OPENING
The Officiant begins
The Lord Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end. Amen.
Our help is in the Name of the Lord;
The maker of heaven and earth.
CONFESSION OF SIN
The Officiant continues
Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.
Silence may be kept. The Officiant and People then say
Almighty God and Father, we confess to you, to one another, and to the whole company of heaven, that we have sinned, 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, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and by the power of your Holy Spirit raise us up to serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
The Officiant alone says
May Almighty God grant us forgiveness of all our sins, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
INVITATORY
O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be 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.
Except in Lent, add Alleluia.
PSALMS APPOINTED
One or more of the following, or some other suitable Psalm, is sung or said.
PSALM 91
Qui habitat
1 Whoever dwells under the defense of the Most High * shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say unto the LORD, “You are my refuge and my stronghold, * my God in whom I will trust.” 3 For he shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter * and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He shall defend you under his wings, and you shall be safe under his feathers; * his faithfulness and truth 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 walks in darkness, * nor of the sickness that destroys at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall beside you, and ten thousand at your right hand, * but it shall not come near you. 8 Indeed, with your eyes you shall behold * and see the reward of the ungodly. 9 Because you have said, “The LORD is my refuge,” * and have made the Most High your stronghold, 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, * that you hurt not your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; * the young lion and the serpent you shall trample under your feet. 14 “Because he has set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him; * I will lift him up, because he has known my Name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will hear him; * indeed, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him and bring him honor. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, * and show him my salvation.”
At the end of the Psalms the Gloria Patri (Glory be...) is sung or said
Glory be 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.
READING
One of the following, or some other suitable passage of Scripture, is read
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.
1 PETER 5:8-9
At the end of the reading is said
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
A period of silence may follow. A suitable hymn may be sung.
RESPONSORY
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
PRAYERS
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
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. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
O Lord, hear our prayer;
And let our cry come to you.
Let us pray.
THE COLLECTS
The Officiant then says one or more of the following Collects. Other appropriate Collects may also be used.
Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares 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.
Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord; and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Look down, O Lord, from your heavenly throne, illumine this night with your celestial brightness, and from the children of light banish the deeds of darkness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A COLLECT FOR SATURDAYS
We give you 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.
PRAYER FOR MISSION
One of the following prayers may be added
O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live in and the life we live: Watch over those, both night and day, who work while others sleep, and grant that we may never forget that our common life depends upon each other’s toil; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Silence may be kept, and other intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered.
THANKSGIVING
Before the close of the Office one or both of the following prayers may be used.
THE GENERAL THANKSGIVING
Officiant and People
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
SONG OF SIMEON
The Officiant and People say or sing the Song of Simeon with this Antiphon
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
NUNC DIMITTIS
Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, * according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, * which you have prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, * and to be the glory of your people Israel. Glory be 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.
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
THE CONCLUSION
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Officiant concludes with the following
The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us, this night and evermore. Amen.