Daily, Seasonal and Other Variations
for Night Prayer

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.

 

Ordinary Time

Sunday

Psalms

104.1,21-33;134

Short Reading:

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

Collect

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.

Monday

Psalm

4

Short Reading:

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

Collect

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.

Tuesday

Psalm

143

Short Reading:

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

Collect

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.

Wednesday

Psalm

31.1-5, [19-end]

Short Reading:

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

Collect

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.

Thursday

Psalm

16

Short Reading:

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

Collect

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.

Friday

Psalm

139.1-18

Short Reading:

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

Collect

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.

Saturday

Psalm

91

Short Reading:

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

Collect

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.

The Seasons

Advent

Psalm

143

Short Reading:

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

Nunc dimittis

Refrain:

AllCome, O Lord, and visit us in peace;
that we may rejoice before you with a perfect heart.

Collect

Stir up your power, O God,
and come among us.
Heal our wounds,
calm our fears
and give us peace;
through Jesus our Redeemer.

Blessing

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.

Christmas

Psalm

31.1-5, [19-end]

Short Reading:

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

Nunc dimittis

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.

Epiphany

Psalm

16

Short Reading:

the following or some other

The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.

Titus 2.11

Nunc dimittis

Refrain:

AllAlleluia. Christ the light of the world, alleluia,
has manifested his glory. Alleluia, alleluia.

Collect

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.

Blessing

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.

Lent

Psalm

139.1-18

Short Reading:

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

Nunc dimittis

Refrain:

AllChrist died for us,
so that, whether we wake or sleep,
we might live with him.

Collect

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.

Blessing

May God bless us,
that in us may be found love and humility,
obedience and thanksgiving,
discipline, gentleness and peace.

Passiontide

Psalm

139.1-18

Short Reading:

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

Nunc dimittis

Refrain:

AllChrist himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

Collect

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.

Blessing

May God bless us,
that in us may be found love and humility,
obedience and thanksgiving,
discipline, gentleness and peace.

Easter

Psalm

104.1,21-33

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

Nunc dimittis

Refrain:

AllAlleluia.The Lord is risen, alleluia,
as he promised to you. Alleluia, alleluia.

Collect

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.

Blessing

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.

From the day after Ascension Day
until the Day of Pentecost

Psalm

86

Short Reading:

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

Nunc dimittis

Refrain:

AllAlleluia.The Holy Spirit, the Advocate, alleluia,
shall teach you all things. Alleluia, alleluia.

Collect

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.

Blessing

May the Holy Spirit of God bless and sanctify us
so that we may be consecrated in the truth.

From All Saints’ Day
until the Friday
before the First Sunday of Advent

Psalms

as in Ordinary Time

Short Reading:

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

Nunc dimittis

Refrain:

AllO King most blessed,
on the day of judgement
number us among your chosen.

Collect

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.

Blessing

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.

 

Common of the Saints

The Blessed Virgin Mary

Psalms

as in Ordinary Time or of the season

Short Reading:

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

Nunc dimittis

Refrain:

AllBlessed is she whose soul was pierced
by the sword of the cross.

Collect

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.

Blessing

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.

Other Saints

Psalms, Collect and Blessing

as in Ordinary Time or of the season

Short Reading:

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

Nunc dimittis

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.