INSTRUMENTS OF PEACE

John Rutter’s setting of the beloved Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi is a gentle, flowing plea for grace. Arranged here for four voices by Sam Ezugwu, "Instruments of Peace" captures the quiet sincerity of the original text. The melody moves with a calm, deliberate pace, allowing the choir to truly pray the words as they sing. It asks God to transform our human failings—turning hatred into love, and pride into humility—so that we might bring light to a hurting world.

In the choir loft, this piece serves beautifully as a Communion meditation or a reflective anthem during times of national prayer. The harmonies are warm and accessible, building softly as the verses progress from acknowledging our darkness to promising to bear the grief of those crying for release. It is the kind of song that quiets a restless congregation, drawing everyone into a shared moment of stillness. When the voices unite on the final line, "Lord make us your instruments of peace," it leaves a lingering sense of purpose and calm.