On Earth As It is in Heaven is one part to the whole of Hayward Street. Since 2019, community members have come together for Care for the Square, Trinity Square Together’s bi-annual beautification event. These gatherings have created a steady rhythm of care, gradually shaping the block into a cleaner, more vibrant place. I first joined the effort as the community liason for Renaissance Church to work with different nonprofits and residents in Upper South Providence, Rhode Island.
Over the years, Care for the Square projects have added layers of color and life to the neighborhood: giant polka dots on Hayward Street with The Avenue Concept, planting trees and building guards, painting those guards, and filling their beds with flowers. The mural is one of many contributions to that ongoing transformation.
In the fall of 2022, I designed the mural — but painting a wall over 100 feet long was far from a solo endeavor (nor would I have wanted it to be). Local residents, members from The Salvation Army and Renaissance Church, and students from The Wheeler School — eager to fulfill community service hours — all came together to bring the design to life. The idea sparked when local resident and Trinity Square Together facilitator Debbie Schimberg, along with Envoy Kipp Allen of The Salvation Army of Providence, tapped me on the shoulder. They saw both a need for more color and an opportunity to replace offensive graffiti on the wall (in this case, a racial slur) with something hopeful and life-giving.
The mural’s plant imagery speaks to growth — not only the literal growth in the Southside Community Land Trust youth garden across the street, but also the hope for good growth in the lives of those who live here. The title, On Earth As It Is in Heaven, comes from the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” It’s a invitation for God’s goodness to dwell right here on this corner of Providence.
It also reflects the ongoing work of The Salvation Army — running a food pantry, connecting people to rehabilitation services, providing social support, and offering spiritual community. While we painted, people would stop by to talk to Envoy Kipp. He’d set down his brush, look them in the eye, and check in on their well-being. These small acts of love and justice are what close the gap between human brokenness and the healing of God.
For me, this mural is more than paint on a wall. It’s a prophetic statement: this street corner shall be a place of flourishing.
—Katherine
