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.
This liturgy has come from All Saints Church, Clayton- le- Moors.
Peace on each one who comes in need,
Peace on each one who comes in joy.
Peace on each one who offers prayers,
Peace on each one who offers song.
Peace of the Maker, Peace of the Child,
Peace of the Spirit, the Triune One.
Oh, God for your love for us, warm and brooding,
which has brought us to birth and opened our eyes to the wonder and beauty of creation.
We give you thanks.
For your love for us, wind and freeing,
which has awakened us to the energy of creation;
to the sap that flows, the blood that pulses,
the heart that sings.
We give you thanks.
For your love for us, compassionate and patient, which has carried us through our pain, wept beside us in our sin, and waited with us in our confusion.
We give you thanks.
For your love for us, strong and challenging,
which has called us to risk for you, asked for the best in us, and shown us how to serve.
We give you thanks. O God we come to celebrate that your Holy Spirit is present deep within us, and at the heart of all life.
Forgive us when we forget your gift of love made known to us in our brother, Jesus, and draw us into your presence.
The Word of God
John 12. 27-36a
“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
The Song of Mary- Magnificat- Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: * the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him * in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, * he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to God, who is the Creator, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
The Song of Simeon Nunc Dimittis Luke 2:29-32
Lord, you now have set your servant free * to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, * whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, * and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to God, who is the Creator, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Intercessions
We bring to God someone whom we have met or remembered today and for whom we want to pray… We bring to God someone who is hurting tonight and needs our prayer… We bring to God a troubled situation in our world tonight… We bring to God silently, someone whom we find hard to forgive or trust… We bring ourselves to God That we might grow in generosity of spirit, Clarity of mind, And warmth of affection. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts that we absorb from another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.
Source: A New Zealand Prayer Book.
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.
In the busyness of this day grant us a stillness of seeing, O God. In the conflicting voices of our hearts grant us calmness of hearing. Let our seeing and hearing our words and actions be rooted in a silent certainty of your presence. Let our passions for life and the longings for justice that stir within us be grounded in the experience of your stillness. Let our lives be rooted in the ground of your peace, O God, let us be rooted in the depths of your peace.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.
Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21
