Choir the ompline
MARCH 22 | 7 PM | CHURCH
Liturgical Reflections with The Compline Choir
Lent always begins, for me, in the uneasy space of self-examination. Psalm 42 names that interior unrest with unflinching honesty: “Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul?” As this Compline service opens, I hear that question not as accusation but as an invitation for us all to think inwardly brought upon by the person in the mirror and the trivial trials of our mortal life. In Lent, I cannot bypass the admission that this is hard, but abundantly important. It finds profound musical expression in Timor et Tremor by Francis Poulenc, written in 1938 amid personal and global uncertainty of yet another World War. Poulenc’s penitential motet trembles with harmonic tension; fear and mercy stand side by side. As I listen, I recognize my own restless heart in that dissonance - shouldn’t we lean into that? Yet even here, hope is conceived, not in confidence, but in the act of turning toward God and daring to pray, “miserere mei.”
The lament deepens as the service unfolds. Lamentations confronts me with the image of a city weeping alone in the night. In Civitas sancti tui, William Byrd, writing in the fraught religious climate of Elizabethan England, sets Jerusalem’s desolation with restrained Renaissance polyphony that feels both dignified and wounded. I sense in Byrd’s music the sorrow of exile and the quiet endurance of faith under pressure.
Then comes the call of Joel, “Return to me with all your heart,” a turning point that finds us realizing repentance is not humiliation; it is homecoming. The ancient Compline hymn Te Lucis Ante Terminum, in its modern setting by J. Aaron McDermid, gathers that return into prayer at the close of day. Rooted in the essence of the Compline Office, the hymn asks God to guard us through the terrors of night, almost casting a prayer of protection on all who listen. In singing it, I feel my striving quieted. Hope begins to steady itself, not because the darkness disappears, but because I entrust myself within it.
By the time I hear Isaiah, “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters,” my self-examination has become longing. That longing finds luminous expression in Sicut Cervus and Sitivit anima mea by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. In the balanced clarity of his sixteenth-century counterpoint, desire itself feels purified; thirst becomes grace drawing me toward living water.
Finally, Proverbs promises that when I lie down, my sleep will be sweet. In Sleep by Eric Whitacre, a work of the early twenty-first century, time itself is suspended. The music does not force rest; it invites surrender. For me, this is the quiet culmination of Lent’s work. Having faced my own heaviness, confessed my need, and answered the call to return, I can finally release the day. In Compline’s stillness, hope is no longer fragile. It is the simple, trusting act of closing my eyes, confident that even in darkness, I am held.
-Samuel K. Sweet
Assistant Director of Music, & Director of The Compline Choir
An Order for Compline
An Order for Compline
Hope
Alleluia
The congregation is invited to respond at “People”
The congregation is invited to respond at "People"
Opening Sentences David Hurd, plainsong
Opening Sentences | David Hurd, plainsong
Officiant: The Lord Almighty, grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end.
Officiant The Lord Almighty, grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end.
People
People: Officiant: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
O fficiant Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Choir: The maker of heaven and earth.
Choir The maker of heaven and earth.
Officiant & Choir: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father: We have sinned against you through our own fault, and word, and deed, and in what we have left undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive offenses; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name.
Confession of Sin Samuel K. Sweet, plainsong
O fficiant & Choir
People: Officiant: O God, make speed to save us.
An Order for Compline
Choir: O Lord, make haste to help us. Alleluia
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father: We have sinned against you, through our own fault, in thought, and word, and deed, and in what we have left undone.
Psalm 4 | John Joubert
Alleluia
The congregation is invited to respond at "People"
Opening Sentences | David Hurd, plainsong
1 Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; you set me free when I am hard-pressed; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
Officiant: The Lord Almighty, grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end.
For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us all our offenses; and g rant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name.
People:
2 “You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; how long will you worship dumb idols and run after false gods?”
3 Know that the Lord does wonders for the faithful; when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
Officiant: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
People O fficiant O God, make speed to save us. David Hurd, plainsong
Choir: The maker of heaven and earth.
4 Tremble, them, and do not sin; speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.
Choir O Lord, make haste to help us.
5 Offer the appointed sacrifices and put your trust in the Lord
Officiant & Choir: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father: We have sinned against you through our own fault, and word, and deed, and in what we have left undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive offenses; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name.
Choir Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
6 Many are saying, “Oh, that we might see better times!” Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O Lord.
7 You have put gladness in my heart, more than when grain and wine and oil increase.
8 I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; for only you, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
People: Officiant: O God, make speed to save us.
Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? * and why are you so disquieted within me?
Put your 1 trust in God; * for I will yet give thanks to him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God. My soul is heavy within me; * therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan, and from the peak of Mizar among the heights of Hermon.
One deep calls to another in the noise of your cataracts; * all your rapids and floods have gone over me.
The LORD grants his loving kindness in the daytime; * in the night season his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
I will say to the God of my strength, “Why have you forgotten me? * and why do I go so heavily while the enemy oppresses me?
While my bones are being broken, * my enemies mock me to my face; All day long they mock me * and say to me, “Where now is your God?”
Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? * and why are you 1 so disquieted within me?
Put your trust in God; * for I will yet give thanks to him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
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.
First Reading Jeremiah 14:19-20
Have you utterly rejected Judah? Does your heart loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We look for peace, but find no good; for a time of healing, but there is terror instead. We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord, the iniquity of our ancestors, for we have sinned against you.
Anthem
Timor et Tremor
Francis Poulenc
Second Reading
Timor et tremor venerunt super me, et caligo cecidit super me: miserere mei, Domine, miserere mei, quoniam in te confidit anima mea. Exaudi, Deus, deprecationem meam, quia refugium meum es tu et adjutor fortis. Domine, invocavi te, non confundar.
Fear and trembling came over me, and darkness fell over me: have mercy on me, O Lord, have mercy on me, for my soul trusts in you.
Hear, O God, my prayer, for you are my refuge and my strong helper. Lord, I have called upon you, I shall not be confounded.
Lamentations 1:1-2
How lonely sits the city that once was full of people! How like a widow she has become, she that was great among the nations! She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has no one to comfort her.
Civitas sancti tui facta est deserta. Sion deserta facta est, Jerusalem desolata est.
Your holy city has become a wilderness. Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem has been made desolate.
Anthem
Civitas sancti tui
William Byrd
“ Yet even now,” says the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
Anthem
Te Lucis ante Terminum J. Aaron McDermid
Te lucis ante terminum, Rerum Creator poscimus, Ut pro tua clementia Sis præsul et custodia.
Procul recedant somnia, Et noctium phantasmata; Hostemque nostrum comprime, Ne polluantur corpora.
Præsta, Pater piissime, Patrique compar Unice, Cum Spiritu Paraclito Regnans per omne sæculum. Amen.
Before the ending of the day, Creator of the world, we pray That with Thy wonted favor Thou Wouldst be our Guard and Keeper now.
From all ill dreams defend our eyes, From nightly fears and fantasies; Tread under foot our ghostly foe, That no pollution we may know.
O Father, that we ask be done, Through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son; Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee, Doth live and reign eternally.
Amen.
Fourth Reading
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.
Anthem
Sicut Cervus (Prima Pars) & Sitivit anima mea (Secunda Pars) Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad Te, Deus.
Sitivit anima mea ad Deum fortem vivum: quando veniam et apparebo ante faciem Dei? Fuerunt mihi lacrymae meae panes die ac nocte, dum dicitur mihi quotidie: Ubi est Deus tuus?
As a hart longs for the flowing streams, So longs my soul for thee, O God.
My soul has thirsted for the living God: When shall I come and appear before the face of my God?
My tears have been my bread by day and by night, While it is said to me daily: Where is your God?
Fifth Reading Proverbs 21-24
My child, do not let these escape from your sight: keep sound wisdom and prudence, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble. If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Sleep Eric Whitacre
Abendlied | Josef Gabriel Rheinberger
Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, und der Tag hat sich geneiget.
Second Reading | Isaiah 60:1-6
Bide with us, for evening darken shadows, and the day will soon be over.
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon nations shall come to your l ight, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Tribus miraculis | Luca Marenzio
Tribus miraculis ornatum, diem sanctum colimus:
Hodie stella Magos duxit ad praesepium:
Hodie vinum ex aqua factum est ad nuptias:
Hodie in Jordane a Joanne Christus baptizari voluit, ut salvaret nos, Alleluia.
Third Reading | John 1:9-14
We observe this holy day, ornamented with Today a star led the Magi to the manger; Today wine was made from water at the wedding; Today in the Jordan Christ desired to be baptised so that He might save us, Alleluia.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in th e world, and the made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
The evening hangs beneath the moon, A silver thread on darkened dune. With closing eyes and resting head I know that sleep is coming soon. Upon my pillow, safe in bed, A thousand pictures fill my head. I cannot sleep, my mind’s a-flight; And yet my limbs seem made of lead. If there are noises in the night, A frightening shadow, flickering light, Then I surrender unto sleep, Where clouds of dream give second sight, What dreams may come, both dark and deep, Of flying wings and soaring leap As I surrender unto sleep, As I surrender unto sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep.
Alleluia | Eric Whitacre
In manus tuas
Alleluia. Amen.
O fficiant Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
David Hurd, plainsong
Praise the Lord. Amen.
Into your hands (In manus tuas) | David Hurd, plainsong
Choir Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Officiant: Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
O fficiant For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
Choir: Into y our hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Choir Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Officiant: For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
Keep us, O Lord
Keep us, O Lord | David Hurd, plainsong
Officiant: Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
David Hurd, plainsong
O fficiant Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye; Choir Hide us under the shadow of your wings.
Choir: Hide us under the shadow of your wings.
Officiant: Lord, have mercy.
O fficiant Lord, have mercy.
People
People: The Lord’s Prayer | David Hurd, plainsong
Officiant & Choir: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
The Lord’s Prayer
David Hurd, plainsong
Collect
Officiant & Choir: Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.
People:
People
Our Father, 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 lead us not into temptation, bur deliver us from evil.
O fficiant Lord, hear our prayer; Choir And let our cry come to you.
[Silence may be kept, and free intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered.]
O fficiant Lord, hear our prayer;
An Order for Compline
Salve Nos (No. XIII) | Samuel K. Sweet
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we rest in peace.
Collect David Hurd, plainsong
The congregation is invited to respond at "People"
O fficiant & Choir
Opening Sentences | David Hurd, plainsong
Nunc Dimittis | Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina
Officiant: The Lord Almighty, grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end.
Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace:
People:
People
Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum
Officiant: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people.
Silence may be kept, and free intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered.
Choir: The maker of heaven and earth.
Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum: Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Salve Nos Plainsong
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
Officiant & Choir: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father: We have sinned against you through our own fault, in and word, and deed, and in what we have left undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive offenses; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name.
Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper: et in saecula saeculorum, Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
S alva nos Domine vigilantes, custodi nos dormientes: Ut vigilemus cum Christo, et requiescamus in pace.
People:
Salve Nos (No. XIII) | Samuel K. Sweet
As it was in the beginning, and now, and will always: and in the ages of the ages. Amen.
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Officiant: O God, make speed to save us.
Choir: O Lord, make haste to help us. Alleluia
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Alleluia
Nunc Dimittis
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people.
William Byrd
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, and now, and will always: and in the ages of the ages. Amen.
Salve Nos Plainsong
S alva nos Domine vigilantes, custodi nos dormientes: Ut vigilemus cum Christo, et requiescamus in pace.
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
An Order for Compline
Concluding Blessing David Hurd, plainsong
O fficiant Let us bless the Lord.
The congregation is invited to respond at "People"
Choir Thanks be to God.
Opening Sentences | David Hurd, plainsong
Officiant: The Lord Almighty, grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end.
O fficiant The Almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Bless us and keep us.
People:
People
Officiant: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Ave Regina Caelorum Marian Antiphon, Solemn Tone
Choir: The maker of heaven and earth.
Ave regina caelorum, ave domina angelorum: salve radix, salve porta, ex qua mundo lux est orta:
Officiant & Choir: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father: We have sinned against you through our own fault, in and word, and deed, and in what we have left undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive offenses; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name.
Gaude Virgo, gloriosa, super omnes speciosa, vale o valde decora, et pro nobis Christum exora.
People: Officiant: O God, make speed to save us.
Hail, queen of heaven, hail lady of the angels.
Hail, root, hail the door through which the Light of the world is risen.
Rejoice, glorious Virgin, beautiful above all. Hail, O very fair one, and plead for us to Christ.
Choir: O Lord, make haste to help us. Alleluia
Psalm 4 | John Joubert
Silence may be kept as The Compline Choir exits the sanctuary .
1 Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; you set me free when I am hard-pressed;
Alleluia
Soprano
Julie Biffle, Taylor Fenner, Rachel Jones, Catherine Seveney
Alto
Linnea Anderson, Katrina Burggraf, Basil Ceniseros, Erin Roth Thomas
Tenor
David Bone, Taylor Brimager, Eric Lewis, Jeremy Rohwer
Bass
Conner Allison, Hawkins Burns, Patrick Gnage, Connor Lidell
Director
Samuel K. Sweet
Compline Services in 2026
April 26 | Awakening
August 30 | Presence
November 15 | Dawn