An Order for Compline | The Season of Easter

Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, Enriching Our Worship, and The New Zealand Prayer Book

The celebrant opens with the following verse

If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!’

Officiant Christ is risen. Alleluia. 

People And has appeared to the disciples. Alleluia.

O God, be not far from us.

Come quickly to help us, O God.

Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God: 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

The Psalm

One or more of the following Psalms are said (or select any appropriate Psalm)

Alleluia. Christ is risen. O come let us worship. Alleluia.

Psalm 34

I will give thanks to the Lord at ′ all ′ times:

God’s praise will ′ always · be ′ on my ′ lips.

My soul will glory ′ in the ′ Lord: the humble will ′ hear ′ and be ′ glad.

O praise the ′ Lord with ′ me: let us ex′alt God’s ′ name to′gether.

I sought your help O Lord ′ and you ′ answered me:

and ′ freed me · from ′ all my ′ fears.

Look towards the Most High, and be ′ radiant · with ′ light:

and your ′ faces · will ′ not · be a′shamed.

In my affliction I cried out, and the ′ Lord ′ heard me:

and ′ saved me · from ′ all my ′ troubles.

Your angel O Lord

keeps guard around ′ those who ′ fear you:

to ′ rescue · them in ′ time of ′ danger.

Taste and see ′ how gracious the ′ Lord is:

happy are those who find refuge ′ in the ′ Most ′ High.

Fear the Lord, you that are God’s ′ holy ′ people:

for those who fear the Lord ′ are in ′ want of ′ nothing.

Psalm 108

My heart is steadfast O God, my ′ heart is ′ steadfast:

I will ′ sing and ′ make ′ melody.

2Awake my soul, awake ′ lute and ′ harp:

I my′self · will a′waken · the ′ dawn.

I will give thanks to you Lord a′mong the ′ peoples:

I will ′ praise you · a′mong the ′ nations.

For the greatness of your love ′ reaches · to the ′ heavens:

and your ′ faithful·ness ′ up · to the ′ clouds.

Show yourself O God a′bove the ′ heavens:

let your glory shine ′ over ′ all the ′ earth,

so that your belovèd may ′ be de′livered:

O save us by ′ your right ′ hand and ′ answer us.

Psalm 63

O God ′ you are · my ′ God: and ′ earnest·ly ′ will I ′ seek you.

My soul thirsts for you, my body ′ yearns for ′ you:

like a land that is ′ dry and ′ thirsty · for ′ water.

With this longing I have come before you ′ in the ′ sanctuary:

that I may see your ′ power ′ and your ′ glory.

Your steadfast love is better than ′ life it′self:

therefore my ′ lips will ′ speak your ′ praise.

As long as I live ′ I will ′ bless you:

and lift up my ′ hands to ′ pray · in your ′ name.

I shall be satisfied as with a rich and ′ sumptu·ous ′ feast:

and my mouth shall ′ praise you · with ′ joyful ′ lips.

When I remember you up′on my ′ bed:

and think of you in the ′ watches ′ of the ′ night,

how you have ′ been my ′ helper:

how I am safe in the ′ shadow ′ of your ′ wings,

then my ′ soul ′ clings to you: and ′ your right ′ hand up′holds me.

Alleluia. Christ is risen. O come let us worship. Alleluia.

At the end of the Psalms is sung or said

Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God: 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

The Reading
One of the following, or some other suitable passage of Scripture, is read.

John 15

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

1 John

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because God first loved us.

1 John 3:16-24

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

At the end of the reading is said

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.

The Prayers

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;

For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.

Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;

Hide us 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.

Lord, hear our prayer;

And let our cry come to you.

Let us pray.

The Officiant then says one or more of the following Collects

Loving creator of all, watch over us this night and keep us in the light of your presence. May our praise continually blend with the song of all creation, until we come to those eternal joys which you promise in your love; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

O God, who made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord's resurrection: Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen.

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

The service concludes with the Song of Simeon

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

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.

Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God: 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

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

The Officiant concludes

Holy eternal Majesty, Holy incarnate Word, Holy abiding Spirit, Bless you for evermore. Amen

OR

The Wisdom of God the Love of God and the Grace of God strengthen you to be Christ’s hands and heart in this world, in the name of the Holy Trinity. Amen. 

The service concludes

The divine Spirit dwells in us.

Thanks be to God, Alleluia.