Compline of Saint Nicholas

Stand
The minister says
The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
All
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. 8,9

Te lucis ante terminum is sung.

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.

The minister says
Let us confess our sins to Almighty God.

Silence may be kept.

Kneel
All
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.

Minister
Almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and keep us in life eternal.
All
Amen.

Stand
Minister
O Lord, open our lips;
People
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Minister
Let us worship the Lord.
People
All praise to his Name.

All
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 134
Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord:
you that by night stand in the house of our God.

Lift up your hands towards the holy place, and bless the Lord:
may the Lord bless you from Zion,
the Lord who made heaven and earth.

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.

Sit
A lesson for Saints' Days is read.
They will see the Lord face to face,
and his name will be written on their foreheads.
It will never be night again and they will not need lamplight or sunlight,
because the Lord God will be shining on them.
They will reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 22. 4,5

At the end the reader may say
This is the word of the Lord.
All may say
Thanks be to God.

After the lesson silence may be kept.

Stand
Minister
Into your hands, O Lord, I commit my spirit
(alleluia, alleluia).
People
Into your hands, O Lord, I commit my spirit
(or alleluia, alleluia).
Minister
You will redeem me, O Lord God of truth.
People
I commit my spirit (or alleluia, alleluia)
Minister
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
People
Into your hands, O Lord, I commit my spirit
(or alleluia, alleluia).

Nunc Dimittis, The Song of Simeon, is said with its antiphon.
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. (Alleluia).

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 ev'ry 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 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. (Alleluia).

All
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

These collects are said
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.

Almighty Father, lover of souls,
who chose your servant Nicholas to be a bishop in the Church,
that he might give freely out of the treasures of your grace:
make us mindful of the needs of others
and, as we have received, so teach us also to give;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Minister
The Lord is here.
People
His Spirit is with us.
Minister
Let us bless the Lord.
People
Thanks be to God.
Minister
The almighty and merciful Lord,
the Father, the Son, and. the Holy Spirit,
bless and preserve us.
People
Amen.

From St Nicholas Parish Church, Alcester. Warwickshire, England. Used by permission.

back to top