Thursday & daily in Epiphanytide
THE PREPARATION
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 follows, for reflection on the past day. Words of penitence may be used; the following or some other.
Most merciful God,
we confess to you,
before the whole company of heaven
and one another,
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
and in what we have failed to do.
Forgive us our sins,
heal us by your Spirit
and raise us to new life in Christ. Amen.
Or:
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal:
have mercy on us.
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 shall be forever.
Amen. [Alleluja! (Omitted in Lent)]
A HYMN may be sung, the following or some other.
Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That you, with steadfast love, would keep
Your watch around us while we sleep.
From evil dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Tread under foot our deadly foe
That we no sinful thought may know.
Ordinary Doxology
O Father, that we ask be done
Through Jesus Christ, your only Son;
And Holy Spirit, by whose breath
Our souls are raised to life from death. Amen.
Epiphany Doxology
Your glory, Christ, is manifest:
All peoples, Lord, by you are blest;
Whom, with the Father, we adore,
And Holy Spirit evermore. Amen.
THE WORD OF GOD
THE PSALMODY
From PSALM 16
| 1 | Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you;* I have said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord, my good above all other.’ |
| 2 | All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land,* upon those who are noble among the people. |
| 3 | O Lord, you are my portion and my cup;* it is you who uphold my lot. |
| 4 | My boundaries enclose a pleasant land;* indeed, I have a goodly heritage. |
| 5 | I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel;* my heart teaches me, night after night. |
| 6 | I have set the Lord always before me;* because he is at my right hand I shall not fall. |
| 7 | My heart, therefore, is glad and my spirit rejoices;* my body also shall rest in hope. |
| 8 | For you will not abandon me to the grave,* nor let your holy one see the Pit. |
| 9 | You will show me the path of life;* in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore. |
The psalm may end with:
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and shall be forever.
Amen. [Alleluja! (Omitted in Lent)]
THE READING: one of the following or some other.
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, seeking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in the faith.
1 Peter 5. 8, 9
Or (and especially in Epiphanytide):
The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.
Titus 2. 11
Or on feasts of Teachers & Confessors or Bishops:
Wisdom guides us on straight paths; she shows us the kingdom of heaven and gives us knowledge of holy things.
Wisdom 10. 10
THE RESPONSORY may be said.
Into your hands, O Lord,
I commend my spirit. (Alleluia! Alleluia!)
Into your hands, O Lord,
I commend my spirit. (Alleluia! Alleluia!)
For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
I commend my spirit. (Or: Alleluia! Alleluia!)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Into your hands, O Lord,
I commend my spirit. (Alleluia! Alleluia!)
Keep me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
THE GOSPEL CANTICLE: NUNC DIMITTIS (39)
| R: | Save us,* O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep may rest in peace. |
| Or, on the feast of the Epiphany: | |
| R: | Alleluia!* All they from Sheba shall come. Alleluia! They shall bring gold and incense. Alleluia! Alleluia! |
| Or, in Epiphanytide: | |
| R: | Alleluia!* Christ the light of the world, alleluia! has manifested his glory. Alleluia! Alleluia! |
| Or, on feasts: | |
| R: | Grant us your light, O Lord,* that the darkness of our hearts being overcome, we may receive the true light, even Christ our Saviour. |
| 1 | Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:* your word has been fulfilled. |
| 2 | My own eyes have seen the salvation* which you have prepared in the sight of every people; |
| 3 | 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 forever.
Amen. [Alleluja! (Omitted in Lent)]
The refrain is repeated after the canticle.
THE PRAYERS
Intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered here, or at any point in this section.
THE COLLECT: one of the following or some other.
Lighten our darkness,
Lord, we pray;
and in your mercy defend us from all perils
and dangers of this night;
for the love of your only Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Or:
King of kings and Lord of lords,
making the true light to shine:
lighten our darkness now and evermore
that with our lips
and in our lives
we may praise you;
for you are our God, now and for ever. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER may be said.
[As we come to the ending of the day,
let us pray as our Redeemer has taught us:]
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.
A devotional ANTHEM may be sung here, or after the blessing.
THE BLESSING
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.
[Come with the dawning of the day
And make yourself known
in the breaking of the bread.]
May God’s love surround us,
God’s joy fill our lives,
God’s peace be in our hearts,
and God’s blessing be with us
this night and always. Amen.
Or (and especially in Epiphanytide):
May the living waters of Christ cleanse us,
may the Spirit descend upon us,
and the blessing of God be with us
this night and always. Amen.
Or (and especially at the Presentation):
May Christ our light fill our darkness with his radiance,
and God’s blessing be always upon us. Amen.