All are welcome to this beautiful service.
Gregorian chant and polyphony in candlelight. Come and be inspired, whether you are religious or not, spiritual or not.

Compline
​Prayers for the end of the day.
​With Choir a cappella.

Fourth Sundays at 8:00 p.m., all year.
In the Church, or watch the live stream on our YouTube channel HERE

Since the fourth century, monks have said or sung Compline as the last service at the end of their workday.

The transcendent quality of Gregorian chant and polyphony, a period of silence, and the beauty of St. Paul’s Church bathed in candlelight, all make this service an oasis of peace and serenity. There is no sermon. 

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The monthly service Compline at St. Paul's began in 2001 by Mark Bruce, St. Paul's Music Director/Organist (2000-2005, 2022).  Mr. Bruce set the order of service and composed the setting of the psalms and fauxbourdons.

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The Order of Service Click here for the program

ANTHEM AT THE CANDLE LIGHTING The Hymnal 1982

Officiant:  The Lord Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end.
Choir:  Amen.
Officiant: Brethren, be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walketh about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour; whom resist, steadfast in the faith.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.         I Peter 5:8, 9
Choir:  Thanks be to God.
Officiant:  Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Choir:  The maker of heaven and earth.
Officiant:  O God, make speed to save us.
Choir:  O Lord, make haste to 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.  (Alleluia.)

THE PSALMS BCP pp.128-131 (fauxbourdons by M. Bruce)

Antiphon:  Miserere mihi, Domine, et exaudi orationem meam (Have mercy on me, Lord, and hear my prayer).  (Alleluia.)

Psalm 4  Cum invocarem
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.
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.
4    Tremble, then, and do not sin; *
         speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.
5    Offer the appointed sacrifices *
         and put your trust in the LORD.
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.

Psalm 91  Qui habitat 
1    He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High *
         abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
2    He shall say to the LORD,
         "You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
         my God in whom I put my trust."
3    He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter *
         and from the deadly pestilence.
4    He shall cover you with his pinions,
      and you shall find refuge under his wings; *
         his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
5    You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, *
         nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6    Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, *
         nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
7    A thousand shall fall at your side
      and ten thousand at your right hand, *
         but it shall not come near you.
8    Your eyes have only to behold *
         to see the reward of the wicked.
9    Because you have made the LORD your refuge, *
         and the Most High your habitation,
10    There shall no evil happen to you, *
           neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11    For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
           to keep you in all your ways.
12    They shall bear you in their hands, *
           lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13    You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; *
           you shall trample the young lion and the serpent
                          under your feet. 
14    Because he is bound to me in love,
        therefore will I deliver him; *
            I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
15    He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
           I am with him in trouble;
           I will rescue him and bring him to honor.
16    With long life will I satisfy him, *
           and show him my salvation.

Psalm 134  Ecce nunc 
​1    Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, *
         you that stand by night in the house of the LORD.
​2    Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; *
         the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * 
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Antiphon:  Miserere mihi, Domine, et exaudi orationem meam (Have mercy on me, Lord, and hear my prayer).  (Alleluia.)

OFFICE HYMN Te Lucis Ante Terminum, or other (by various composers)
To Thee, before the close of 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.

SCRIPTURE READNG
Officiant: Jeremiah 14:9,22 or Matthew 11:28-30 or Hebrews 13:20-21
Choir: Thanks be to God.​

RESPONSORY Ps. 17:8 (by various composers)
Officiant: Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
Choir: Hide us under the shadow of your wings.  
(Allelujah) 

Officiant or Choir: In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum (Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye).
Choir: Redemisti me Domine, Deus veritatis. (Hide us under the shadow of your wings).

NUNC DIMITTIS        Luke 2:29;  BCP p.66 (by various composers)
Officiant: Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep we may rest in peace. (Allelujah)

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;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles:
and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
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. 

PRECES (by various composers)
Officiant or Choir: Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Officiant: Our Father, who art in heaven . . . and lead us not into temptation.
Choir: But deliver us from evil.
Officiant: Lord, hear our prayer.
Choir: And let our cry come to you.
Officiant: Let us pray.

A period of silence. 

THREE COLLECTS
Officiant: Be our light in the darkness, O Lord. . . .   BCP p.133, or
    Be present, O merciful God . . .    BCP p.133, or
    Look down, O Lord. . . .    BCP p.133, or
    Visit this place, O Lord.  . . .    BCP p.133, or
    Keep watch, dear Lord . . .     BCP p.134, or
    O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world . . .      BCP p 134.
Choir: Amen.

THE DISMISSAL   
Officiant:  Let us bless the Lord.
Choir:  Thanks be to God.
Officiant:  The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us.
Choir:  Amen.

MARIAN HYMN (by various composers)
- Advent Sunday through Purification:  Alma Redemptoris Mater
- February 3 through Palm Sunday:  Ave Regina Caelorum
- Easter Day though Pentecost:  Regina Caeli
- Trinity Sunday until Advent:  Salve Regina

Compline,
​Sunday, March 22, 2026
​With St. Paul's Choir, directed by Ben Bachmann, Director of Music.

Compline Schedule

Fourth Sundays, 8:00 pm

2026
January 25
February 22
March 22
April 26
May 24
June 28
July 26
August 23
September 27
October 25
November 22
​December 27

2027
January 24
February 28
March 28
April 25
May 23
June 27
July 25
August 22
September 26
October 24
November 28
​December 26

Our Compline service is derived from various sources, including Liber Usualis and the Book of Common Prayer (BCP p.127). It is sung by the choir in English and Latin. References to full texts are to the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), the Bible, and the Hymnal 1982.