The ancient office of Compline derives its name from a Latin word meaning ‘completion’ (completorium). It is above all a service of quietness and reflection before rest at the end of the day. It is most effective when the ending is indeed an ending, without additions, conversation or noise. If there is an address, or business to be done, it should come first. If the service is in church, those present depart in silence; if at home, they go quietly to bed.
Preparation
The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
who 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
Most 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.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory 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 following or another 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. Amen.
The Word of God
Verses from Psalm 104
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. ♦
O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness!
21 You appointed the moon to mark the seasons ♦
and the sun knows the time for its setting.
22 You make darkness that it may be night, ♦
in which all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
23 The lions roar for their prey ♦
and seek their food from God.
24 The sun rises and they are gone ♦
to lay themselves down in their dens.
25 People go forth to their work ♦
and to their labour until the evening.
26 O Lord, how manifold are your works! ♦
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
27 There is the sea, spread far and wide, ♦
and there move creatures beyond number, both small and great.
28 There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan ♦
which you have made to play in the deep.
29 All of these look to you ♦
to give them their food in due season.
30 When you give it them, they gather it; ♦
you open your hand and they are filled with good.
31 When you hide your face they are troubled; ♦
when you take away their breath,
they die and return again to the dust.
32 When you send forth your spirit, they are created, ♦
and you renew the face of the earth.
33 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; ♦
may the Lord rejoice in his works
Glory 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.
Scripture Reading
The servants of the Lamb shall see the face of God, whose name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night: they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 22:4-5
A period of silence for reflection on the reading may follow
Into your hands O Lord I commend my spirit.
Into your hands O Lord I commend my spirit.
For you have redeemed me O Lord of truth.
I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Into your hands O Lord I commend my spirit.
Gospel Canticle
The Nunc dimittis (The Song of Simeon)
Alleluia. The Lord is risen, Alleluia, as he promised to you. Alleluia, Alleluia.
1 Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: ♦
your word has been fulfilled.
2 My own eyes have seen the salvation ♦
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
3 A light to reveal you to the nations ♦
and the glory of your people Israel.
Luke 2.29-32
Glory 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 Lord is risen, Alleluia, as he promised to you. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Prayers
Intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered here.
That you will give us a quiet night and a perfect end:
we pray to you O Lord.
That you will have mercy upon us and grant us your salvation:
we pray to you O Lord.
That you will keep us this night without sin:
we pray to you O Lord.
That you will guard us and give us your blessing:
we pray to you O Lord.
That you will bring us with all your saints to glory everlasting:
we pray to you O Lord.
Silence may be kept
Let us commend ourselves and all for whom we pray
to the mercy and protection of God.
One or more of the following Collects is said
Almighty God
by triumphing over the powers of darkness Christ has prepared a place for us in the new Jerusalem:
may we, who have this day given thanks for his resurrection
praise him in the eternal city of which he is the light;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Keep watch dear Lord, with those that wake, or watch, or weep this night,
and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend the sick, give rest to the weary, sustain the dying, calm the suffering,
and pity the distressed;
all for your love’s sake, O Christ our Redeemer.
Amen.
Lighten our darkness 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 Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
As we come to the ending of the day, let us pray as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Luke 11.2-4
A moment of silence may follow
The Conclusion
In peace we will lie down and sleep;
for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
for the night is at hand and the day is now past.
As the night watch looks for the morning,
so do we look for you, O Christ.
May the risen Lord Jesus bless us.
May he watch over us and renew us
as he renews the whole of creation.
May our hearts and our lives echo his love.
Amen.
the people blow out their candles and log off in silence…….
© The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2000-2005
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