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.
Sometimes the words of penitence may be omitted and the service may begin here
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.
Alleluia !
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.
Easter Doxology
All praise be yours, O risen Lord,
From death to endless life restored;
Whom, with the Father, we adore
And Holy Spirit evermore. Amen.
The Word of God
Psalm 86
Refrain: All nations you have made
shall come and worship you, O Lord.
1 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, ♦
for I am poor and in misery.
2 Preserve my soul, for I am faithful; ♦
save your servant, for I put my trust in you.
3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for you are my God; ♦
I call upon you all the day long.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant, ♦
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
5 For you, Lord, are good and forgiving, ♦
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer ♦
and listen to the voice of my supplication.
7 In the day of my distress I will call upon you, ♦
for you will answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord, ♦
nor any works like yours.
9 All nations you have made shall come and worship you, O Lord, ♦
and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wonderful things; ♦
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; ♦
knit my heart to you, that I may fear your name.
12 I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, ♦
and glorify your name for evermore;
13 For great is your steadfast love towards me, ♦
for you have delivered my soul from the depths of the grave.
14 O God, the proud rise up against me and a ruthless horde seek after my life; ♦
they have not set you before their eyes.
15 But you, Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, ♦
slow to anger and full of kindness and truth.
16 Turn to me and have mercy upon me; ♦
give your strength to your servant and save the child of your handmaid.
17Show me a token of your favour, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; ♦
because you, O Lord, have helped and comforted me.
Refrain: All nations you have made
shall come and worship you, O Lord.
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
Job said ‘O that my words were written down ! O that they were inscribed in a book !
O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock for ever !
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth;
and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.’
Job 19:23-27
A period of silence for reflection on the reading may follow
Into your hands O Lord I commend my spirit. Alleluia ! Alleluia !
Into your hands O Lord I commend my spirit. Alleluia ! Alleluia !
For you have redeemed me O Lord of truth.
Alleluia ! Alleluia !
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Into your hands O Lord I commend my spirit. Alleluia ! Alleluia !
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
who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ
have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:
grant that, as by your grace going before us
you put into our minds good desires,
so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect;
through Jesus Christ our risen Lord
who is alive and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
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.
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.
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 Redeemer 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.
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 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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