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: The Lord is at my right hand; I shall not fall.
1Preserve me, O God, for
in you have I taken refuge; •
I have said to the Lord, ‘You are my lord,
all my good depends on you.’
2All my delight is upon
the godly that are in the land, •
upon those who are noble in heart.
3Though the idols are
legion that many run after, •
their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, •
neither make mention of their names upon my lips.
4The Lord himself is my
portion and my cup; •
in your hands alone is my fortune.
5My share has fallen in
a fair land; •
indeed, I have a goodly heritage. R
6I will bless the Lord
who has given me counsel, •
and in the night watches he instructs my heart.
7I have set the Lord always
before me; •
he is at my right hand; I shall not fall.
8Wherefore my heart is
glad and my spirit rejoices; •
my flesh also shall rest secure.
9For you will not abandon
my soul to Death, •
nor suffer your faithful one to see the Pit.
10You will show me the
path of life;
in your presence is the fullness of joy •
and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.
Refrain: The Lord is at my right hand; I shall not fall.
Give to us, Lord Christ,
the fullness of grace,
your presence and your very self,
for you are our portion and our delight,
now and for ever.
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.
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
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.
AllGrant us your
light, O Lord,
that the darkness of our hearts being overcome,
we may receive the true light,
even Christ our Saviour.
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.
AllGrant us your
light, O Lord,
that the darkness of our hearts being overcome,
we may receive the true light,
even Christ our Saviour.
Intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered here.
Silence may be kept.
God our Father,
whose Son enjoyed the love of his friends,
Mary, Martha and Lazarus,
in learning, argument and hospitality:
may we so rejoice in your love
that the world may come to know
the depths of your wisdom, the wonder of your compassion,
and your power to bring life out of death;
through the merits of Jesus Christ,
our friend and brother,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
AllAmen.
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.]
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.
AllAmen.