Preparation
The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist, steadfast in the faith.
1 Peter 5.8, 9
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Thanks be to God.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
who hath made heaven and earth.
A period of silence for reflection on the past day follows.
We confess to God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
through our own grievous fault.
Wherefore we pray God to have mercy upon us.
Almighty God, have mercy upon us,
forgive us all our sins and deliver us from all evil,
confirm and strengthen us in all goodness,
and bring us to life everlasting;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May the almighty and merciful Lord
grant unto you pardon and remission of all your sins,
time for amendment of life,
and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Praise ye the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.
Hymn
Words: Latin, 8th century or earlier, translated by John Mason Neale (1818-1866, formerly Chaplain of Downing College)
Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world we pray,
That with thy wonted favour thou
Wouldst be our guard and keeper now.
From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
From nightly fears and fantasies;
Tread underfoot our ghostly foe,
That no pollution we may know.
O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.
Amen.
The Word of God
Psalm 91: Qui habitat
Whoso dwelleth under the defence of the Most High :
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope, and my stronghold :
my God, in him will I trust.
For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter :
and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall defend thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers :
his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night :
nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
For the pestilence that walketh in darkness :
nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noonday.
A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand :
but it shall not come nigh thee.
Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold :
and see the reward of the ungodly.
For thou, Lord, art my hope :
thou hast set thine house of defence very high.
There shall no evil happen unto thee :
neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee :
to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee in their hands :
that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder :
the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him :
I will set him up, because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will hear him :
yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honour.
With long life will I satisfy him :
and shew him my salvation.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Psalm 134: Ecce nunc
Behold now, praise the Lord :
all ye servants of the Lord;
Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord :
even in the courts of the house of our God.
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary :
and praise the Lord.
The Lord that made heaven and earth :
give thee blessing out of Sion.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 14.9
Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name;
leave us not, O Lord our God.
Thanks be to God.
Responsory
Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
For thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth.
I commend my spirit.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Keep me as the apple of an eye.
Hide me under the shadow of thy wings.
Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2.29-32)
Preserve us, O Lord, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep we may rest in peace.
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace :
according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen :
thy salvation;
Which thou hast prepared :
before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles :
and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Preserve us, O Lord, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep we may rest in peace.
Prayers
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Blessed art thou, Lord God of our fathers:
to be praised and glorified above all for ever.
Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost:
let us praise him and magnify him for ever.
Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven:
to be praised and glorified above all for ever.
The almighty and most merciful Lord guard us
and give us his blessing.
Amen.
[Anthem]
Silence
Collect
Let us pray.
Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this place,
and drive from it all the snares of the enemy;
let thy holy angels dwell herein to preserve us in peace;
and may thy blessing be upon us evermore;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Conclusion
We will lay us down in peace and take our rest.
For it is thou, Lord, only that makest us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, O Lord,
for it is toward evening and the day is far spent.
As the watchmen look for the morning,
so do we look for thee, O Christ.
The Lord be with you
and with thy spirit.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The almighty and merciful Lord,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,
bless us and preserve us.
Amen.