COMPLINE: a Service of Night Prayer from Evangelical Lutheran Worship

COMPLINE: A Service of Night Prayer from Evangelical Lutheran Worship

Those worshipping are invited to sing or speak the bolded texts and those parts which are marked “All”. The Leaders will sing or speak the un-bolded text and that which is marked as “Leader”. Isaac Watts, hymnwriter, died Nov. 25, 1748 Thought by many to be the greatest hymnwriter in the English language, Watts as a youth was critical of the quality of the metrical psalter of the time. He wrote about 600 hymns—many based on the psalms.

Worship begins with a time of silence for meditation and preparation

DIALOGUE

HYMN “My Shepherd, You Supply My Need” (ELW 782)

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Faithful God, have mercy on us. We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We turn from your loving embrace and go our own ways. We pass judgment on one another before examining ourselves. We place our own needs before those of our neighbors. We keep your gift of salvation to ourselves. Make us humble, cast away our transgressions, and turn us again to life in you through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

God hears the cries of all who call out in need, and through his death and resurrection, Christ has made us his own. Hear the truth that God proclaims: Our sins are forgiven in the name of ☩ Jesus Christ. Led by the Holy Spirit, live in freedom and newness to do God’s work in the world. Amen

PSALMODY Psalm 23

Sung responsively by half verse 1The LORD | is my shepherd; I shall not | be in want. 2The LORD makes me lie down | in green pastures and leads me be- | side still waters. 3You restore my | soul, O LORD, and guide me along right pathways | for your name’s sake. 4Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall | fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they | comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence | of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is | running over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days | of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the | LORD forever.

Silence is kept for reflection

PSALM PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, our good shepherd, you give us new birth in the waters of baptism, you anoint us with oil, and you nourish us at your table with heavenly food. In your goodness and mercy, dispel the shadows of evil and death, and lead us along safe paths, that we may rest securely in you and dwell in the house of the Lord now and forever, for your name’s sake. Amen.

HYMN “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” (ELW 632)

READING 2 Corinthians 4:13-16

13But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture — "I believed, and so I spoke" — we also believe, and so we speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. 15Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.

The reading of scripture is followed by extended silence for reflection and meditation. The silence concludes with the following responsory.

GOSPEL CANTICLE The assembly sings the gospel canticle for night prayer, the song of Simeon.

PRAYERS

Additional prayers may be offered….

LORD’S PRAYER Leader:

All:

BLESSING

The greeting of peace may be shared by all.