Thursday night December 29

Friday night
Wednesday night

Preparation

Opening response and confession of sin

The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.

Our help is in the name of the Lord
who made heaven and earth.

A period of silence may be kept for reflection on the past day.

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.

Favor us, Lord, and deliver us.
Lord, come quickly and help us.

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.

Hymn

Father, Our Hearts We Lift

Charles Wesley
          
Father, our hearts we lift,
Up to thy gracious throne,
And thank thee for the precious gift,
Of thine incarnate Son:
The gift unspeakable
We thankfully receive,
And to the world thy goodness tell,
And to thy glory live.

Jesus the holy child,
Doth by his birth declare
That God and men are reconciled,
And one in him we are.
Salvation through his name
To all mankind is given,
And loud his infant cries proclaim
A peace ’twixt earth and heaven.

A peace on earth he brings,
Which never more shall end;
The Lord of Hosts, the King of Kings
Declares himself our friend;
Assumes our flesh and blood,
That we his Spirit may gain,
The everlasting Son of God,
The mortal Son of Man.

O might we all receive
The newborn Prince of peace,
And meekly in his Spirit live,
And in his love increase!
Till he convey us home,
Cry every soul aloud,
Come, thou desire of nations come,
And take us up to God!

The Word of God

Psalm 31:1-5, 19-24

Refrain:
I entrust my spirit into your hands.

I take refuge in you, Lord.
    Please never let me be put to shame.
        Rescue me by your righteousness!
Listen closely to me!
    Deliver me quickly;
        be a rock that protects me;
        be a strong fortress that saves me!
You are definitely my rock and my fortress.
    Guide me and lead me for the sake of your good name!
Get me out of this net that’s been set for me
    because you are my protective fortress.
I entrust my spirit into your hands;
    you, Lord, God of faithfulness—
    you have saved me.

How great is the goodness
    that you’ve reserved for those who honor you,
    that you commit to those who take refuge in you—
        in the sight of everyone!
You hide them in the shelter of your wings,
    safe from human scheming.
    You conceal them in a shelter,
    safe from accusing tongues.
Bless the Lord,
    because he has wondrously revealed
    his faithful love to me
    when I was like a city under siege!
When I was panicked, I said,
    “I’m cut off from your eyes!”
But you heard my request for mercy
    when I cried out to you for help.
All you who are faithful, love the Lord!
    The Lord protects those who are loyal,
        but he pays the proud back to the fullest degree.
All you who wait for the Lord,
be strong and let your heart take courage.

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.

Refrain:
I entrust my spirit into your hands.

Psalm prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
when scorn and shame besiege us
and hope is veiled in grief,
hold us in your wounded hands
and make your face shine on us again,
for you are our Lord and God.

Scripture reading
John 1:4-5

Through the Word was life,
    and the life was the light for all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.

Response

Lord, I entrust my spirit into your hands.
Lord, I entrust my spirit into your hands.
For you, Lord, God of faithfulness—
    you have saved me.
I entrust my spirit into your hands.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
Lord, I entrust my spirit into your hands.
Watch me with the very pupil of your eye!
Hide me in the protection of your wings.

Silence may be kept.

Gospel canticle
The Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon)

Refrain:
Alleluia. The Word became flesh, alleluia, and made his home among us. Alleluia, alleluia.

Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word,
    because my eyes have seen your salvation.
You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples.
It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles
    and a glory for 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 will be forever. Amen.

Refrain:
Alleluia. The Word became flesh, alleluia, and made his home among us. Alleluia, alleluia.

Brief silence.

Prayers

Thanksgiving and intercession

Open prayer is offered.
Silence may be kept.

Collect

We give you thanks, O God,
for the gift to the world of our Redeemer;
as we sing your glory at the close of this day,
so may we know his presence in our hearts,
who is our Savior and our Lord,
now and forever.     
Amen.

Conclusion

We will lie down and fall asleep in peace
because you alone, Lord, let us live in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
for the night is at hand and the day is now past.
As the night watch looks for the morning,
so do we look for you, O Christ.

May the love of the Word made flesh enfold us,
his joy fill our lives,
his peace be in our hearts;
and the blessing of God be with us
this night and always.
Amen.

Home