Night Prayer

Introduction

In the name of the restful Father,
In the name of the calming Son,
In the name of the peaceful Spirit.
May we and God be one.
I place my soul and body
Under your guarding this night, O God,
O Father of help to frail pilgrims,
Protector of heaven and earth.
I place my soul and body
Under your guiding this night, O Christ,
O Son of the tears and the woundings,
May your cross this night be my shield.
I place my soul and body
Under your glowing this night, O Spirit,
O gentle Companion, and Soul Friend,
My heart's eternal Warmth.

A Psalm

Say or sing Psalm 134 or another psalm

Come bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
Who stand by night in the house of the Lord;
Lift up your hands in the holy place,
Come bless the Lord, come bless the Lord.
May that part of me that did not grow at morning,
Grow at nightfall (there may be a brief pause)
You are our Saviour and Lord
In our stumbling be our shield.
In our tiredness be our Rest.
In our darkness be our Light.
O Christ, Son of the living God
May your holy angels guard our sleep
May they watch over us as we rest
And hover around our beds.
Let them to reveal to us in our dreams
Visions of your glorious truth
May no fears or worries delay
Our willing, prompt repose.

Bible Reading

Read these or other words of Christ:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11: 28, 29.

This may be followed by silence during which other words from God may be spoken spontaneously.

Prayers

Our dear ones bless, O God, and keep in every place where they are (dear ones and those in the Prayer Diary for today may be named...)
May the great and strong heavenly army encircle us all with their outstretched arms.
To protect us from the hostile powers.
To put balm into our dreams.
To give us contented, sweet repose.

I lie down this night with God, and God will lie down with me
I lie down this night with Christ, and Christ will lie down with me
I lie down this night with the Spirit, and the Spirit will lie down with me
God and Christ and the Spirit, lying down with me.
I make the sign of the Cross of Christ +
My Christ, my Shield, my Encircler;
Each day, each night, in light, in dark,
My Treasure, my dear One.

The almighty and merciful Three circle us, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.