Singing is good for you, don't take my word for it, I got the following from Opera North!

1. Singing makes you feel better – it releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. All of these are “happy chemicals” which boost your mood.

2. Singing enhances lung function. It encourages you to breathe properly, using the muscles around your ribcage and your diaphragm effectively, especially useful for people with chronic lung problems.

3. Singing helps you to beat stress and relax. Breathing properly and with awareness is good for releasing anxiety and puts you into a state of rest and relaxation.

4. Singing helps to improve memory, mental alertness and concentration as it involves focusing on multiple things at once. Which is why it is featuring more and more in dementia care.

5. Singing builds a sense of community. Singing together is a great way of connecting with people and fostering a sense of togetherness.

6. Singing lets you express yourself. You can let go and tap into different emotions depending on what you are singing.

7. Singing helps with pain relief. All those happy chemicals and the fun of singing helps to relieve chronic pain.

8. Singing boosts confidence. Many folk are nervous about performing in public, but being part of a group can boost your confidence. To sing effectively needs good posture – so already you are naturally standing taller.

9. Singing features in wellness studies. The University of Leeds offers an MA in Music and Wellbeing.

10. Singing is for everyone. It really doesn't matter whether you think you can sing or not, the health benefits are the same and most people who think they can't sing, can.

So why not think about joining the St Mary's Choir? We meet every Friday in the Parish Rooms at 6pm for an hour when we rehearse the hymns for Sunday and prepare our anthems and psalms for services to come. We occasionally have extra rehearsals on Saturday mornings for special services, which are fun and often feature tea, coffee and cake! You are not expected to be there every week, after all we all have holidays and other family commitments.

Not sure what voice part you are? Doesn't matter, come along and see where your voice fits comfortably, we can sort you out. No music training is necessary, there are no auditions, you can pick up what you need as you go along. Some of our members couldn't read music when they first started. If we didn't enjoy singing in the choir, we wouldn't be there. Come and be a part of our merry music making. 

If you want to know anything else, catch me after 10am service, I love my coffee and biscuit so you will find me in the Parish rooms. 

Hilary (alto)

In the first book, Theophilus, 

I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 

until the day when he was taken up to heaven, 

after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit 

to the apostles whom he had chosen. 

After his suffering he presented himself alive to them 

by many convincing proofs, 

appearing to them over the course of forty days 

and speaking about the kingdom of God. 

While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, 

but to wait there for the promise of the Father. 

‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; 

for John baptized with water, 

but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit 

not many days from now.’

 So when they had come together, they asked him, 

‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 

He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods 

that the Father has set by his own authority. 

But you will receive power 

when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; 

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, 

in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ 

When he had said this, as they were watching, 

he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 

While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, 

suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 

They said, ‘Men of Galilee, 

why do you stand looking up towards heaven? 

This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, 

will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’

Jesus said to the disciples, 

‘These are my words that I spoke to you 

while I was still with you—

that everything written about me in the law of Moses, 

the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ 

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 

and he said to them, 

‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer 

and to rise from the dead on the third day, 

and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed 

in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 

You are witnesses of these things. 

And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; 

so stay here in the city 

until you have been clothed with power from on high.’

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, 

and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 

While he was blessing them, 

he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.

And they worshipped him, 

and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 

and they were continually in the temple blessing God.