Night Prayer (Compline)

		An Order for Night Prayer (Compline)


		Note

		The ancient office of Compline derives its name from a Latin word meaning 'completion' (completorium). It is above all a service of quietness and reflection before rest at the end of the day. It is most effective when the ending is indeed an ending, without additions, conversation or noise. If there is an address, or business to be done, it should come first. If the service is in church, those present depart in silence; if at home, they go quietly to bed.

		For further Notes, see here.

		Preparation

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

		Our help is in the name of the Lord
All		who 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

All		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.
All		O Lord, make haste to help us.

All		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

		One or more of the following psalms may be used.

		Psalm 4

1		Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness; ¨
		you set me at liberty when I was in trouble;
		have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2		How long will you nobles dishonour my glory; ¨
		how long will you love vain things and seek after falsehood?

3		But know that the Lord has shown me his marvellous kindness; ¨
		when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.

4		Stand in awe, and sin not; ¨
		commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.

5		Offer the sacrifices of righteousness ¨
		and put your trust in the Lord.

6		There are many that say, 'Who will show us any good?' ¨
		Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us.

7		You have put gladness in my heart, ¨
		more than when their corn and wine and oil increase.

8		In peace I will lie down and sleep, ¨
		for it is you Lord, only, who make me dwell in safety.

		Psalm 91

1		Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High ¨
		and abides under the shadow of the Almighty,

2		Shall say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my stronghold, ¨
		my God, in whom I put my trust.'

3		For he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler ¨
		and from the deadly pestilence.

4		He shall cover you with his wings
		and you shall be safe under his feathers; ¨
		his faithfulness shall be your shield and buckler.

5		You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, ¨
		nor of the arrow that flies by day;

6		Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, ¨
		nor of the sickness that destroys at noonday.

7		Though a thousand fall at your side
		and ten thousand at your right hand, ¨
		yet it shall not come near you.

8		Your eyes have only to behold ¨
		to see the reward of the wicked.

9		Because you have made the Lord your refuge ¨
		and the Most High your stronghold,

10		There shall no evil happen to you, ¨
		neither shall any plague come near your tent.

11		For he shall give his angels charge over you, ¨
		to keep you in all your ways.

12		They shall bear you in their hands, ¨
		lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13		You shall tread upon the lion and adder; ¨
		the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14		Because they have set their love upon me,
		therefore will I deliver them; ¨
		I will lift them up, because they know my name.

15		They will call upon me and I will answer them; ¨
		I am with them in trouble,
		I will deliver them and bring them to honour.

16		With long life will I satisfy them ¨
		and show them my salvation.

		Psalm 134

1		Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, ¨
		you that by night stand in the house of the Lord.

2		Lift up your hands towards the sanctuary ¨
		and bless the Lord.

3		The Lord who made heaven and earth ¨
		give you blessing out of Zion.

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

All		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

		One of the following short lessons or another suitable passage is read

		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

		(or)

		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

		(or)

		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.
All		Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
		For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
All		I commend my spirit.
		Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
All		Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

		Or, in Easter

		Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
		Alleluia, alleluia.
All		Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
		Alleluia, alleluia.
		For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
All		Alleluia, alleluia.
		Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
All		Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
		Alleluia, alleluia.

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

		Gospel Canticle

		The Nunc dimittis (The Song of Simeon) is said or sung

All		Save us, O Lord, while waking,
		and guard us while sleeping,
		that awake we may watch with Christ
		and asleep may rest in peace.

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
All		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.

All		Save us, O Lord, while waking,
		and guard us while sleeping,
		that awake we may watch with Christ
		and asleep may rest in peace.

		Prayers

		Intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered here.

		The Collect

		Silence may be kept.

		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.
All		Amen.

		The Lord's Prayer may be said.

		The Conclusion

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

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

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

		[Come with the dawning of the day
All		and make yourself known in the breaking of the bread.]

		The Lord bless us and watch over us;
		the Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us;
		the Lord look kindly on us and give us peace.
All		Amen.

? The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
All of the official Common Worship publications are being published by Church House Publishing.