Compline - Night Prayer
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This service may be used by individuals or it can be used in a household. The bold text will help you turn it into a service suitable for more than one person.
The Lord almighty grant a quiet night and a perfect end.Amen.
Brethren, be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist, steadfast in the faith. 1 Peter 5.8,9
But thou, O Lord, have mercy.
Thanks be to God.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
who hath made heaven and earth.
A period of silence for reflection may follow.
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I confess to God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,
that I have sinned in thought, word and deed,
through my own grievous fault.
Wherefore I pray God to have mercy upon me.
Almighty God, have mercy upon me,
forgive me all my sins and deliver me from all evil,
confirm and strengthen me in all goodness,
and bring me to life everlasting;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,world without end. Amen.
Praise ye the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.
(Spoken) Hymn
Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world we pray,
That with thy wonted favour thou
Wouldst be our guard and keeper now.
From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
From nightly fears and fantasies;
Tread underfoot our ghostly foe,
That no pollution we may know.
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O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son;
Who with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.
The Word of God
Psalmody - Choose and read a psalm
Scripture Reading - Choose a short reading
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Jeremiah 14.9
Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name;
leave us not, O Lord our God.
Thanks be to God.
Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
For thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth.
I commend my spirit.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Keep me as the apple of an eye.
Hide me under the shadow of thy wings.
Canticle
1 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.
2 For mine eyes have seen : thy salvation;
3 Which thou hast prepared : before the face of all people;
4 To be a light to lighten the Gentiles : and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Luke 2.29-32
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.
Preserve us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Prayers
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come;
thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
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Blessed art thou, Lord God of our fathers:
to be praised and glorified above all for ever.
Bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost:
praise him and magnify him for ever.
Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven:
to be praised and glorified above all for ever.
The almighty and most merciful Lord guard us and give us his blessing.
Amen.
Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us;
that thy people may rejoice in thee?
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O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us;
and grant us thy salvation.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin;
O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.
O Lord, hear our prayer;
and let our cry come unto thee.
Let us pray.
Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this place,
and drive from it all the snares of the enemy;
let thy holy angels dwell herein to preserve us in peace;
and may thy blessing be upon us evermore;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord;
and by thy great mercy defend us
from all perils and dangers of this night;
for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God,
who at this evening hour didst rest in the sepulchre,
and didst thereby sanctify the grave
to be a bed of hope to thy people:
which were the cause of thy passion,
that when our bodies lie in the dust,
our souls may live with thee;
who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
Look down, O Lord, from thy heavenly throne,
illuminate the darkness of this night
with thy celestial brightness,
and from the sons of light banish the deeds of darkness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Be present, O merciful God,
and protect us through the silent hours of this night,
so that we who are wearied
by the changes and chances of this fleeting world,
may repose upon thy eternal changelessness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Conclusion
We will lay us down in peace and take our rest.
For it is thou, Lord, only that makest us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, O Lord,
for it is toward evening and the day is far spent.
As the watchmen look for the morning,
so do we look for thee, O Christ.
The Lord be with you
and with thy spirit.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The almighty and merciful Lord,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,
bless and preserve this night and always. Amen.
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Some material included in this service of Compline is copyright:
© The Archbishops' Council 2000
Original material © Paul Firmin 2003