Parishes of St Philips and All Saints Kew with St Luke’s Kew
Where all God’s children are Welcome
An Order for Night Prayer (Compline)
Tuesday in Holy Week 2020
Note
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. It is most effective when the ending is indeed an ending, without additions, conversation or noise. If there is an address, or business to be done, it should come first. If the service is in church, those present depart in silence; if at home, they go quietly to bed.
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 may follow.
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.
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.
Psalm 88
Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry
out to you.
2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
3 I
am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death.
4 I am counted among those who go down
to the pit; I
am like one without strength.
5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in
the grave,
whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
6 You
have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
7 Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me
with all your waves.
8 You have taken from me my closest
friends and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief.
I call to you, Lord,
every day; I spread out my hands to
you.
10 Do you show your wonders to the
dead? Do
their spirits rise up and praise you?
11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?
12 Are your wonders known in the place
of darkness, or
your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13 But
I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning my
prayer comes before you.
14 Why, Lord, do you
reject me and hide your face from me?
15 From
my youth I have suffered and been close to death;
I
have borne your terrors and am in despair.
16 Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
17 All day long they surround me like a
flood; they
have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken from me friend and neighbour— darkness is my closest
friend.
Scripture Reading
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, seeking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in the faith. 1 Peter 5.8,9
Luke 10: 25-37
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’
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 your eye.
Hide
me under the shadow of your wings.
Gospel Canticle
The Nunc dimittis (The Song of Simeon) is said
1 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to thy word.
2 For mine eyes have seen: thy salvation;
3 Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people;
4 To be a light to lighten the Gentiles: and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Luke 2.29-32
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.
Prayers
Intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered here.
The Collect
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.
The Lord bless us and watch over us;
the Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us;
the Lord look kindly on us and give us peace.
Amen.
Copyright acknowledgments (where not already indicated above):
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000
Nunc dimittis (Traditional) © The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)