Night Prayer

I've been taking a class in preparation for being received into our Episcopal church. The ceremony will be this Sunday - the bishop of Chicago will preside. I am so excited to become a full-fledged Episcopalian, not just a participating member of our church.

During our evening class last Sunday, we ended with Compline, the offering of prayer late in the evening. This is often described as the 'goodnight prayer of the Church.'

I wanted to capture the closing part of the prayer here, because it always moves me.

Lord, it is night. The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done; let it be.

The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you.

The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us, all dear to us, and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn. Let us look expectantly to a new day, new joys, new possibilities.

In your name we pray. Amen.