PRAYER AT THE CLOSE OF THE DAY
Compline
L The
Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and peace at the last.
C Amen
L It
is good to give thanks to the Lord,
C to
sing praise to your name, O Most High;
L to
herald your love in the morning,
C your
truth at the close of the day.
Hymn 282 or another hymn
appropriate for a night service is sung.
The CONFESSION follows.
Silence for
self-examination.
L Holy
and gracious God,
C I
confess that I have sinned against you this day. Some of my sin I know--the
thoughts and words and deeds of which I am ashamed--but some is known only to
you. In the name of Jesus Christ I ask forgiveness. Deliver and restore me,
that I may rest in peace.
L By
the mercy of God we are united with Jesus Christ, and in him we are forgiven.
We rest now in his peace and rise in the morning to serve him.
The PSALMODY. One or more psalms
(4, 33, 34, 91, 134, 136) are sung or said. Silence for meditation follows each
psalm.
As a BRIEF LESSON, one or more of
the following are read.
You are in our midst, O Lord, and you have named us
yours; do not forsake us, O Lord our God.
(Jer.
14:9)
Come to me, all whose work is hard, whose load is
heavy, and I will give you rest. Bend your necks to my yoke, and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble-hearted; and you will find rest. For my yoke is good
to bear, my load is light. (Matt 11:28-30)
Peace is my parting gift to you, my own peace, such
as the world cannot give. Set your troubled hearts at rest, and banish your
fears. (John 14:27)
I am convinced that there is nothing in death or
life, in the realm of spirits or super-human powers, in the world as it is or
the world as it shall be, in the forces of the universe, in heights or
depths--nothing in all creation that can separate us from the love of God in
Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)
Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand and he
will lift you up in due time. Cast all your cares on him, for you are his
charge. Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith. (1 Peter 5:6-9a)
The RESPONSORY follows the
reading(s).
L Into
your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
C Into
your hands I commend my spirit.
L You
have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth.
C Into
your hands I commend my spirit.
L Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
C Into
your hands I commend my spirit.
L Hear
my prayer, O Lord;
C listen
to my cry.
L Keep
me as the apple of your eye;
C hide
me in the shadow of your wings.
L In
righteousness I shall see you;
C when
I awake, your presence will give me joy.
L Be
present, merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that
we who are wearied by the changes and chances of life may find our rest in you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. (259)
C Amen
OR
L O
Lord, support us all the day long of this troubled life, until the shadows
lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed, the fever of life
is over, and our work is done. Then, Lord, in your mercy, grant us a safe
lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (260)
OR
L Be
our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all
perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior
Jesus Christ. (261)
OR
L Visit
our dwellings, O Lord, and drive from them all the snares of the enemy; let
your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your blessing
be upon us always, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (262)
OR
L Eternal
God, the hours both of day and night are yours, and to you the darkness is no
threat. Be present, we pray, with those who labor in these hours of night,
especially those who watch and work on behalf of others. Grant them diligence
in their watching, faithfulness in their service, courage in danger, and
competence in emergencies. Help them to meet the needs of others with
confidence and compassion; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (263)
OR
L Gracious
Lord, we give you thanks for the day, especially for the good we were permitted
to give and to receive; the day is now past and we commit it to you. We entrust
to you the night; we rest in surety, for you are our help, and you neither
slumber nor sleep. (264)
C Amen
C 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;
and
forgive us our trespasses,
as
we forgive those who trespass against us;
and
lead us not into temptation,
but
deliver us from evil.
For
thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever
and ever. Amen
L Guide
us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping;
that
awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace.
C Lord,
now you let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled.
My
own eyes have seen the salvation
which
you have prepared in the sight of every people:
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 will be forever. Amen
Guide
us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping;
that
awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace.
L The
almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless us
and keep us.
C Amen
