are my God; ♦
let your kindly spirit lead me on a level path.
11Revive me, O Lord, for
your name’s sake; ♦
for your righteousness’ sake, bring me out of trouble.
12In your faithfulness,
slay my enemies,
and destroy all the adversaries of my soul, ♦
for truly I am your servant.
At the end of the psalmody the following is said or sung
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.
Scripture Reading
Keep awake — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.
Mark 13.35-end
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.
AllGrant us your light, O Lord,
that the darkness of our hearts being overcome,
we may receive the true light,
even Christ our Saviour. 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.
AllGrant us your light, O Lord,
that the darkness of our hearts being overcome,
we may receive the true light,
even Christ our Saviour. Alleluia.
Prayers
Intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered here.
The Collect
Silence may be kept.
Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
AllAmen.
or
Stir up your power, O God,
and come among us.
Heal our wounds,
calm our fears
and give us peace;
through Jesus our Redeemer.
AllAmen.
or
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.
AllAmen.
The Lord’s Prayer may be said.
The Conclusion
In peace we will lie down and sleep;
Allfor you alone, Lord,
make us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
Allfor the night is at
hand and the day is now past.
As the night watch looks for the morning,
Allso do we look for you,
O Christ.
[Come with the dawning of the day
Alland make yourself known
in the breaking of the bread.]
Restore us again, O God of hosts;
show us the light of your
countenance
and we shall be saved.
Bless and keep us, this night and
always.
AllAmen.
©
The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2005
Official Common Worship apps, books and eBooks are available from
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The Bible readings (other than the psalms) are from The New Revised Standard Version Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Implemented by Simon Kershaw at
Crucix.
Implementation copyright © Simon Kershaw, 2002-2021.