Christian Comment with Phil Coysh of Stroud Christian Fellowship

Stroud House of Prayer (SHOP)

FOR this week only during Harvest Festival season, Churches Together in Stroud and Stroud & District Foodbank, part of the Trussell Trust, have organised a pop-up style ‘House of Prayer’ in the old phone shop next to Iceland in Stroud, open from 7am in the morning to 11pm at night.

The Stroud House of Prayer – or ‘SHOP’ – provides an opportunity for people – wherever they are on the journey of faith – to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of life, to find peace in a spiritual space and, if appropriate, to write down prayer requests which local Christians will pray about.

A local church leader is available to pray with anyone who requests it.

SHOP is a place where spiritual needs are being met.

But SHOP is also acting as a drop-off point for harvest donations for the Foodbank, which is one of the outward expressions of Christian faith in our community.

SHOP is also a place where physical needs are being met.

Some people may wonder what the relationship is between a foodbank and prayer.

Food and prayer have been linked throughout history – that is why there is a tradition in many cultures of giving thanks for food.

That’s why many people still say ‘Grace’ before meals.

We are spiritual people as well as physical and, as Christians, we are called to meet both the spiritual and physical needs of our neighbours.

Religion has too often concentrated on just one aspect of our being – either the physical or the spiritual – but true religion is concerned about both.

As St James, the brother of Jesus, said, ‘Faith without works is dead.’

Jesus met people’s physical as well as spiritual needs and SHOP seeks to do the same.

So please come in and make a harvest donation for those in our community in physical need but also take some time in the SHOP to engage with your spiritual side, finding peace, grace and healing of body, mind and soul!