The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
AllAmen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
Allwho made heaven and earth.
A period of silence for reflection on the past day may follow.
The following or other suitable words of penitence may be used
AllMost 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.
AllO Lord, make haste to help us.
AllGlory 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.
One or more of the following psalms may be used.
1Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness; •
you set me at liberty when I was in trouble;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2How long will you nobles dishonour my glory; •
how long will you love vain things and seek after falsehood?
3But know that the Lord has shown me his marvellous kindness; •
when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
4Stand in awe, and sin not; •
commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness •
and put your trust in the Lord.
6There are many that say, ‘Who will show us any good?’ •
Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us.
7You have put gladness in my heart, •
more than when their corn and wine and oil increase.
8In peace I will lie down and sleep, •
for it is you Lord, only, who make me dwell in safety.
1Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High •
and abides under the shadow of the Almighty,
2Shall say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my stronghold, •
my God, in whom I put my trust.’
3For he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler •
and from the deadly pestilence.
4He shall cover you with his wings
and you shall be safe under his feathers; •
his faithfulness shall be your shield and buckler.
5You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, •
nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, •
nor of the sickness that destroys at noonday.
7Though a thousand fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand, •
yet it shall not come near you.
8Your eyes have only to behold •
to see the reward of the wicked.
9Because you have made the Lord your refuge •
and the Most High your stronghold,
10There shall no evil happen to you, •
neither shall any plague come near your tent.
11For he shall give his angels charge over you, •
to keep you in all your ways.
12They shall bear you in their hands, •
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13You shall tread upon the lion and adder; •
the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14Because they have set their love upon me,
therefore will I deliver them; •
I will lift them up, because they know my name.
15They will call upon me and I will answer them; •
I am with them in trouble,
I will deliver them and bring them to honour.
16With long life will I satisfy them •
and show them my salvation.
1Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, •
you that by night stand in the house of the Lord.
2Lift up your hands towards the sanctuary •
and bless the Lord.
3The Lord who made heaven and earth •
give you blessing out of Zion.
At the end of the psalmody, the following is said or sung
AllGlory 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.
One of the following short lessons or another suitable passage is read
You, O Lord, are in the midst of us and we are called by your name; leave us not, O Lord our God.
Jeremiah 14.9
(or)
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
(or)
The servants of the Lamb shall see the face of God, whose name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night: they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 22.4,5
The following responsory may be said
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
AllInto your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
AllI commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllInto your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Or, in Easter
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Alleluia, alleluia.
AllInto your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Alleluia, alleluia.
For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
AllAlleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllInto your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Keep me as the apple of your eye.
AllHide me under the shadow of your wings.
The Nunc dimittis (The Song of Simeon) is said or sung
AllSave us, O Lord, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ
and asleep may rest in peace.
1Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
2My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
3A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Luke 2.29-32
AllGlory 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.
AllSave us, O Lord, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ
and asleep may rest in peace.
Intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered here.
Silence may be kept.
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.
AllAmen.
The Lord’s Prayer may be said.
In peace we will lie down and sleep;
Allfor you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
Allfor the night is at hand and the day is now past.
As the night watch looks for the morning,
Allso do we look for you, O Christ.
[Come with the dawning of the day
Alland make yourself known in the breaking of the bread.]
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.
AllAmen.
Copyright © The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2006
All of the official Common Worship publications are being published by Church House Publishing.
