Tree trunk statues honor homeless

Chainsaw artist Michael Hayes was commissioned by the East Providence Clergy Association in the mid-1990s to create a pair of wooden statues to draw attention to the plight of the hungry and homeless in East Providence. Joel, as he was dubbed, sprang to life from a tree trunk one cold December evening on the lawn of what is now the Church of the Epiphany, 1336 Pawtucket Ave. He was later moved to Newman Congregational Church in Rumford where Mona was created.

The pair will be returned to the Church of the Epiphany today in a special procession that steps off at 10 a.m. They will stay there for a bit before moving on to Hope Congregational Church on the Wampanoag Trail.

Professor to speak

David Cashin, professor of intercultural studies at Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Missions, will speak at the 10:45 a.m. tomorrow service at Perryville Bible Church, 220 Moonstone Beach Rd., South Kingstown, as part of the 18th annual Biblical Conference for Southern Rhode Island.

African Methodist service

The Men’s Day Committee will sponsor a 3 p.m. worship service tomorrow at the Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church, 163 Bellevue Ave., Providence.

American Muslim Alliance convention

The 2008 National Convention of the American Muslim Alliance will be held tomorrow from 3 to 10 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 265 Lakeside Ave., Marlboro, Mass. For more information, call (508) 481-3000.

Renovated church dedication

A special dedication service for the newly renovated Embaixadores Church of the Nazarene, 194 Barton St., Pawtucket, will be held tomorrow at 3:15 p.m.

Great Day of Service

The fourth annual Great Day of Service will be celebrated Monday. Registration will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. at two sites — Barrington High School for East Bay worksites and Beneficent Church, Weybosset Street, Providence, for Providence and West Bay worksites. Volunteers will receive shirts and three- to four-hour assignments. The R.I. Blood Center mobile vans will be at both sites from 9 a.m. to noon. A celebration will follow at 1 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Barrington. For more information, visit www.greatdayofservice.com.

Fall festival at camp

American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island will hold the annual Fall Festival at the Canonicus Camp and Conference Center in Exeter Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (401) 294-6318 or visit www.canonicus.org.

Theology on Tap continues

The Rev. Roger J. Landry will discuss “Faithful Citizenship” Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Julio’s Family Restaurant, 1488 Mineral Spring Ave., North Providence, as part of the Theology on Tap series for young adults in their 20s and 30s. The talk will be followed by a discussion and Q&A session. A hot buffet will be served. The suggested donation is $10.

‘Breaking the Poverty Cycle’

Linda Katz, co-founder and policy director of the Poverty Institute at Rhode Island College, will discuss “Breaking the Poverty Cycle” Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Beneficent Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, 300 Weybosset St., Providence. The lecture is free and open to the public. Off-street parking will be provided. For more information, call (401) 331-9844 or visit www.beneficentchurch.org.

Organ Spectacular

Members of the Rhode Island chapter of the American Guild of Organists will perform in an Organ Spectacular Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul. One Cathedral Square, Providence. The Concert is free and open to the public.

Music professor to speak at Brown

Gregory Barz, associate professor of ethnomusicology at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University and a Grammy-nominated producer, will discuss “Music, HIV/AIDS, and Hip Hop in Africa: The Responsibilities of Scholarship” Friday at 4 p.m. in the Petteruti Lounge, Faunce House, the College Green, Brown University. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, call (401) 863.2344 or visit www.catholic.brown.edu.