Opening Sentences - Confession of Sin - Psalms - The Lessons - The Prayers

An Order for Compline

The Officiant begins

The Lord Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect
end. Amen.

The Officiant may then say

Let us confess our sins to God.

Silence may be kept.

Officiant and People

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

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Officiant

May the Almighty God grant us forgiveness of all our sins,
and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Officiant then says

Officiant and People

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Except in Lent, add    Alleluia.

One or more of the following Psalms are sung or said. Other suitable
selections may be substituted.

     Psalm 4  Cum invocarem

1    Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; *
         you set me free when I am hard-pressed;
         have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2    "You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; *
         how long will you worship dumb idols
         and run after false gods?"

3    Know that the LORD does wonders for the faithful; *
         when I call upon the LORD, he will hear me.

4    Tremble, then, and do not sin; *
         speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.

5    Offer the appointed sacrifices *
         and put your trust in the LORD.

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6    Many are saying,
         "Oh, that we might see better times!" *
         Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.

7    You have put gladness in my heart, *
         more than when grain and wine and oil increase.

8    I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; *
         for only you, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

     Psalm 31  In te, Domine, speravi

1    In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge;
         let me never be put to shame: *
         deliver me in your righteousness.

2    Incline your ear to me; *
         make haste to deliver me.

3    Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
         for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
         for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.

4    Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
         for you are my tower of strength.

5    Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
         for you have redeemed me,
         O LORD, O God of truth.

     Psalm 91  Qui habitat

1    He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High *
         abides under the shadow of the Almighty.

2    He shall say to the LORD,
         "You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
         my God in whom I put my trust."

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3    He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter *
         and from the deadly pestilence.

4    He shall cover you with his pinions,
      and you shall find refuge under his wings; *
         his faithfulness shall be a 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 plague that stalks in the darkness, *
         nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.

7    A thousand shall fall at your side
      and ten thousand at your right hand, *
         but 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 habitation,

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

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 the adder; *
           you shall trample the young lion and the serpent
                          under your feet.

14    Because he is bound to me in love,
        therefore will I deliver him; *
            I will protect him, because he knows my Name.

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15    He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
           I am with him in trouble;
           I will rescue him and bring him to honor.

16    With long life will I satisfy him, *
           and show him my salvation.

     Psalm 134  Ecce nunc

1    Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, *
         you that stand by night in the house of the LORD.

2    Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; *
         the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

At the end of the Psalms is sung or said

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

One of the following, or some other suitable passage of Scripture, is read

Lord, you are in the midst of us, and we are called by your
Name: Do not forsake us, O Lord our God.    Jeremiah 14:9,22

or this

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;
for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

or the following

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May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our
Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of
the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you
may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his
sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and
ever.    Hebrews 13:20-21

or this

Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls
around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Resist him, firm in your faith.    1 Peter 5:8-9a

A hymn suitable for the evening may be sung.

Then follows

V.    Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
R.    For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
V.    Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
R.    Hide us under the shadow of your wings.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Officiant and People

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The Officiant then says one of the following Collects

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

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

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

Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the
enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in
peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

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A Collect for Saturdays

We give you thanks, O God, for revealing your Son Jesus
Christ to us by the light of his resurrection: Grant that as we
sing your glory at the close of this day, our joy may abound
in the morning as we celebrate the Paschal mystery; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

One of the following prayers may be added

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or
weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who
sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless
the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the
joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.

or this

O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live
in and the life we live: Watch over those, both night and day,
who work while others sleep, and grant that we may never
forget that our common life depends upon each other's toil;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Silence may be kept, and free intercessions and thanksgivings may be
offered.

The service concludes with the Song of Simeon with this Antiphon, which
is sung or said by all

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

In Easter Season, add    Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

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Lord, you now have set your servant free *
   to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
   whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten the nations, *
   and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

All repeat the Antiphon

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

In Easter Season, add    Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Officiant concludes

The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless us and keep us. Amen.

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