The program organizes CROP Hunger Walks in eight states.

Hinds, who will began work this week, lives in Raleigh with her husband John and their two children, Carter, 7, and Luisa, 4. She has served as the organization’s associate director for the past nine years. She has evaluated Church World Service programs in Bolivia, Uruguay, Argentina, Serbia and Moldova. She replaces former director Joe Moran who retired Thursday after almost 31 years in the position.

“It is an honor and a blessing to support the amazing team of employees and volunteers who care so deeply about ending hunger,” Hinds said. “I rejoice in our shared ministry.”

The regional office of Church World Service is in Durham at 1006 Lamond Ave.

MLK prayer walk takes to the trail

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to address repeated assaults on the American Tobacco Trail, BlessDurham and PrayDurham will co-host a prayer walk on MLK Day, Monday, Jan. 21, on the trail.

Multiple stations will be set up for prayer and to address other concerns like gun violence, schools, law enforcement, government officials, children and families.

The event is free and open to the public. Participants should come between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The walk will begin at the trail entrance across from the Northern Trail Head. at Morehead Avenue. Parking is available along Morehead Avenue, under the Durham Freeway or in the American Tobacco Campus parking deck.

Children’s Choir to present ‘Amahl’

The Durham Children’s Choir’s presentation of Gian Carlo Menotti’s holiday classic “Amahl and the Night Visitors” will have three performances at Duke Memorial United Methodist, 504 W. Chapel Hill St. from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan.

Co-sponsored by the choir and Duke Memorial, the musical will be directed by Scott Hill and Cyril Murphy and will feature soloists Grey Lehman as Amahl; Elizabeth Linnartz as mother; and Lewis Moore as Balthazar.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available from Scott Hill at scotthill@dcchoir.org or 919-489-1451; or Cyril Murphy at cyril@dukememorial.org.

Walk to support homeless ministry

Registration is now open for Open Table’s Winter Walk, an awareness- and fund-raising event to support the ministry that cares for homeless folks in the community.

Registration is free and each walker is asked to raise at least $100 in pledges. For churches or groups with multiple walkers, each person should pre-register online and designate one walker to collect packets/pledges to bring to the on-site check-in table on the day of the walk.

Those who are unable to attend and would like to contribute can do so by praying for the success of the event, sponsoring a walker or making a secure, tax-deductible donation through the website.

The 4-mile walk on the American Tobacco Trail is set for Saturday, Jan. 26, with on-site registration open at 12:30 p.m. The walk will step off at 1 p.m. from the front of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

This event will be held rain or shine in solidarity with those who do not have a roof to shelter their heads.

Zen Center to offer six-week class

David Guy will teach a six-week class on beginning Zen practice at the Chapel Hill Zen Center, 5322 NC 86 in Chapel Hill.

Classes from 7:30 to 9 p.m. are set for Monday nights from Jan. 21 through March 4, with no class on Feb. 18.

The first night will begin with meditation instruction and a short period of sitting. Each week the class will sit at the beginning, gradually increasing the time. Students will have opportunity to ask questions about their practice and to study other aspects of Zen practice, including walking meditation, protocol around the mediation hall and sutra chanting service.

The fee is $60, payable the first night, and will be contributed to the Zen Center. Partial scholarships are available. To sign up, contact David Guy at 919-286-4952 or davidguy@mindspring.com.