An Order for Night Prayer (Compline) Wednesday, 29 April 2020 Catherine of Siena, Teacher of the Faith, 1380 [Lesser Festival]
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 .
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.
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.
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.
The Word of God
Psalm 104
1Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness!
21You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows the time for its setting.
22You make darkness that it may be night, in which all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
23The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.
24The sun rises and they are gone to lay themselves down in their dens.
25People go forth to their work and to their labour until the evening.
26O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
27There is the sea, spread far and wide, and there move creatures beyond number, both small and great.
28There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan
which you have made to play in the deep.
29All of these look to you to give them their food in due season.
30When you give it them, they gather it; you open your hand and they are filled with good.
31When you hide your face they are troubled; when you take away their breath, they die and return again to the dust.
32When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.
33May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; may the Lord rejoice in his works;
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
Creator God, send your Holy Spirit to renew this living world, that the whole creation, in its groaning and striving, may know your loving purpose and come to reflect your glory; in Jesus Christ our 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
The servants of the Lamb shall see the face of God, whose name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night: they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22.4,5
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, Lord God 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.
Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
Gospel Canticle
The Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon)
Alleluia. The Lord is risen, alleluia, as he promised to you. Alleluia, alleluia.
1Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: ♦ your word has been fulfilled.
2My own eyes have seen the salvation ♦ which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
3A 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
Let us offer our prayers to our God
We return thanks Lord for all you have given to us; For our lives, our purpose in life and the planet we care for. For colour, shape and form, for air to breath and rain to refresh. For our God given abilities and for our freedom of choice as we attempt to nuture all.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
We pray for the leaders of the world, for teh holy Church and for all who lead within teh church.
The developments in the cure for Coronavirus
The sharing of resources, without greed and grab all mentality.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
We pray for those working as key workers in the UK
for those in school who care for the children of key workers.
for those in hospitals seeking to care and support the ill.
For those known to us suffering from Covid 19 or any other illness. We pray for John and Stephen.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
We remember those who have died, especially when they have revealed Christ to us. We remember Robin, Ian, Gerald, Margaret and Gladys and those whom we knew and loved.
For all those many victims of the virus and those whom we know and loved.
For those whose anniversaries fall at this time.
May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Collect
God of compassion, who gave your servant Catherine of Siena a wondrous love of the passion of Christ: grant that your people may be united to him in his majesty and rejoice for ever in the revelation of his glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 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.
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 bless us. May he watch over us and renew us as he renews the whole of creation. May our hearts and lives echo his love. Amen.