An Order of Service for Compline

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 may then say
Let us confess our sins to God.

Officiant and People

Almighty God, our heavenly Father:
We have sinned against you,
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,
forgive us all our offenses;
and grant that we may serve you
in newness of life,
to the glory of your Name.  Amen. 

Officiant
May the Almighty God grant us forgiveness of all our sins, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Officiant then says
O God, make speed to save us.
People O Lord, make haste to help us.

Officiant and People
Glory 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.
Alleluia

One or more of the following Psalms are sung or said. Other suitable selections may be substituted.

Psalm 4 Cum invocarem

1  Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; *
 you set me free when I am hard-pressed;
 have mercy on me and hear my prayer. 

2  "You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; *
 how long will you worship dumb idols
 and run after false gods?" 

3  Know that the LORD does wonders for the faithful; *
 when I call upon the LORD, he will hear me. 

4  Tremble, then, and do not sin; *
 speak to your heart in silence upon your bed. 

5  Offer the appointed sacrifices *
 and put your trust in the LORD. 

6  Many are saying,
"Oh, that we might see better times!" *
 Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD. 

7  You have put gladness in my heart, *
 more than when grain and wine and oil increase. 

8  I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; *
 for only you, LORD, make me dwell in safety. 

Psalm 31 In te, Domine, speravi

1  In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame: *
 deliver me in your righteousness. 

2  Incline your ear to me; *
 make haste to deliver me. 

3  Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
 for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me. 

4  Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
 for you are my tower of strength. 

5  Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
 for you have redeemed me,
 O LORD, O God of truth. 

Psalm 91 Qui habitat

1  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High *
 abides under the shadow of the Almighty. 

2  He shall say to the LORD,
 "You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
   my God in whom I put my trust." 

3  He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter *
 and from the deadly pestilence. 

4  he shall cover you with his pinions,
 and you shall find refuge under his wings; *
   his faithfulness shall be a 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 plague that stalks in the darkness, *
 nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day. 

7  A thousand shall fall at your side
 and ten thousand at your right hand, *
   but it shall not come near you. 

8  Your eyes only have to behold *
 to see the reward of the wicked. 

9  Because you have made the LORD your refuge, *
 and the Most High your habitation, 

10  There shall no evil happen to you, *
 neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. 

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 the adder; *
 you shall trample the young lion and the serpent
    under your feet. 

14  Because he is bound to me in love,
 therefore will I deliver him; *
    I will protect him, because he knows my Name. 

15  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
 I am with him in trouble;
    I will rescue him and bring him to honor. 

16  With long life will I satisfy him, *
 and show him my salvation. 

Psalm 134 Ecce nunc

1  Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, *
 you that stand by night in the house of the LORD. 

2  Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; *
 the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion. 

At the end of the Psalms is sung or said
Glory 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.

The following, or some other suitable passage of Scripture, is read

Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.
1 Peter 5:8-9a

People Thanks be to God.

A hymn suitable for the evening may be sung.

Then follows
V. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
R. For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
V. Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
R. Hide us under the shadow of your wings.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Officiant and People

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.  Amen. 

Officiant Lord, hear our prayer;
People And let our cry come to you.
Officiant Let us pray.

The Officiant then says the following Collect

Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snare of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Saturdays
We give thanks, O God, for revealing your Son Jesus Christ to us by the light of his resurrection: Grant that as we sing your glory at the close of this day, our joy may abound in the morning as we celebrate the Paschal mystery; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The following prayers may be added

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.

Silence may be kept, and free intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered.

The service concludes with the Song of Simeon with this Antiphon, which is sung or said by all

Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake
we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Lord, you now have set your servant free *
 to go in peace as you have promised; 

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
 whom you have prepared for all the world to see: 

A Light to enlighten the nations, *
 and the glory of your people Israel. 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.  Amen. 

All repeat the Antiphon
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake
we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Officiant Let us bless the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.

The Officiant concludes
The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us. Amen.