Weavings
photograph by Susan Wilkinson
by Lori Stewart
In 2024, the director of A Joyful Noise Choir in Edmonton (amiskwacîwâskahikan ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ Treaty 6 territory) invited me to write a poem reflecting on the themes of inclusivity and acceptance. The poem was set to music for the second movement of a cantata being commissioned for the 20th anniversary of the choir. Stephanie Martin, the wonderfully talented Canadian composer, was chosen to set the text to music.
At the time I was writing the poem, I was acutely aware of the war in Ukraine and the atrocities in Gaza and Israel. I recalled the WWI story of enemy troops laying down their guns during the first Christmas of that war and celebrating together. I thought about how the Good Friday Agreement developed from sworn enemies meeting face to face around a table seeking a way to bring peace to Northern Ireland, a place I visited during the Troubles. It's a rough path to reconciliation but I believe it's easier if we're seeing each other for who we are and if we're looking into each other's eyes while we share our stories.
Stephanie and I agreed to make this musical piece available to the public. She generously provides the score as a free download for choirs to have access to the music.
Weavings is our contribution to the healing of the world. Please listen to it, sing it, and share it.
Music by Stephanie Martin (Ontario); Words by Lori Stewart (Alberta) Recorded live, Feb 21, 2026 at Calvin Church, Toronto by Concreamus of 'Modern Sounds Collective', conducted by Kai Leung. This piece was commissioned by Roderick Bryce and 'A Joyful Noise', Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Lori Stewart
is a poet, writer, photographer, and retired associate faculty at St. Stephen's College (University of Alberta campus) in Edmonton (amiskwacîwâskahikan ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ Treaty 6 territory). Lori trained in spiritual direction with the Pacific Jubilee Program.
