LifeStreams 213

LifeStreams 213 is the former vicarage of Saint Stephen's, which has been newly converted and renovated to provide a coffeehouse and community fridge that helps in a small way to reduce food waste. The community garden serves the public providing a relaxing, contemplative space to help poeople's well-being.

The vision for 213 was born out of Saint Stephen's, who felt called to express their ‘family' atmosphere in a way that benefits the local community. The Greek word for family - Oikos - also means 'house' or ‘home’. With a derelict house to our name, we got thinking and praying and LifeStreams 213 was born.

Church buildings tend to carry connotations, both good and bad - some people are scared to enter a traditional church for many reasons, but anyone and everyone can walk into a house, which makes 213 immediately accessible to more people in the deprived Saint Stephen's area.

Sundays at 213 have been considerably different to our other churches. 213 met at 2pm for a Sunday lunch and some prayer and discussion based on scripture, theme or topical event. This evolved into worship in the garden on Friday evenings and then latterly in the lounge as the weather wasn't always kind. In early 2025 we felt this expression of worship had run its course; God is calling us to have a stronger connection (in this context of worship and prayer) with the community. After works to bring toilet facilities up to date with disabled access we shall be returning to the church building for worship on Friday evenings by the end of 2025/beginning of 2026. With thanks to Avenue Trust for some funding.

There are ongoing plans to upgrade, decorate and insulate the church building to bring it to net zero carbon. This step by step approach has to take place due to funding methods.

The church building is having a facelift and the accessible toilet will be ready by the end of 2025

The hall has for a while been unusable but a new partnership with Happy Faces Nursery will bring it back into use for the community. Exciting times lay ahead. We are currently waiting for confirmation of funding from Southend Council whilst builders are costing the renovation works needed.

The beauty of our LifeStreams group is that it gives us the opportunity to offer many contrasting forms of worship and mission which will relate to many different people in our parish in unity and diversity.

COMMUNITY FRIDGE

The fridge has been running since December 2021. We have saved tons of food going to waste since then and been grateful to so many people who come and take food away. We have fresh food from the Co-op and from the garden, supplemented in season from the allotment growers across the road. Some visitors attend the foodbanks but also come to 213 fro some fresh fruit and veg. A copy of the last report can be found here 

COMMUNITY GARDEN

Janine has been working so hard developing the garden, it has looked the most colourful ever and we have grown more vegetables than before too - thanks to Janine and so many volunteers, not to mention Project 49 and St. Christopher's who help keep the garden tidy, weeded and planted. Janine has been making many local connections. We hosted a wonderful butterfly event with Friends of the Earth, Essex Wildlife Trust and Prince Avenue School Here's Janine's Latest report