The Link Romania Shoebox appeal, featured in the last issue of HOPE unlimited, received an overwhelming response from the
communities of Grove and Wantage. Old Mill Hall was buzzing as people brought in vast quantites of empty shoeboxes, along with huge quanes of toothpaste, soap, pens, pencils and more, all to be packed into the empty shoeboxes.

Are we mad? Maybe! That's why we called our July Christmas Party event a "Mad Hatters Tea Party".

We had whacky food such as inside out sandwiches, jelly eaten with chopsticks, giant size cakes etc, followed by a fancy dress parade and games like Giant Chess and Connect 4, coconut shy, bowling and Cheshire Cat photos etc.

Some people find Jesus through their up-bringing in a church-going household; some are drawn to Jesus by wondering about the meaning of life, the universe and everything; others because of a crisis in their lives. Find out what brought Paul to faith in Jesus Christ at the age of 28 - a faith that has remained with him for over 20 years and eventually led him to turn his back on a career in IT to help ensure a new generation of children learn about Jesus in schools.

Sunday 16 October

What are you hoping to find wrapped up under the tree on Christmas morning? A games console or iPad or mobile phone or maybe all of them? Would that bring a smile to your face?

But what if all you found was some toothpaste or soap perhaps? Or maybe a notebook and a pencil? What about a packet of sweets? Or a woolly hat? Would that bring a smile to your face?

It would to many Eastern Europeans in Romania, Moldova, Albania and Ukraine who endure levels of poverty which have not been seen in this country since the 1920's. So be part of our Shoe Box Appeal and help us send shoe boxes full of smiles to families in desperate need in Eastern Europe.

In a day in which there is so much change and when many people's lives are so constrained by schedules and the demands of 21^st century life, it is not surprising that, increasingly, there are those who feel very much left behind. As the pressure builds on us to achieve more, consume more, focus on ourselves more, there are those around us who virtually become invisible. So who cares?

Have you heard about Wantage and Grove Street Pastors? Or seen them about in their blue jackets on a Friday or Saturday night? Ever wondered who they are or why they do it?

We understand that there are times when the stresses of life are simply beyond us and we want you to know that there are people who care and who want to help. Above all, and most importantly, God knows and cares. So we've set up the Grove Prayer Line.