The Office of

Virtual Compline

According to the Use of Brent House, the Episcopal Campus Ministry at the University of Chicago

March 17, 2021

8:00 pm Central

(or, see other services)

Feast of St. Patrick

Leaders: here’s the music for the collects.

How this service works

One complication of holding services over the internet is that congregational responses don’t really work. Instead, we’ll take turns being the “designated all” for different parts of the service: everyone else can follow along with their microphones muted. Since the office liturgies don’t require an ordained minister, we’ll also take turns as leader.

Please volunteer to take a part! We welcome anyone who’d like to participate, and we can teach you what to do: just get in touch with Philip if you’re interested.

There are more details about today’s service at the end.

St. Patrick stands in the center of a grassy field. He has a halo, and he is wearing red bishop’s vestments. His left hand is raised, holding a shamrock; his right hand holds a gold Celtic cross at the height of his chest. A crowd of people look on from the left and right. A castle is visible in the background.

St. Patrick Preaching at Tara
Stained glass window from St. Patrick's Cathedral (RC), Armagh, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.
Photo: CC BY-SA 4.0 Andreas F. Borchert

Penitential Rite

Luke will serve as “all.”

- - The Lord Almighty grant us a peace ful night and a per fect end. Officiant - - A men. Our help is in the name of the Lord, All Officiant The maker of heaven and earth. All

Officiant:

Friends, it is in vain that we rise up so early, and go so late to rest, and eat the bread of anxiety: for God gives sleep to his beloved.

Dear God,
thank you for all that is good,
for our creation and for our humanity,
for the stewardship you have given us of this planet Earth,
for the gifts of life and of one another,
for your love, which is unbounded and eternal.

Let us come to God as one from whom no secrets are hidden, to ask for forgiveness and peace.

A moment of silence is kept.

May the God of Love have mercy on us, pardon us, and set us free. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace. May God strengthen us in all goodness and keep us in life eternal.

All:

Amen

Opening Sentences

Hannah M. will serve as “all.”

- - Turn us, O God our sav ior, And in thy love re store us. Officiant All O God, make speed to save us; O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant All - Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spi rit, Officiant - As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. A men. All

Those designated sing the Compline hymn:

Te Lucis ante Terminum
(Sarum Rite Plainchant, Festal Tone)

Philip will sing verse 1, Hannah M. will sing verse 2, and Stacy will sing verse 3.

Before the end of the light,
we beg you, creator of all,
that you, with familiar mercy,
might be the leader of our care.

Let troubled dreams withdraw to the distance.
Silence our enemy
and all deceptions of the night,
that our bodies may rest secure.

Be present, omnipotent father,
through the Lord, Jesus Christ,
who with you forever
reigns with the Holy Spirit.

Psalmody

The psalms are sung antiphonally. You are invited to join either the “leader” or the “responder” part (with your microphone muted).

Hannah M. will sing the opening antiphon.

Antiphon: Have mercy on me, Lord, and hear my prayer.

- - - - - - - - Mi se ré re mi hi, Dó mi ne, - - - - - - - - et ex áu di o ra ti ó nem me am.

Psalm 3 (Alter)

Hannah M. will serve as leader and Stacy will serve as responder.

incipit ◊ flex Leader Responder

Leader:

Lord, how many are my foes,  *

Responder:

many, who rise up a-gainst me.

Leader:

Many, who say of my life:  *

Responder:

“No rescue for him through God.”

Leader:

And You, Lord, a shield are for me, *

Responder:

my glory, Who lifts up my head.

Leader:

With my voice I cry out to the Lord,  *

Responder:

and He answers me from His ho-ly moun-tain.

Leader:

I lie down and I sleep.  *

Responder:

I awake, for the Lord has sus-tained me.

Leader:

I fear not from myriads of troops  *

Responder:

that round about and set a-gainst me

Leader:

Rise, Lord! Rescue me, my ◊ God,
for You strike all my foes on the cheek,  *

Responder:

the teeth of the wick-ed You smash.

Leader:

Rescue is the Lord’s!  *

Responder:

On Your peo-ple Your blessing.

Leader:

Glory to the holy, consub-stan-tial, *

Responder:

lifegiving and undi-vi-ded Tri-nity:

Leader:

always, now and ev-er, *

Responder:

and to ages of ag-es. A-men.

Psalm 4 (Coverdale)

Hannah M. will serve as leader and Philip will serve as responder.

incipit ◊ flex Leader Responder

Leader:

Hear me when I call, O God of my right-eousness *

Responder:

thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken un-to my prayer.

Leader:

O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine hon-our *

Responder:

and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek af-ter leas-ing?

Leader:

Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is god-ly *

Responder:

when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.

Leader:

Stand in awe, and sin ◊ not: commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still  *

Responder:

Offer the sacrifice of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord.

Leader:

There be many that say,  *

Responder:

“Who will shew us an-y good?”

Leader:

Lord, lift thou up  *

Responder:

the light of thy counte-nance up-on us.

Leader:

Thou hast put gladness in my heart  *

Responder:

since the time that their corn, and wine, and oil increased.

Leader:

I will lay me down in ◊ peace, and take my rest  *

Responder:

for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safe-ty.

Leader:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,  *

Responder:

and to the Ho-ly Ghost,

Leader:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *

Responder:

world with-out end. A-men.

Philip will sing the ending antiphon.

Antiphon: Have mercy on me, Lord, and hear my prayer.

- - - - - - - - Mi se ré re mi hi, Dó mi ne, - - - - - - - - et ex áu di o ra ti ó nem me am.

Short Reading

St. Patrick’s Breastplate
Metrical translation by Cecil Frances Alexander (1818–1895)
Traditional Irish melody, adapted by Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924)

The verses will be sung by:

  1. Stacy
  2. Hannah M.
  3. Philip
  4. Stacy
  5. Luke
  6. Hannah M.
  7. Stacy
- - I bind un to my self to day the strong Name 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. - - - - - of the Trin i ty, by in vo ca tion of the 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. same, the Three in One, and One in Three. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. - - - - - - - I I bind bind un un to to my my self self to to day day the the vir power tues of 2. 3. 3. 2. 2. 3. 3. 2. 3. 2. 2. 3. 3. 2. 3. 2. 3. 2. 2. 3. 2. 3. - - - of God the to star hold lit and heaven, lead, the God’s glo eye rious to sun’s watch, life God’s 2. 3. 3. 2. 2. 3. 3. 2. 3. 2. 2. 3. 2. 3. 3. 2. 2. 3. 2. 3. - - - - giv might ing to ray, stay, the God’s white ear ness to of hear the ken, moon to at my even, need; 2. 3. 3. 2. 2. 3. 3. 2. 3. 2. 2. 3. 3. 2. 3. 2. 3. 2. 2. 3. 2. 3. - - - - - the the flash wis ing dom of of the my light God ning to free, teach, the God’s whirl hand ing to wind’s guide, tem God’s 2. 3. 3. 2. 2. 3. 3. 2. 3. 2. 2. 3. 3. 2. 2. 3. 3. 2. 3. 2. 3. 2. 2. 3. 2. 3. - - - pes shield tuous to shocks, ward; the the sta word ble of earth, God the to deep give salt me 2. 3. 3. 2. 2. 3. 3. 2. 3. 2. 2. 3. 2. 3. 3. 2. 2. 3. 2. 3. - - - - sea, speech, a God’s round heaven the ly old host e to ter be nal my rocks. guard. 2. 3. 3. 2. 2. 3. 3. 2. 3. 2. 2. 3. 2. 3. 2. 3. 2. 3. - - - - - Christ Christ be be with neath me, me, Christ Christ with a in bove me, me, Christ Christ be in hind qui me, et, 4. 5. 5. 4. 4. 5. 5. 4. 5. 4. 4. 5. 4. 5. 4. 5. 4. 5. 5. 4. 4. 5. 4. 5. - - - Christ Christ be in fore dan me, ger, Christ Christ be in side hearts me, of Christ all to that win love me, me, 4. 5. 5. 4. 4. 5. 5. 4. 5. 4. 4. 5. 4. 5. 4. 5. 4. 5. 5. 4. 4. 5. 4. 5. - - - Christ Christ to in com mouth fort of and friend re and store stran me. ger. 4. 5. 5. 4. 4. 5. 5. 4. 5. 4. 4. 5. 4. 5. 4. 5. - - I bind un to my self the Name, the strong Name 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. - - - - - of the Trin i ty, by in vo cat tion of the 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. same, the Three in One, and One in Three, 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. - - - - - - Of whom all na ture hath cre a tion, e ter nal Fa ther, 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. - - Spi rit, Word: praise to the Lord of my sal 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. - - - - va tion, sal va tion is of Christ the Lord. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7.

Responsories

Hannah M. will serve as leader and Philip will serve as “all.”

- - - In to your hands, O Lord, I com mend my spi rit: Leader All - For you have re deemed me, O Lord, O God of truth. Leader - - - In to your hands, O Lord, I com mend my spi rit. All Keep us, Lord, as the apple of your eye; Leader Guard us in the shadow of your wings. All

All sing an aleatoric responsory:

Epitaph
Text by Sarah Williams; music by F.J. Haydn (details)

  1. Hannah M. sings the melody once, ending on “oo.”
  2. Everyone sings the melody, starting at different times and moving at different speeds, ending by returning to “oo.”
  3. Once everyone is singing “oo,” gradually fade into silence.
- Though = c. 60 my soul may set in dark ness, - it will rise in per fect light: I have loved the stars too - - - fond ly to be fear ful of the night. Fear ful of the night. (oo)

Prayers

Stacy will serve as leader and Hannah M. will serve as “all.”

- - - - Lord, have mer cy up on us, Lord, have mer cy up on us, Leader All - - - - Lord, have mer cy up on us, Christ, have mer cy up on us, Leader All - - - - Christ, have mer cy up on us, Christ, have mer cy up on us, Leader All - - - - Lord, have mer cy up on us, Lord, have mer cy up on us, Leader All - - Lord, have mer cy up on us, Leader

The leader begins the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, Leader

All continue silently until “and lead us not …”:

… who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us …

and then conclude:

- - And lead us not into tempta tion, But deliver us from e vil. Leader All In peace, in perfect peace, I will lie down and sleep. Leader All - Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spi rit. Leader - - Let us praise and highly exault him forev er. All - Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of hea ven, Leader - And worthy of praise, and glorious, and highly exalted forev er. All May the almighty and merciful Lord preserve us Leader - - and give us his bles sing. A men. All

A moment of silence is kept.

Philip will serve as leader and Hannah M. will serve as “all.”

O God, we trust that you will turn and make us live, Leader - And your people will rejoice in you. Show us, O Lord, your mer cy, All Leader - And grant us your salva tion. Lord, grant us grace this night; All Leader - Guard us against all fail ings. Have mercy upon us, Lord. All Leader - Have mercy on us. Let your mercy, Lord, be o ver us, All Leader Just as we have hoped in you. Lord God of virtue, turn us, All Leader And show us your face, and we shall be safe. Lord, hear our prayer, All Leader And let our cry come to you. The Lord be with you. All Leader And also with you. All

The leader begins the collects:

Leader:

Let us pray:

Leader:

O most mighty and merciful God,
in this time of grievous sickness, we flee unto thee for succour.
Deliver us, we beseech thee, from our peril;
give strength and skill to all those who minister to the sick;
prosper the means made use of for their cure;
and grant that, perceiving how frail and uncertain our life is,
we may apply our hearts unto that heavenly wisdom
which leadeth to eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All:

- A men.

Leader:

Keep watch, dear Lord,
with those who work, or watch, or weep this night,
and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary,
bless the dying, soothe the suffering,
pity the afflicted, shield the joyous;
and all for your love’s sake.

All:

- A men.

Leader:

Be present, Spirit of God,
within us, your dwelling place and home,
that this house may be one where
all darkness is penetrated by your light,
all troubles calmed by your peace,
all evil redeemed by your love,
all pain transformed in your suffering,
and all dying glorified in your risen life.

All:

- A men.

Leader:

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord,
and by thy great mercy defend us
from all perils and dangers of this night;
through Jesus Christ our savior,
who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit
for ever and ever.

All:

- A men.

After the collects, we will keep a moment of silence to call to mind our concerns, reflections, intentions, and reasons for thankfulness. Those who wish to share them aloud will be invited to do so.

❦

Those designated sing a hymn:

Exultent filii matris ecclesiae
Trinity College Dublin MS 78, f. 150v

Hannah M.

Let the children of mother church rejoice
and friends sing a hymn today.
It has come! Patrick’s glorious feast
day, and the light of joy.

Philip

While the world kept him bound in chains
of flesh, he flowered with many miracles.
He kept the Irish people hearty
with the nourishment of sacred teaching.

Hannah M.

He spread the seeds of faith through the world,
and he drove the serpents out of Ireland.
To those limping he gave their feet,
and light to the blind. Let his people sing together!

Philip

To the Unbegotten, honor and devotion;
Praise to the Only-Begotten;
To the Spirit, advocate, equal reverence;
through all ages, forever.

Canticle

The canticle is sung antiphonally. You are invited to join either the “leader” or the “responder” part (with your microphone muted).

Philip will serve as leader and Hannah M. will serve as responder.

- - Guide us wak ing, O Lord, and guard us sleep ing, Leader - that a wake we may watch with Christ, - and a sleep we may rest in peace.

Nunc Dimittis: Luke 2:29–32

incipit Leader Responder

Leader:

Lord, you     now have set your ser-vant     free *

Responder:

to go in peace as you have pro-mised,    

Leader:

For with     my eyes I have     seen *

Responder:

your sal-va-tion,    

Leader:

→ which you have pre-pared *

Responder:

before the sight of all peo-ple:    

Leader:

A light     to shine through all na    -tions *

Responder:

and the glory of your peo-ple,Isra-el.    

Leader:

Glo    -ry be to the Fa-ther, and to the     Son, *

Responder:

and to the Ho-ly Spi-rit,    

Leader:

As it     was in the be-gin-ning, is     now, *

Responder:

and will be fore-ver. A-men.    

- - Guide us wak ing, O Lord, and guard us sleep ing, Responder - that a wake we may watch with Christ, - and a sleep we may rest in peace.

Benediction

Luke will serve as “all.”

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. Officiant All - - - The almighty and mer ci ful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spi rit, Officiant - bless us and keep us. A men. All

Those designated sing the Marian antiphon:

Ave, Regina Caelorum
(Gregorian Chant, Simple Tone)

Hannah M. will sing part A; Philip will sing part B.

Hail, Queen of the heavens.
     Hail, Lady of angels.
Hail, O root; hail, O gate
     from whom light has dawned for the world.
Rejoice, glorious maiden,
     most beautiful of all.
Farewell, exceedingly elegant woman,
     and pray for us to Christ.

It is traditional to end Compline with a few moments for silent reflection.