Pray NIGHT PRAYER along with Robert ...
[Bold type is read by the leader; italic type is read by all.]
[{
†
}
indicates the sign of the cross, for those who wish to make it.]
This is NIGHT PRAYER
I. THE CALL TO PRAYER
Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim Your praise
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.
II. THE OPENING VERSE
May the Lord grant us a quiet night ; —
a quiet night and peace at the last.
III. THE PSALM OF INVITATION
Lord, You have examined us and know us well;
You know everything about us.
You know our thoughts,
and there is not a word on our lips that You do not know.
You are familiar with all our paths,
and You have traced our journeys and our resting places.
You have kept close guard on us,
and You have spread Your hand over us.
Such knowledge is beyond our understanding;
it is so high and so deep that we cannot grasp it.
Examine us, O God,
know our thoughts and understand our fears.
Watch over us, lest we take any path that grieves You,
and guide us in the Ancient and everlasting ways.
IV. THE COLLECTS FOR THE SEASON & FOR THE NIGHT
Look down from on high, Almighty God,
and illumine this night with Your light:
That by night as by day Your people may glorify Your holy Name;
through the One Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.Amen.
V. THE SONG OF PRAISE FOR NIGHT
Lord, now let Your servants depart in peace
as You have promised:
For with our own eyes we have seen the Saviour,
the One You prepared for all the world to see,
the Light to enlighten all the earth,
and to bring glory to Your people for eve r more. Amen.
VI. THE LESSONS & THE PSALTER
[You may pause and read a passage of scripture at this point.]
VII. THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
We Your servants give You humble thanks, Almighty God
for the gift of Your divine Son:
For the truth of His word and the example of His life;
for His steadfast obedience, by which He overcame temptation;
for His dying, through which He overcame death;
and for His rising to life again, through which we are raised to new life.
We thank You, O Lord.
Keep watch, dear Lord, with all who work or watch or weep this night,
and give Your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend the sick, we pray, and give rest to the weary;
soothe the suffering and bless the dying;
pity the afflicted and shield the joyous;
and all for Your love’s sake.Amen.
Hear us, O Lord.
VIII. THE INTERCESSIONS
We offer our prayers for all those who are afflicted or distressed
in mind, body, or estate ... … especially ( N ).
[You may pause at this point and pray for particular people.]
May it please You to comfort and relieve them
according to their several necessities,
granting them patience in their trials
and a happy issue out of their afflictions.
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy.
Fulfill now, O Lord our desires and petitions as may be best for us,
granting us in this world the knowledge of Your truth,
and in the age to come
the life that does not end. Amen.
IX. THE OUR FATHER
With all Your people on earth,
and as our Saviour Christ has taught us,
we are bold to say:
Our Father … Amen.
X. THE BLESSING
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Thanks be to God — { † } Creator, Redeemer, and Giver of Life.
May the Lord guide us waking and guard us sleeping;
that awake we may watch with Christ
and asleep we may rest in peace.Amen.
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