This Church in Wales order for Compline, compiled by Bishop R.D. Silk, uses traditional material and takes account of developments in the Roman Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church of the United States of America.
The Lord Almighty, grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.
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. 8
Te lucis ante terminum ,
To you before the end of day,
Creator of the world, we pray:
In love unfailing hear our prayer,
Enfold us in your watchful care.
Keep all disturbing dreams away,
And hold the evil foe at bay.
Repose untroubled let us find
For soul and body, heart and mind.
Almighty Father, this accord
Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord:
Who reigns with you eternally
In your blest Spirit’s unity. Amen.
Let us confess our sins to Almighty God:
Silence may be kept.
Most merciful God,
we have sinned in thought and word and deed:
we are truly sorry and we ask you to forgive.
Help us by your Spirit
to live the new life in Christ,
loving you with all our heart,
and our neighbours as ourselves;
for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy upon us,
forgive us our sins,
and keep us in life eternal.
Amen.
O Lord, open our lips;
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Let us worship the Lord.
All praise to his Name.
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.
Psalm 31. 1-5
In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; *
let me never be put to shame; *
deliver me in your righteousness.
Incline your ear to me; *
make haste to deliver me.
Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
for the sake of your name, lead me and guide me.
Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
for you are my tower of strength.
Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
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 Word
Lord, you are in our midst, we are called by your name.
Do not desert us, O Lord our God. Jeremiah 14. 9
Silence
Into your hands, O Lord, I commit my spirit
Into your hands, O Lord, I commit my spirit
You will redeem me, O Lord God of truth.
I commit my spirit
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commit my spirit
The Song of Simeon, (the Nunc Dimittis)
Save us, Lord, while we are awake; guard us while we are asleep; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep may rest in his peace.
Lord you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as your have promised.
For these eyes of mine have seen the Saviour *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see;
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.
Save us, Lord, while we are awake; guard us while we are asleep; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep may rest in his peace.
The Prayers
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Let us pray with confidence As our Saviour taught us,
to the Father: we boldly pray:
Our Father in heaven, Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name, hallowed be thy name,
your kingdom come, thy kingdom come,
your will be done, thy will be done,
on earth as in heaven. on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today Give us this day
our daily bread. our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those as we forgive those
who sin against us. who trespass against us.
Save us from And lead us not
the time of trial into temptation,
and deliver us from evil. but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power For thine is the kingdom,
and the glory are yours, the power and the glory,
now and for ever. Amen. for ever and ever. Amen.
The Collect
Visit this house, we pray you, Lord; drive far from it all 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 mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Look down, Lord, from your throne in heaven: let the light of your presence dispel the shadows of the night; and from the children of light banish the deeds of darkness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Living God, at this evening hour your Son our Lord Jesus Christ lay in the tomb and so hallowed the grave to be a bed of hope for all who put their trust in you; give us such sorrow for our sins, which were the cause of his passion, that, when our bodies lie in the dust, our souls may live with him, for he is now alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
he Lord is here:
His Spirit is with us.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve us.
Amen.
