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….. so those present depart in silence; if at home, they go quietly to bed. The Advent Antiphons are refrains which predate the 8. Century and they were sung in the evening on the seven days preceding Christmas Eve. They are addressed to God, calling for him to come, using a tapestry of scriptural titles and pictures that describe his saving work.
it being Advent – light candles or your wreath…..
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 stillness for reflection on the past day may follow.
Advent being a penitential season we are invited to use the following or other suitable words of penitence
1. When the Lord comes he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins….
2. A voice cries out in the wilderness ‘make straight the way of the Lord’
so let us listen and turn to the Lord in penitence and faith….
Turn to us again o God our Saviour and let your anger cease from us:
Lord have mercy Lord have mercy
Show us your compassion o Lord and grant us your salvation:
Christ have mercy Christ have mercy
Your salvation is near for those that fear you, that glory may dwell in our land:
Lord have mercy Lord have mercy
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 Word of God
(Psalms 90 / 106 / 50 / 89.1-18 (19-37) / 27 / 118 / 80)
Psalm 80
1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, ♦
you that led Joseph like a flock;
2 Shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim, ♦
before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
3 Stir up your mighty strength ♦
and come to our salvation.
4 Turn us again, O God; ♦
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
5 O Lord God of hosts, ♦
how long will you be angry at your people’s prayer?
6 You feed them with the bread of tears; ♦
you give them abundance of tears to drink.
7 You have made us the derision of our neighbours, ♦
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
8 Turn us again, O God of hosts; ♦
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
9 You brought a vine out of Egypt; ♦
you drove out the nations and planted it.
10 You made room around it, ♦
and when it had taken root, it filled the land.
11 The hills were covered with its shadow ♦
and the cedars of God by its boughs.
12 It stretched out its branches to the Sea ♦
and its tendrils to the River.
13 Why then have you broken down its wall, ♦
so that all who pass by pluck off its grapes?
14 The wild boar out of the wood tears it off, ♦
and all the insects of the field devour it.
15 Turn again, O God of hosts, ♦
look down from heaven and behold;
16 Cherish this vine which your right hand has planted, ♦
and the branch that you made so strong for yourself.
17 Let those who burnt it with fire, who cut it down, ♦
perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
18 Let your hand be upon the man at your right hand, ♦
the son of man you made so strong for yourself.
19 And so will we not go back from you; ♦
give us life, and we shall call upon your name.
20 Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts; ♦
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
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
17. the night is far spent the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light
Romans 13.12
18. break forth together into singing you waste places of Jerusalem
for the Lord has comforted his people
Isaiah 52.9
19. lift up your heads O gates be lifted up you everlasting doors
and the king of glory shall come in
Psalm 24.7
20. watch at all times praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place to stand before the Son of Man
Luke 21.36
21. stand up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near
Luke 21.28
22. our Lord says ‘surely i come quickly’ even so come Lord Jesus
Revelation 22.20
23. behold a young woman shall conceive and bear a son
and shall call his name Immanuel
Isaiah 7.14
A period of stillness 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 Lord God 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)
Come, o Lord, and visit us in peace;
that we may rejoice before you with a perfect heart.
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.
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.
Come, o Lord, and visit us in peace;
that we may rejoice before you with a perfect heart.
Prayers
Intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered here
Watchful at all times, let us pray for strength to stand with confidence before our Maker and Redeemer.
That God may bring in his kingdom with justice and mercy,
let us pray to the Lord…..
That God may establish among the nations his sceptre of righteousness,
let us pray to the Lord…..
That God may bind up the broken hearted and restore the sick and raise up all who have fallen,
let us pray to the Lord…..
That the light of God’s coming may dawn on all who live in darkness and the shadow of death,
let us pray to the Lord…..
That with all the saints in light we may shine forth as lights for the world,
let us pray to the Lord….. Lord have mercy.
One or more of the following Collects is said
Stillness may be kept
Collect(s) for Advent:
Stir up your power, o God, and come among us.
Heal our wounds, calm our fears and give us peace;
through Jesus our Redeemer.
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.
Amen.
Eternal God, as Mary waited for the birth of your Son, so we wait for his coming in glory; bring us through the birth pangs of this present age to see, with her,
our great salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer may be said.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
we pray in the stillness for all who tonight face their death……
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
A moment of stillness may follow
The Conclusion with Advent Antiphons
17. O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily, and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
18. O Adonai, and leader of the house of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.
19. O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths, to you nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us and delay no longer.
20. O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;
you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
21. O Morning Star, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
22. O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race, which you have fashioned from clay.
23. O Emmanuel, our King and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us o Lord and God.
A moment of stillness may follow
In peace we will lie down and sleep; in peace we will lie down and sleep;
for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus, 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, as the night watch looks for the morning,
so do we look for you, o Christ.
Restore us again, o God of hosts;
show us the light of your countenance and we shall be saved.
Bless and keep us, this night and always.
Amen.
the people blow out their candles and log off in silence…….
© The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2000-2005 © The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2000-2005
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