NIGHT PRAYER
The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.
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Our help is in the name of the Lord
who made heaven and earth.
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.
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O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
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Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
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Ithamar, 7th century
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Ithamar was consecrated as Bishop of Rochester by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Honorius, and was said by Bede to be "of the Kentish nation, but not inferior to his [episcopal] predecessors for learning and conduct of life".
Upon consecration as bishop, Ithamar took his new name from Ithamar, a son of Aaron, from the Old Testament. Although a number of new Anglo-Saxon bishops had taken new names upon either entering religious life or upon consecration as bishops, these names were usually taken from church history. The practice of taking a new name from the Old Testament was extremely rare in the Roman tradition, but did occur more often in the Celtic Church.
As bishop, Ithamar consecrated Deusdedit as the first Saxon archbishop of Canterbury on 26 March 655.
Ithamar probably died around 656, at Rochester.
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Psalm 39
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Lord, let me know my end and the number of my days.
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I said, ‘I will keep watch over my ways, ♦
so that I offend not with my tongue.
‘I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, ♦
while the wicked are in my sight.’
So I held my tongue and said nothing; ♦
I kept silent but to no avail. R
My distress increased, my heart grew hot within me; ♦
while I mused, the fire was kindled
and I spoke out with my tongue:
‘Lord, let me know my end and the number of my days, ♦
that I may know how short my time is.
‘You have made my days but a handsbreadth,
and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight; ♦
truly, even those who stand upright are but a breath.
‘We walk about like a shadow
and in vain we are in turmoil; ♦
we heap up riches and cannot tell who will gather them. R
‘And now, what is my hope? ♦
Truly my hope is even in you.
‘Deliver me from all my transgressions ♦
and do not make me the taunt of the fool.’
I fell silent and did not open my mouth, ♦
for surely it was your doing.
Take away your plague from me; ♦
I am consumed by the blows of your hand.
With rebukes for sin you punish us;
like a moth you consume our beauty; ♦
truly, everyone is but a breath. R
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; ♦
hold not your peace at my tears.
For I am but a stranger with you, ♦
a wayfarer, as all my forebears were.
Turn your gaze from me, that I may be glad again, ♦
before I go my way and am no more.
Lord, let me know my end and the number of my days.
O Christ, Son of the living God,
help us when we are too cast down to pray,
and grant that we may trust you all our days,
for you are with us in our living and our dying,
Jesus, Lord and God.
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Bible Reading
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all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
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Romans 8:14
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Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
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Keep me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
Gospel Canticle
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The Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon) is said.
Save us, O Lord, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ
and asleep may rest in peace.
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Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: ♦
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation ♦
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
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 for ever. Amen.
Save us, O Lord, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ
and asleep may rest in peace.
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Prayers
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Prayer of St Edmund of Abingdon
Lord, into your hands
and into the hands of your holy angels,
I entrust this day:
my life, my relatives, my benefactors,
my friends and my enemies,
and all your people.
Enlighten my heart with the grace of your Holy Spirit;
grant that I may ever be obedient to your commandments,
never let me be separated from you,
who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
God, now and for ever.
Amen
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A prayer for all those affected by coronavirus
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Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy.
Sustain and support the anxious,
be with those who care for the sick,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may find comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
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For the world
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We pray to the Lord.
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That the rest of this day may be holy, peaceful
and full of your presence:
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That the work we have done
and the people we have met today
may bring us closer to you:
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That you will give us a quiet night and a perfect end:
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That you will have mercy upon us and grant us your salvation:
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That you will keep us this night without sin:
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That you will guard us and give us your blessing:
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That you will bring us with all your saints to glory everlasting:
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Let us commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray,
to the mercy and protection of God.
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Collect
God of truth,
help us to keep your law of love
and to walk in ways of wisdom,
that we may find true life
in Jesus Christ your Son.
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Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
for the night is at hand and the day is now past.
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As the night watch looks for the morning,
so do we look for you, O Christ.
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May God bless us,
that in us may be found love and humility,
obedience and thanksgiving,
discipline, gentleness and peace.
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