An Order for Night Prayer (Compline) in Easter

Preparation

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

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

A period for reflection on the past day may follow.

We reflect on the day:

For the love shared
We are grateful

For provision and nurture
We are grateful

For kindness given
We are grateful.

For the sorrow we’ve caused,
we pray for forgiveness

For injustices ignored,
we pray for forgiveness.

For the encounters with God today, in stranger and friend,
We bid you welcome.

For the encounters missed today,
We know that you always see us
even when we don’t see you.

For tomorrow,
May we see you
in ways expected and unexpected.

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

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. O Lord, make haste to help us.

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.

Alleluia.

The following 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

Psalmody. The following psalm may be used.

Psalm 140

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. ♦
O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness!

2 1You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, ♦
and the sun knows the time for its setting.

22 You make darkness that it may be night, ♦
in which all the beasts of the forest creep forth.

23 The lions roar for their prey ♦
and seek their food from God.

24 The sun rises and they are gone ♦
to lay themselves down in their dens.

25 People go forth to their work ♦
and to their labour until the evening. R

26 O Lord, how manifold are your works! ♦
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

27 There is the sea, spread far and wide, ♦
and there move creatures beyond number, both small and great.

28 There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan ♦
which you have made to play in the deep.

29 All of these look to you ♦
to give them their food in due season.

30 When you give it them, they gather it; ♦
you open your hand and they are filled with good.

31 When you hide your face they are troubled; ♦
when you take away their breath,
they die and return again to the dust.

32 When you send forth your spirit, they are created, ♦
and you renew the face of the earth.

33 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; ♦
may the Lord rejoice in his works; R

Creator God, send your Holy Spirit to renew this living world, that the whole creation, in its groaning and striving, may know your loving purpose and come to reflect your glory; in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

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

Short Reading: the following or some other

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

The following responsory may be said

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Alleluia, alleluia.

For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
Alleluia, alleluia.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Alleluia, alleluia.

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

Gospel Canticle - The Nunc dimittis (The Song of Simeon) is said

The Lord is risen, as he promised to you.

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

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.

The Lord is risen, as he promised to you.

The Prayers

Intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered here.

The Collect
Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity.
Amen.

Gathering our prayers and praises into one, let us pray as our Saviour taught us,

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

The Conclusion

In peace we will lie down and sleep;
for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.

Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
for the night is at hand and the day is now past.

As the night watch looks for the morning,
so do we look for you, O Christ.

May the risen Lord Jesus bless us. May he watch over us and renew us as he renews the whole of creation. May our hearts and lives echo his love.
Amen.