Eating Because we can

 We don’t seem to talk much about the resurrected body of Jesus. The Gospel accounts draw out how intrigued the eyewitnesses were with it. A ghost or spirit? No – it had real physicality, it could be touched and was recognisably the Jesus they had known. Some aspects were the same, others were different, ie not tied to time and space rules as we know them. 

Traditional Christian understanding is that, when God renews everything, a resurrected body similar to Jesus’ will be His gift to those ‘in Christ’. Christians see ‘having faith’ to mean we live NOW as things will be in God’s future. How might the prospect of a resurrected body affect how we live in the present? 

I find inspiring Michael Simmonds Roberts’ poem Food for Risen Bodies – II. It ends, ‘he eats because he can, and wants to / taste the scales, the moist flakes of the sea, / to rub the salt into his wounds.’ He asks us to imagine Jesus after His resurrection eating a barbecued fish, the crisp skin and the tender, succulent fresh fish which melts deliciously in the mouth, but also salt being rubbed into Jesus’ wounds. 

Join us on the first Wednesday of every month at St Mary’s for Soul Sisters, talking hope, faith and life together.

If you’re looking for a third space to work away from home and the office, why not be inspired by working in a unique setting with Wi-Fi and fresh coffee?

Looking for a stimulating lunchbreak alternative now we are back in the city centre? Join fellow city workers from all backgrounds for the 2022 season of Insight Talks. 

Hosted by The Workplace Chaplaincy, the monthly presentations are given by senior figures from across business, charity and academia. Each session takes place in St Mary’s in The Lace Market and begins at 12 noon with a light buffet lunch. We aim to close by 1.30 pm.

These events are FREE to attend but registration is required.

Email lensimmonds@gmail.com to book a place.

The choir of St Mary’s Church, High Pavement, invites new singers to audition on May 15th.

The choir of St Mary’s Church in the Lacemarket is widely recognised as one of the finest mixed voice choirs in the East Midlands. It keeps up a busy programme of services, concerts and tours, performing a wide range of repertoire. The choir is currently looking to recruit new singers, particularly sopranos, altos and tenors.

The director of music, John Keys, said, “We would love to hear from singers based in or around Nottingham who would like to join a friendly ensemble that prides itself in making music to a high standard.”

The choir sings for three services each week (morning and evening on Sundays and a Wednesday evensong), with a one-hour rehearsal on Friday evening. Singers are regularly given opportunities to take on solos and the choir also gives concerts, often in conjunction with the Orchestra of the Restoration. The choir consists of student choral scholars and adult volunteers. Volunteers are expected to contribute to a significant proportion of services, particularly outside term-time.

Anyone interested in joining a friendly, lively group with an excellent musical and social life is welcome to apply. Open auditions are being held on Sunday 15 May 2022 and singers are asked to register their interest in advance by completing this form (we will respond with further details). Any queries about the choir or the auditions can also be submitted via the form. The choir is always happy for potential new singers to sing with us for a service to get a feel for the standard and atmosphere of our work.

You can listen to examples of recent services here and on the choir’s YouTube channel.

St Mary’s proudly displays a plaque commemorating 1000 years of Christianity in Ukraine. Flowers & messages are being left and everyone is welcome to come & share this quiet & sacred space to be, and for prayer & blessings.