The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
AllAmen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
Allwho 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.
AllMost 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.
AllO Lord, make haste to
help us.
AllGlory 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 other 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.
Refrain: Into your hands I commend my spirit.
1In you, O Lord, have
I taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame; ♦
deliver me in your righteousness.
2Incline your ear to me;
♦
make haste to deliver me.
3Be my strong rock, a
fortress to save me,
for you are my rock and my stronghold; ♦
guide me, and lead me for your name’s sake.
4Take me out of the net
that they have laid secretly for me, ♦
for you are my strength.
5Into your hands I commend
my spirit, ♦
for you have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. R
[19How abundant is your
goodness, O Lord,
which you have laid up for those who fear you; ♦
which you have prepared in the sight of all
for those who put their trust in you.
20You hide them in the
shelter of your presence
from those who slander them; ♦
you keep them safe in your refuge from the strife of tongues.
21Blessed be the Lord!
♦
For he has shown me his steadfast love
when I was as a city besieged.
22I had said in my alarm,
‘I have been cut off from the sight of your eyes.’ ♦
Nevertheless, you heard the voice of my prayer
when I cried out to you. R
23Love the Lord, all you
his servants; ♦
for the Lord protects the faithful,
but repays to the full the proud.
24Be strong and let your
heart take courage, ♦
all you who wait in hope for the Lord.]
Refrain: Into your hands I commend my spirit.
Lord Jesus Christ,
when scorn and shame besiege us
and hope is veiled in grief,
hold us in your wounded hands
and make your face shine on us again,
for you are our Lord and God.
At the end of the psalmody the following is said or sung
AllGlory 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.
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
The following responsory may be said
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
AllInto your hands, O Lord,
I commend my spirit.
For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
AllI commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy
Spirit.
AllInto your hands, O Lord,
I commend my spirit.
Keep me as the apple of your eye.
AllHide me under the shadow
of your wings.
The Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon) is said or sung.
AllO King most blessed,
on the day of judgement
number us among your chosen.
1Now, Lord, you let your
servant go in peace: ♦
your word has been fulfilled.
2My own eyes have seen
the salvation ♦
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
3A light to reveal you
to the nations ♦
and the glory of your people Israel.
Luke 2.29-32
AllGlory 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.
AllO King most blessed,
on the day of judgement
number us among your chosen.
Intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered here.
Silence may be kept.
Eternal God,
whose servant Edmund kept faith to the end,
both with you and with his people,
and glorified you by his death:
grant us such steadfastness of faith
that, with the noble army of martyrs,
we may come to enjoy the fullness of the resurrection life;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
AllAmen.
or
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.
AllAmen.
or
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.
AllAmen.
The Lord’s Prayer may be said.
In peace we will lie down and sleep;
Allfor you alone, Lord,
make us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
Allfor the night is at
hand and the day is now past.
As the night watch looks for the morning,
Allso do we look for you,
O Christ.
[Come with the dawning of the day
Alland make yourself known
in the breaking of the bread.]
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.
©
The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2005
Official Common Worship apps, books and eBooks are available from
Church House Publishing.
The Bible readings (other than the psalms) are from The New Revised Standard Version Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Implemented by Simon Kershaw at
Crucix.
Implementation copyright © Simon Kershaw, 2002-2021.