An order for Compline

An order for Compline

This service may be said at any convenient time after the saying of Evening Prayer, but not in substitution therefore.

Opening Sentences

The officiant begins with the following

The Lord Almighty grant us 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. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. 1 Peter 5:8-9a

V:  Our help is in the Name of the Lord;
R: Who hath made heaven and earth.

Confession of Sin

Minister: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

All: Almighty God, our heavenly Father: We have sinned  against thee, through our own fault, in thought, word,  and deed, and in those things which we have left undone.  For the sake of thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us  all our offenses; and grant that we may serve thee in  newness of life, to the glory of thy Name. Amen.

Minister: May the Almighty God grant us + forgiveness of all our  sins, amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the  Holy Ghost. Amen.

V: O God, make speed to save us.

R: O Lord, make haste to help us.

V: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
R: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

 

V: Praise ye the Lord.
R: The Lord's Name be praised.

The Psalms

Two or more of the following psalms are sung or said.

Psalm 4. Cum invocarem.

HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness: * thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.
2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour, * and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after falsehood?
3 Know this also, that the LORD hath chosen to himself the man that is godly; * when I call upon the LORD he will hear me.
4 Stand in awe, and sin not; * commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still.
5 Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, * and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There be many that say, * Who will show us any good?
7 LORD, lift thou up* the light of thy countenance upon us.
8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart; * yea, more than when their corn and wine and oil increase.
9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; * for it is thou, LORD, only, that makest me dwell in safety.

 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.

Psalm 31. In te, Domine, speravi.

IN thee, O LORD, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion; * deliver me in thy righteousness.
2 Bow down thine ear to me; * make haste to deliver me.
3 And be thou my strong rock, and house of defence, * that thou mayest save me.
4 For thou art my strong rock, and my castle: * be thou also my guide, and lead me for thy Name's sake.
5 Draw me out of the net that they have laid privily for me; * for thou art my strength.
6 Into thy hands I commend my spirit; * for thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, thou God of truth.
7 I have hated them that hold of lying vanities, * and my trust hath been in the LORD.
8 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy; * for thou hast considered my trouble, and hast known my soul in adversities.
9 Thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; * but hast set my feet in a large room.
10 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble, * and mine eye is consumed for very heaviness; yea, my soul and my body.
11 For my life is waxen old with heaviness, * and my years with mourning.
12 My strength faileth me, because of mine iniquity, * and my bones are consumed.
13 I became a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours; * and they of mine acquaintance were afraid of me; and they that did see me without, conveyed themselves from me.
14 I am clean forgotten as a dead man out of mind; * I am become like a broken vessel.
15 For I have heard the blasphemy of the multitude, and fear is on every side; * while they conspire together against me, and take their counsel to take away my life.
16 But my hope hath been in thee, O LORD; * I have said, Thou art my God.
17 My times are in thy hand; deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, * and from them that persecute me.
18 Show thy servant the light of thy countenance, * and save me for thy mercy's sake.
19 Let me not be confounded, O LORD, for I have called upon thee; * let the ungodly be put to confusion, and be put to silence in the grave.
20 Let the lying lips be put to silence, * which cruelly, disdainfully, and despitefully speak against the righteous.
21 O how plentiful is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, * and that thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee, even before the sons of men!
22 Thou shalt hide them in the covert of thine own presence from the plottings of men: * thou shalt keep them secretly in thy tabernacle from the strife of tongues.
23 Thanks be to the LORD; * for he hath showed me marvellous great kindness in a strong city.
24 But in my haste I said, * I am cast out of the sight of thine eyes.
25 Nevertheless, thou heardest the voice of my prayer, * when I cried unto thee.
26 O love the LORD, all ye his saints; * for the LORD preserveth them that are faithful, and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer.
27 Be strong, and he shall establish your heart, * all ye that put your trust in the LORD.

 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.

Psalm 91. Qui habitat.

WHOSO dwelleth under the defence of the Most High, * shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say unto the LORD, Thou art my hope, and my stronghold; * my God, in him will I trust.
3 For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter, * and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall defend thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers; * his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night, * nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, * nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day.
7 A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand; * but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold, * and see the reward of the ungodly.
9 For thou, LORD, art my hope; * thou hast set thine house of defence very high.
10 There shall no evil happen unto thee, * neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, * to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee in their hands, * that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder: * the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; * I will set him up, because he hath known my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will hear him; * yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honour.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, * and show him my salvation.

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.

Psalm 134. Ecce nunc.

BEHOLD now, praise the LORD, * all ye servants of the LORD;
2 Ye that by night stand in the house of the LORD, * even in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, * and praise the LORD.
4 The LORD that made heaven and earth * give thee blessing out of Sion.

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.

The Lesson

One of the following or some other suitable passage of scripture is read

Thou, Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy Name; leave us not, O Lord, our God. Jeremiah 14:9

Or this

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt 11:28-30

Or this

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

 

The Hymn

The Office Hymn is sung

The Prayers

 

V: The Lord be with you.

R: And with thy spirit.

V: Let us pray.

V. Into thy hands I commend my spirit.
R. For thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth.
V. Keep me as an apple of an eye;
R. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings.

V. Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Christ have mercy upon us.
V. Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.  Amen.

V:  O Lord, hear my prayer;
R: And let my cry come unto thee.
V: Let us pray.

The Collect

 

The Officiant then says one or more of the following Collects

Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Be present, O most merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the manifold changes and chances of this life may rest in thy eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Look down, O Lord, from thy heavenly throne, and illumine this night with thy celestial brightness; that by night as by day we thy people may glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this habitation: Drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let thy holy angels dwell herein to preserve us in peace, and let thy blessing be ever upon us.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Canticle

The Song of Simeon   Nunc dimittis

Luke 2:29‑32

Ant: Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping;*

   that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, *

    according to thy word;

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, *

    which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, *

    and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

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.

Ant: Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping;*

   that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

V. The Lord be with you;
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Let us bless the Lord
R. Thanks be to God.

The Almighty and merciful Lord, + Father, Son,

and Holy Ghost bless us and keep us. Amen.