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Trust (Compline) | 9:00 p.m.

Traditional hour: night/bedtime

We sum up this day with a bedtime prayer to examine our conscience and offer our actions to God.

 

Opening: As a loving mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.

Prayer:

O God, at the setting of the sun, we place our trust in you. As the night draws near, we give thanks for your presence with us. Help us entrust our lives to you with the delight and confidence of one who loves and is beloved. Through Jesus, our faithful Savior. Amen.

Praise:

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
(Music, if desired, may be found in Lift Every Voice and Sing II, #196.)

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain
Leaning, leaning,
safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms. Refrain

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms. Refrain

Words: Elisha A. Hoffman (1839-1929)

 

Scripture:

My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom;
they give forth fragrance. Arise my love, my fair one, and come away.” (Song of Solomon 2:10-13)

Meditation:

The measure of love is to love without measure.
(Attributed to Augustine)

What “measure” will we release in order to embrace God’s love this hour?

Prayers:

The cares of our hearts
We entrust to you, O God.
The needs of your Church
We entrust to you, O God.
The wounds of the world
We entrust to you, O God.
The hopes we carry
We entrust to you, O God.
The deep desire for peace
We entrust to you, O God.

[Here, the people may add particular intercessions or thanksgivings.]

With all our lives and all our holy longings
We praise you and trust your love for us,
O Lover of our souls. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Prayer:

Gracious God, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen.

Going Out: As a loving mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.