Compline - Easter Week 2
Throughout the easter season we will be praying the Compline from the BCP 2019. If you don’t already have a copy I highly recommend picking one up or by using the BCP2019 website for more liturgies. Below is a brief history of the Compline from Wikipedia followed by a Liturgy for tonight’s service. Peace and Grace!
Compline (/ˈkɒmplɪn/ KOM-plin), also known as Complin, Night Prayer, or the Prayers at the End of the Day, is the final church service (or office) of the day in the Christian tradition of canonical hours. The English word compline is derived from the Latin completorium, as compline is the completion of the working day. The word was first used in this sense about the beginning of the 6th century by St. Benedict in his Rule (Regula Benedicti; hereafter, RB), in Chapters 16, 17, 18, and 42, and he even uses the verb compleo to signify compline: "Omnes ergo in unum positi compleant" ("All having assembled in one place, let them say compline"); "et exeuntes a completorio" ("and, after going out from compline")... (RB, Chap. 42).
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, and certain other Christian denominations with liturgical traditions prescribe compline services. Compline tends to be a contemplative Office that emphasizes spiritual peace. In many monasteries it is the custom to begin the "Great Silence" after compline, during which the whole community, including guests, observes silence throughout the night until the morning service the next day. (Wikipedia)
Audio:
Liturgy:
The Officiant begins
The Lord Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end. Amen.
Officiant Our help is in the Name of the Lord;
People The maker of heaven and earth.
The Officiant continues
Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.
The Officiant and People then say
Almighty God and Father, we confess to you,
to one another, and to the whole company of heaven,
that we have sinned, through our own fault,
in thought, and word, and deed, and in what we have left undone.
For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ,
have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins,
and by the power of your Holy Spirit
raise us up to serve you in newness of life,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
The Officiant alone says
May Almighty God grant us forgiveness of all our sins, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Officiant O God, make speed to save us;
People O Lord, make haste to help us.
Officiant Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
People As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Alleluia.
PSALM 4
Cum invocarem
1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness; *
you set me free when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
2 O you children of men, how long will you blaspheme my honor, *
and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after falsehood?
3 Know this also, that the Lord has chosen for himself the one that is godly; *
when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
4 Stand in awe, and sin not; *
commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
5 Offer the sacrifice of righteousness *
and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There are many that say, “Who will show us any good?” *
Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us.
7 You have put gladness in my heart, *
more than when others’ grain and wine and oil increased.
8 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; *
for you, Lord, only, make me dwell in safety.
At the end of the Psalms the Gloria Patri (Glory be...) is sung or said
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Scripture
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learnfrom me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (MATTHEW 11:28 30)
At the end of the reading is said
Officiant: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Officiant Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
People For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
Officiant Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
People Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
The Officiant then says one or more of the following Collects. Other appropriate Collects may also be used.
Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord; and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Collects
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.
and
O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live in and the life we live: Watch over those, both night and day, who work while others sleep, and grant that we may never forget that our common life depends upon each other’s toil; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Silence may be kept, and other intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered. The Officiant and People say or sing the Song of Simeon with this Antiphon
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
In Easter Season, add Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
NUNC DIMITTIS
The Song of Simeon
Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, *
according to your word.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, *
Which you have prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, *
and to be the glory of your people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; * as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (LUKE 2:29-32)
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
In Easter Season, add Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Officiant Let us bless the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
The Officiant concludes with the following
The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us, this night and evermore. Amen.
