Lent Compline – Night Prayer
Our Lent Compline – Night Prayer is linked to our mid week reflections : There is Hope in Gardens! – You call us to the wilderness.
The service is here or on Youtube – and you can follow it with the words below:
+The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
who made heaven and earth.
A period of silence for reflection on the past day may follow.
The following words of penitence are used:
O Lord, you have created us in your image; yet so often we wander from your pathway. But we rejoice Lord you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You. Look with your eyes of love upon our imperfections and pardon all our shortcomings, that we may be filled with the brightness of Your light and become the image of Your goodness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Absolution
+ God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit bless, keep and forgive you and in His lovingkindness grant you his grace and the comfort of His peace. Amen
Short Reflection
In my reflection for the first week of Lent There is Hope in Gardens! (You call us to the wilderness) I included this hymn by Paul Wood and Ian Worsfold.
You call us to the wilderness,
an empty, barren land.
The challenge is to break away
and then to trust your hand.
You call us to the wilderness
to concentrate the mind
on letting go of many things
that stifle humankind.
You call us to the wilderness
but all we see is loss:
for it’s a challenge to believe
the “power” of the cross.
You call us to the wilderness
to show a stronger way:
that power only has effect
when weakness wins the day.
You call us from the wilderness
and emptiness gives way,
enlivened by your Spirit’s breath,
returning to the day.
You call us from the wilderness
to diff’rent barren lands
to breathe the message of the cross
for other empty hands.
Words: © 2015, Paul Wood and Ian Worsfold – Metre: 86.86.D. (Double Common Metre)
O Little Town of Bethlehem, I heard the Voice
You call us to the wilderness (website only www.methodist.org.uk)
Before the ending of the day:
Calm and still me, O Lord
And keep me from harm, O Lord.
Let all that causes me dis-ease cease, O Lord.
And enfold me in Your peace
May our daily tasks hallow
our nightly prayers.
May our sleep be deep and soft
So our tasks for tomorrow may be fresh
The Word of God Psalmody
Comfort and Assurance in God’s Presence
O God, you are my God, I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:1-8)
Glory 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
Scripture Reading
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.
Luke 4.1-2
Silence is kept
Gospel Canticle
The Nunc Dimittis (The Song of Simeon)
Now Lord you let your servant go in peace: your word has | been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel. (Luke 2.29-32)
+ Glory 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.
Prayers
Collect for First Week of Lent
Heavenly Father, your Son battled with the powers of darkness,
and grew closer to you in the desert: help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayer that we may witness to your saving love
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Shared from the Lectionary app. Material subject to copyright
Intercessions – You may wish to pause the video as you offer your intercessions
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. Amen
Creator God, may every breath we take be for your glory,
may every footstep show you as our way, that, trusting in your presence in this world, we may, beyond this life, still be with you
where you are alive and reign
for ever and ever. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
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, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Conclusion
In peace we will lie down and sleep;
for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
for the night is at hand and the day is now past.
As the night watch looks for the morning,
so do we look for you, O Christ.
+May God bless us,
that in us may be found love and humility, obedience and thanksgiving, discipline, gentleness and peace.
And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you now and always. Amen.
This video is made using a standard laptop, a webcam and no special recording equipment or editing software.
The video was recorded in one sitting with no editing, it is an attempt to create as near to live viewing as possible.
Rev. Derek Akker
