Preparation
The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
All Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
All who made heaven and earth.
A period of silence for reflection on the past day may follow.
All 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.
All O Lord, make haste to help us.
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.
Alleluia.
The following or another suitable hymn may be sung
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 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High ♦
and abides under the shadow of the Almighty,
2 Shall say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my stronghold, ♦
my God, in whom I put my trust.’
3 For he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler ♦
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with his wings
and you shall be safe under his feathers; ♦
his faithfulness shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, ♦
nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, ♦
nor of the sickness that destroys at noonday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand, ♦
yet it shall not come near you.
8 Your eyes have only to behold ♦
to see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge ♦
and the Most High your stronghold,
10 There shall no evil happen to you, ♦
neither shall any plague come near your tent.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, ♦
to keep you in all your ways.
12 They shall bear you in their hands, ♦
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; ♦
the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 Because they have set their love upon me,
therefore will I deliver them; ♦
I will lift them up, because they know my name.
15 They will call upon me and I will answer them; ♦
I am with them in trouble,
I will deliver them and bring them to honour.
16 With long life will I satisfy them ♦
and show them my salvation.
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.
Scripture Reading - Jeremiah 14.9
You, O Lord, are in the midst of us and we are called by your name; leave us not, O Lord our God.
Listen to Judas’ Story:
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
All Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
All I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
All Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
The Nunc dimittis (The Song of Simeon) is said or sung
All Save us, O Lord, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ
and asleep may rest in peace.
1 Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: ♦
your word has been fulfilled.
2 My own eyes have seen the salvation ♦
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
3 A light to reveal you to the nations ♦
and the glory of your people Israel.
Luke 2.29-32
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.
All Save us, O Lord, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ
and asleep may rest in peace.
Prayers
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.
All Amen.
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.
The Conclusion
In peace we will lie down and sleep;
All for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
All for the night is at hand and the day is now past.
As the night watch looks for the morning,
All 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.
All Amen.