The Preparation

The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.

1 Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray.
Your grace and peace to us allow
and guard and keep your people now.

2 From evil dreams defend our sight,
from all the terrors of the night,
from all deluding thoughts that creep
on heedless minds disarmed by sleep.

3 O Father, this we ask be done
through Jesus Christ, your only Son,
whom with the Spirit we adore
forever and forever more. Amen.

Brethren, let us examine our consciences, that we may humbly confess our sins before God, and seek His merciful forgiveness.

A brief silence is kept for self-examination.

Confession

Almighty and most merciful Father,
We have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against thy holy laws.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;
And we have done those things which we ought not to have done;
And there is no health in us.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us miserable offenders.
Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults.
Restore thou them that are penitent;
According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
To the glory of thy holy Name.
Amen.

Absolution

The Almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit.
Amen.

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 Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Psalmody

Psalms followed by…

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

The Lesson

Today’s Lesson

The Response

Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
For thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth.

Keep me as the apple of thine eye;
Hide me under the shadow of thy wings.

The Canticle: Nunc Dimittis

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace : according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen : thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared : before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles : and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried:
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
The holy Catholic Church;
The Communion of Saints;
The Forgiveness of sins;
The Resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers

The Kyrie

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Collects

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the silent hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world may repose upon thy eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this habitation, and drive far from it all the snares of the enemy; let thy holy angels dwell herein to preserve us in peace; and may thy blessing be upon us evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Intercessions

We humbly beseech thee, O Lord, to behold with thy favour all those for whom we pray:

• For thy holy Church, that it may be guided and governed by thy good Spirit.
• For all Christian people, that they may be led into the way of truth.
• For the King, his ministers, and all in authority, that they may govern with wisdom and justice.
• For the sick, the sorrowful, and the afflicted, that they may be comforted and relieved.
• For all who rest in thee, and for those who mourn, that they may find peace in thy presence.

Here specific intercessions may be added.

O Lord, hear our prayer;
And let our cry come unto thee.

The Conclusion

In peace will we lie down and sleep;
For thou only, Lord, makest us dwell in safety.

Abide with us, O Lord, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.
As thou hast been with us from the beginning, so be with us unto the end.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore.
Amen.