Sunday & Eastertide
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.
Easter Doxology
All praise be yours, O risen Lord,
From death to endless life restored;
Whom, with the Father, we adore
And Holy Spirit evermore. Amen.
THE WORD OF GOD
THE PSALMODY
FROM PSALM 104
| 1 | Bless the Lord, O my soul;* O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness! |
| 2 | You lay the beams of your chambers in the waters above;* you make the clouds your chariot; you ride on the wings of the wind. |
| 3 | You make the winds your messengers* and flames of fire your servants. |
| 4 | You send the springs into the valleys;* they flow between the mountains. |
| 5 | All the beasts of the field drink their fill from them,* and the wild asses quench their thirst. |
| 6 | Beside them the birds of the air make their nests* and sing among the branches. |
| 7 | You water the mountains from your dwelling on high;* the earth is fully satisfied by the fruit of your works. |
| 8 | You make grass grow for flocks and herds* and plants to serve us all; |
| 9 | Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things too many to number,* creatures both small and great. |
| 10 | All of them look to you* to give them their food in due season. |
| 11 | You give it to them, they gather it;* you open your hand, and they are filled with good things. |
| 12 | May the glory of the Lord endure for ever;* may the Lord rejoice in all his works. |
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: the following or some other.
The servants of the Lamb shall see the face of God, whose name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night: they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for God will be their light; and they will reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 22. 4-5
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, in Eastertide: | |
| R: | Alleluia!* The Lord is risen, alleluia! as he promised to you. 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.
Almighty God,
by triumphing over the powers of darkness
Christ has prepared a place for us
in the new Jerusalem:
may we, who have this day given thanks
for his resurrection,
praise him in the eternal city
of which he is the light;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Or:
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.
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 the risen Lord Jesus watch over us and renew us
as he renews the whole of creation.
May our hearts and lives echo his love. Amen.