You are warmly invited to join EPF/Episcopal Peace Fellowship as we gather to pray Compline weekly via Zoom. Every Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. (ET), EPF will be hosting Compline and joining EPF chapters and individual members across the country in praying together. Open to all, come join us in prayer and thanksgiving. The Zoom link is here:
Melanie Atha is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: EPF Compline
Time: 08:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Tue, until Nov 22, 2022, 40 occurrence(s)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81776145441?pwd=T2ZSYjR4Z2RqMFY2SDY3Q0pEWXZmdz09
An Order for Compline
(Adapted from An Order for Compline from The Book of Common Prayer)
Introduction and Instructions
Thank you for joining Episcopal Peace Fellowship for our weekly service of Compline.
Grounded in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Episcopal Peace Fellowship is committed to helping its members—and the whole Episcopal Church—to become people of peace, people who are the change they wish to see in the world through prayer, study, and ‘small acts of justice and mercy.’
Compline is the fourth and final of the services which comprise the Daily Office, the Church’s traditional round of daily prayer. Grounded in Benedictine spirituality—which is the foundation of our shared Anglican heritage—the Daily Office is a means of sanctifying the entire day and recognizing God’s presence in our lives at all times and in all places.
By praying Compline together as members and friends of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, we are entrusting our whole world to God’s abiding love for this world which God so dearly loves.
In order to ensure that our service of Compline works smoothly over Zoom, please be mindful to keep your microphone muted unless the Officiant/Host invites you to unmute. You are welcome to turn your camera off and assume whatever bodily posture is most conducive to prayer. While one person will speak aloud the People’s responses—indicated by bold text—please do join in on the responses with your microphones off.
The Officiant begins
The Lord Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect
end. Amen.
Officiant Our help is in the Name of the Lord;
Respondent The maker of heaven and earth.
The Officiant may then say
Let us confess our sins to God.
Officiant and Respondent
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.
Officiant
May the Almighty God grant us forgiveness of all our sins, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Officiant then says
O God, make speed to save us.
Respondent O Lord, make haste to help us.
Officiant and Respondent
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.
Except in Lent, add Alleluia.
The Officiant decides which of the following Psalm(s) will be offered and announces to the assembly. At the end of the Psalm(s), all join in the ‘Glory to the Father…’ The Psalm is recited antiphonally by whole verse, with the Respondent speaking aloud the People’s verses.
Psalm 4 Cum invocarem
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 dishonor 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,
“Oh, 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.
Psalm 31 In te, Domine, speravi
1 In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame: *
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Incline your ear to me; *
make haste to deliver me.
3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.
4 Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
for you are my tower of strength.
5 Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
for you have redeemed me,
O Lord, O God of truth.
Psalm 91 Qui habitat
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 mid‑day.
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 honor.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, *
and show him my salvation.
Psalm 134 Ecce nunc
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.
At the end of the Psalms is sung or said
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.
One of the following, or some other suitable passage of Scripture, is read
Lord, you are in the midst of us, and we are called by your
Name: Do not forsake us, O Lord our God. Jeremiah 14:9 ,22
Respondent Thanks be to God.
or this
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy‑laden, and I will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;
for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28‑30
Respondent Thanks be to God.
or the following
May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our
Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of
the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you
may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his
sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and
ever. Hebrews 13:20‑21
Respondent Thanks be to God.
or this
Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls
around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Resist him, firm in your faith. 1 Peter 5:8‑9a
Respondent Thanks be to God.
All are invited to join together in reciting the EPF Personal Commitment to Peace, our foundational membership commitment.
In loyalty to the teaching, and person of Jesus Christ, my conscience commits me to the way of redemptive love: to pray, study, and work for peace, and to renounce, as far as possible, participation in war, militarism, and all other forms of violence.
In fellowship with others, I will work to discover and create alternatives to violence and to build a culture of peace. I urge the Episcopal Church in accordance with our baptismal vows ‘to renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God,’ and to wage peace across all boundaries, calling upon people everywhere to repent, to forgive, and to love.
Then follows
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.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Officiant and Respondent
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.
Officiant Lord, hear our prayer;
Respondent And let our cry come to you.
Officiant Let us pray.
The Officiant then says one of the following Collects
Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Look down, O Lord, from your heavenly throne, and illumine this night with your celestial brightness; that by night as by day your people may glorify your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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.
One of the following prayers may be added
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.
For whom and for what shall we pray this night?
Silence may be kept, and free intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered. You are invited to unmute your microphone and speak aloud your intercessions and thanksgivings or type them into the chat box.
The service concludes with the Song of Simeon with this Antiphon, which is said by all
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
In Easter Season, add Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.
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.
All repeat the Antiphon
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
In Easter Season, add Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Officiant Let us bless the Lord.
Respondent Thanks be to God.
The Officiant concludes
The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless us and keep us. Amen.
