How abundant is your goodness that you have laid up for those who fear you,
and accomplished for those who take refuge in you,
I will meditate on all your work,
and muse on your mighty deeds.
[Psalm 31:19 & 72:12]

We reflect on what we have seen of God in the past day.
Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
ELLC Nunc Dimittis.
Hallowed be your name Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit: As in the beginning; so now; and forever. Amen.

O God of all hopefulness, we pray for the fleshing out of your dream for your world.
“No more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.”
Your kingdom come
your will be done on earth as in heaven
“No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime.”
Your kingdom come
your will be done on earth as in heaven
“They shall not labour in vain, or bear children for calamity. “
Your kingdom come
your will be done on earth as in heaven

In peace we will lie down and sleep;
for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety
Our refuge and our stronghold, God, in whom we put our trust. deliver us from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. Cover us with your wings and make us safe under your feathers; Your faithfulness shall be our shield and buckler.

We have laboured in vain and lived dreams in disharmony to God’s.
Pause for reflection.
Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Make our hearts clean, O God;
and renew a right spirit within us.

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.

Hymn (suggested tune: Te Lucis)
O God, our day draws to its close,
we rest from this life’s ebbs and flows,
we ask that when we rest this night
disturbances do not alight.

And now we trust, at our day’s end,
that you our inward peace defend
and bring us at the new day’s start
to waken well and cheered of heart.
Amen.

And so may God + Lover, Beloved and Loving, sustain us this night, always and ever.
Amen.

Night Prayer 3. Night Prayer 5. Return to Navigation.

We think about all your deeds,
We meditate on the works of your hands.
You, O God, are our fortress,
the God who shows us steadfast love
[Psalms 143:5, 59:17]
Time to reflect on what we have seen of God in the past day.

Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
ELLC Nunc Dimittis.
Hallowed be your name, Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit:
As in the beginning; so now and forever. Amen.

O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Keep Your people, Lord, in the arms of Your embrace.
Shelter them under Your wings.
Be their light in darkness.
Be their hope in distress.
Be their calm in anxiety.
Be strength in their weakness.
Be their comfort in pain.
Be their song in the night.
Show the wonder of Your great love,
Save by Your right hand those who take refuge in You.

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 faithfulness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

As this day draws to a close for us, we recognise that there have been occasions when we have closed off the outworking of God’s grace and love in and through our lives.
…
Hide your face from our sins,
and blot out all our iniquities
Restore to us the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in us a willing spirit.
If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Lighten our darkness, O 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 Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen

Night Prayer 2. Night Prayer 4, Return to Navigation.

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.
Remember the wonderful works he has done,
we extol you, O God
and bless your name forever and ever
[Psalms 105:4 & 145:1]

Pause to reflect on what we have seen of God in the past day.
Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
A llght to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
ELLC Nunc Dimittis.
Hallowed be your name Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit:
As in the beginning; so now; and forever. Amen.

As we lie down to rest we lay before God the restless world.
Your lore and wisdom infuse the earth
fulfil your heavenly dreams among us.
Thwart ill-will and spiteful imaginings
Let justice, mercy and truth flourish for good.
Extend through your church a welcome to all
And entice the world to the feast of Fulfilment
Knit together Dayspring in the womb of night
Let darkness nurture new hopeful futures.
Further concerns may be expressed …

In peace we will lie down and sleep;
for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety
O God, your unstinting providence sustains the world, our lives, our living: Take care for us, and keep us ever mindful that our common weal flows from each other’s toil and care.
Amen.
[Adapted from a prayer in Compline, The Book of Common Prayer, ECUSA, 1979]

The following hymn may be sung (Tune: ‘Te Lucis’ traditional for Compline)
As now our day draws to its close,
we rest from this life’s ebbs and flows,
God grant that when we rest this night
disturbances do not alight.

For falling short and wrong things done
we ask forgiveness in your Son
and we do now give up our aims
for recompense and vengeful claims

Search us O God and know our hearts, test us and know our anxious thoughts;
See if there is any offensive way in us.
Pause to recognise our wrongs of the day…
Have mercy on us, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out our transgressions.
Create in us clean hearts, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within us.
Jesus says: come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give them rest.
Thanks be to God.

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

Night Prayer 1. Night Prayer 3. Return to Navigation.

You have multiplied, O God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you.
We give thanks to you, O God and tell of your wondrous deeds.
we give thanks; your name is near.

Pause to reflect on what we have seen of God in the past day.

Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
ELLC Nunc Dimittis.
Hallowed be your name Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit:
As in the beginning; so now; and forever. Amen.

Let us pray
… pause to recall, and perhaps to share, particular concerns before God.

(the words to the following may be sung to the tune ‘Te Lucis’ -traditional compline hymn)
O God with you we rest our cares
bring good of them in all affairs
And as the world turns on its round
may justice, peace and hope abound.

And as we pause to take our sleep
bring comfort to all those who weep
and work into to the wide world’s life
the grace that ends ungodly strife.

O God bring good news to the poor
and make your peacely rule more sure
tread underfoot all ill and woe
So right and health and goodness grow

We lie down and sleep; we wake again, for the Lord sustains us.
Save us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace.

Search me out, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my restless thoughts.
Look well whether there be any wickedness in me.
Pause to recognise wrongness in our lives today; both what we’ve caused and what we need to forgive.
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal:
have mercy on us.
Let us attend: God breathes forgiveness on those who confess their sins.
From the darkness of our sins we walk.

lead us in the way that is everlasting.
Let us hear of your loving-kindness in the morning,
for in you we put our trust;
show us the way we should walk in,
for we lift up our soul to you.
[from Psalm 143]

Night Prayer 2. Return to Navigation.