This Collect may be used at Night Prayer on any day throughout the year
Lighten our darkness,
Lord, we pray,
and in your great mercy
defend us from all perils and dangers of this night,
for the love of your only Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
104.1,21-33;134
the following or some other
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
Almighty God,
by triumphing over the powers of
darkness
Christ has prepared a place for us in the new Jerusalem:
may we,
who have this day given thanks for his resurrection,
praise him in the
eternal city
of which he is the light;
through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
4
the following or some other
Thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.
Isaiah 30.15
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
rest upon your eternal changelessness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
143
the following or some other
Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’
Matthew 11.28-end
Look down, O God, from your heavenly throne,
illuminate the
darkness of this night with your celestial brightness,
and from the children
of light banish the deeds of darkness;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
31.1-5, [19-end]
the following or some other
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5.6,7
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.
16
the following or some other
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, seeking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in the faith.
1 Peter 5.8,9
Keep watch, dear Lord,
with those who wake, or watch, or
weep this night,
and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend
the sick,
give rest to the weary,
sustain the dying,
calm the
suffering,
and pity the distressed;
all for your love’s sake, O Christ our
Redeemer.
139.1-18
the following or some other
God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.
1 Thessalonians 5.9,10
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
who at this
evening hour lay in the tomb
and so hallowed the grave
to be a bed of hope
for all who put their trust in you:
give us such sorrow for our
sins,
which were the cause of your passion,
that when our bodies lie in
the dust,
our souls may live with you for ever.
91
the following or some other
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
Stay with us, O God, this night,
so that by your
strength
we may rise with the new day
to rejoice in the resurrection of
your Son,
Jesus Christ our Saviour.
143
the following or some other
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
Refrain:
AllCome, O Lord, and visit
us in peace;
that we may rejoice before you with a perfect heart.
Stir up your power, O God,
and come among us.
Heal our
wounds,
calm our fears
and give us peace;
through Jesus our Redeemer.
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.
31.1-5, [19-end]
the following or some other
In him was life and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.
John 1.4,5
Refrain:
AllAlleluia.The Word was made
flesh, alleluia,
and dwelt among us. Alleluia, alleluia.
We give you thanks, O God,
for the gift to the world of our
Redeemer;
as we sing your glory at the close of this day,
so may we know
his presence in our hearts,
who is our Saviour and our Lord,
now and for
ever.
May the love of the Word made flesh enfold us,
his joy fill
our lives,
his peace be in our hearts;
and the blessing of God be with
us
this night and always.
16
the following or some other
The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.
Titus 2.11
Refrain:
AllAlleluia. Christ the light
of the world, alleluia,
has manifested his glory. Alleluia, alleluia.
King of kings and Lord of lords,
making the true light to
shine:
lighten our darkness now and evermore
that with our lips and in our
lives
we may praise you;
for you are our God, now and for ever.
May the living waters of Christ cleanse us,
may the Spirit
descend upon us,
and the blessing of God be with us
this night and always.
139.1-18
the following or some other
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Isaiah 58. 6,7
Refrain:
AllChrist died for us,
so that,
whether we wake or sleep,
we might live with him.
Almighty God,
may we, by the prayer and discipline of
Lent,
enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings;
that by following in
the Way,
we may come to share in the glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
May God bless us,
that in us may be found love and
humility,
obedience and thanksgiving,
discipline, gentleness and peace.
139.1-18
the following or some other
I will pour out a spirit of compassion and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that, when they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
Zechariah 12.10
Refrain:
AllChrist himself bore our
sins in his body on the tree,
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
Almighty God,
as we stand at the foot of the cross of your
Son,
help us to see and know your love for us,
so that in humility, love
and joy
we may place at his feet
all that we have and all that we
are;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
May God bless us,
that in us may be found love and
humility,
obedience and thanksgiving,
discipline, gentleness
and peace.
104.1,21-33
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
Refrain:
AllAlleluia.The Lord is risen,
alleluia,
as he promised to you. Alleluia, alleluia.
Almighty God,
by triumphing over the powers of
darkness
Christ has prepared a place for us in the new Jerusalem:
may we,
who have this day given thanks for his resurrection,
praise him in the
eternal city
of which he is the light;
through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
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.
86
the following or some other
I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. The old shall dream dreams and the young shall see visions.
Joel 2.28
Refrain:
AllAlleluia.The Holy Spirit,
the Advocate, alleluia,
shall teach you all things. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Come, O Spirit of God,
and make within us your dwelling
place and home.
May our darkness be dispelled by your light,
and our
troubles calmed by your peace;
may all evil be redeemed by your love,
all
pain transformed through the suffering of Christ,
and all dying glorified in
his risen life.
May the Holy Spirit of God bless and sanctify us
so
that we may be consecrated in the truth.
as in Ordinary Time
the following or some other
The one who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations.
Matthew 24.13,14a
Refrain:
AllO King most blessed,
on the
day of judgement
number us among your chosen.
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
bring us to the
dwelling which your Son is preparing
for all who love
you;
give us the will each day to live in life eternal;
let our
citizenship be in heaven with the blessed,
with the whole company of the
redeemed
and with countless angels,
praising, worshipping and adoring your
Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who sits upon the throne for ever and ever.
May the light of Christ, the King of all,
shine
ever brighter in our hearts,
that with all the saints in light
we
may shine forth as lights in the world.
as in Ordinary Time or of the season
the following or some other
Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’
Luke 1.38a
Refrain:
AllBlessed is she whose soul
was pierced
by the sword of the cross.
We give you thanks, O God,
for the gift to the world of our
Redeemer;
as we sing your glory at the close of this day,
so may we know
his presence in our hearts,
who is our Saviour and our Lord,
now and for
ever.
May the love of the Word made flesh enfold us,
his joy fill
our lives,
his peace be in our hearts;
and the blessing of God be with
us
this night and always.
as in Ordinary Time or of the season
the following or some other
Apostles and Evangelists
You are no longer strangers and
aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household
of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ
Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together
and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Ephesians 2.19-21
Martyrs
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon
your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its
flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench
love, neither can floods drown it.
Song
of Solomon 8.6,7a
Teachers of the Faith, Bishops and other Pastors
Wisdom
guided the righteous on straight paths; she showed them the kingdom of
God, and gave them knowledge of holy things.
Wisdom 10.10a
Members of Religious Communities
Jesus said, ‘Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are
the pure in heart, for they will see God.’
Matthew 5.3,8
Any Saint
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever
is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing,
whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that
you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of
peace will be with you.
Philippians
4.8,9
Refrain:
AllGrant us your light, O Lord,
that the darkness of our hearts being overcome,
we may receive the
true light,
even Christ our Saviour.