Saturday & daily in the Kingdom Season
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.
The following, or the appropriate seasonal 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.
THE WORD OF GOD
THE PSALMODY
One or more of the following psalms may be used.
| 1 | Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause;* you set me free when I am hard-pressed; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. |
| 2 | ‘You mortals, how long will you dishonour my glory;* how long will you worship dumb idols and run after false gods?’ |
| 3 | Know that the Lord does wonders for the faithful;* when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me. |
| 4 | Tremble, then, and do not sin;* speak to your heart in silence upon your bed. |
| 5 | Offer the appointed sacrifices* and put your trust in the Lord. |
| 6 | Many are saying, ‘O that we might see better times!’* Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O Lord. |
| 7 | You have put gladness in my heart,* more than when grain and wine and oil increase. |
| 8 | I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep;* for only you, Lord, make me dwell in safety. |
| 1 | He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,* abides under the shadow of the Almighty. |
| 2 | He shall say to the Lord, ‘You are my refuge and my stronghold,* my God in whom I put my trust.’ |
| 3 | He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter* and from the deadly pestilence. |
| 4 | He shall cover you with his pinions, and you shall find refuge under his wings;* his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler. |
| 5 | You shall not be afraid of any terror by night,* nor of the arrow that flies by day; |
| 6 | Of the plague that stalks in the darkness,* nor of the sickness that lays waste at midday. |
| 7 | A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand,* but it shall not come near you. |
| 8 | Your eyes have only to behold* to see the reward of the wicked. |
| 9 | Because you have made the Lord your refuge,* and the Most High your habitation. |
| 10 | There shall no evil happen to you,* neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. |
| 11 | For he shall give his angels charge over you,* to keep you in all your ways. |
| 12 | They shall bear you in their hands,* lest you dash your foot against a stone. |
| 13 | You shall tread upon the lion and adder;* you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet. |
| 14 | Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I deliver him;* I will protect him, because he knows my name. |
| 15 | He shall call upon me and I will answer him;* I am with him in trouble, I will rescue him and bring him to honour. |
| 16 | With long life will I satisfy him,* and show him my salvation. |
| 1 | Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,* you that stand by night in the house of the Lord. |
| 2 | Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord;* the Lord who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion. |
Each psalm, or group of psalms, 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.
There remains a sabbath rest for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labours, as God did. Let us, therefore, strive to enter that rest.
Hebrews 4. 9-11
Or:
You, Lord, are in the midst of us and we are called by your name; leave us not, O Lord our God.
Jeremiah 14. 9
Or on feasts of any Saint:
Finally, belovèd, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and the God of peace will be with you.
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 the Kingdom season: | |
| R: | O King most blessèd,* on the day of judgement number us among your chosen. |
| 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. When Night Prayer for Saturday is being used as standard, the appropriate seasonal refrain should be used.
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.
Come to visit us, O God, this night,
so that by your strength
we may rise with the new day
to rejoice in the resurrection of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Saviour. 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.]
The Lord bless us and watch over us;
the Lord make his face shine upon us
and be gracious to us;
the Lord look kindly on us
and give us peace. Amen.