Compline for the Week of January 29

Join St. Phoebe School at 8 p.m. ET Sunday-Thursday to pray Compline: Zoom Link for Compline

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from An African Prayer Book:

O God, you have let me pass this day in peace,
let me pass the night in peace
O Lord who has no Lord
there is no strength but in thee.
Thou alone hast no obligation.
Under thy hand I pass the night.
Thou art my mother and my father.
BORAN, KENYA

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

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.

Let us confess our sins to God.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father:
We have sinned against you,
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,
forgive us all our offenses;
and grant that we may serve you
in newness of life,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
May the Almighty God grant us forgiveness of all our sins,
and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Alleluia.

Psalm 91

1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,

2 will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.”

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the hunter
and from the deadly pestilence;

4 he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and defense.

5 You will not fear the terror of the night
or the arrow that flies by day

6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness
or the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge,
the Most High your dwelling place,

10 no evil shall befall you,
no scourge come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.

12 On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

14 Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.

15 When they call to me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble;
I will rescue them and honor them.

16 With long life I will satisfy them
and show them my salvation.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Matthew 5:1-12 The Message [Broken into nightly reflections]

Sunday:

When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

Monday:

You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

Tuesday:

“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

Wednesday:

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

Thursday:

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

Friday and Saturday:

“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

“Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.

You can be glad when this happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Thanks be to God.

V. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
R. For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
V. Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
R. Hide us under the shadow of your wings.

We offer now our prayers and intercessions silently or aloud, ending with:

Loving God, guide our thoughts and actions toward You, that we might love you more deeply. All this we ask in your son’s Holy Name. Amen.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

Lord, hear our prayer
And let our cry come to you
Let us pray

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.

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

Prayer (Ghana)

COVER ME WITH THE NIGHT
Come, Lord, and cover mc with the night.
Spread your grace over us as you assured us you would do.
Your promises are more than all the stars in the sky;
your mercy is deeper than the night.
Lord, it will be cold.

The night comes with its breath of death.
Night comes; the end comes; you come.
Lord, we wait for you day and night
But I still know that your moon is there,
and your eyes and also your hands.
Thus I am not afraid.

This day again you led us wonderfully.
Everybody went to his mat satisfied and full.
Renew us during our sleep,
that in the morning we may come afresh to our daily jobs.
Be with our brothers far away in Asia who may be getting up now.
Amen

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

Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God

The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless us and keep us. Amen.

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Compline for the week of January 29 was prepared by Elvira Beracochea, Postulant for the Diaconate from the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia