Vol. 31 Issue 3: April 2024

HYMN

Hyattsville Mennonite News

Mennonite Action DMV Meets with Office of Rep. Glenn Ivey

by Mary Hershberger

About a dozen members of Mennonite Action DMV met with Rep. Glenn Ivey’s field representative, Luis Murillo, on Holy Thursday morning. We had with us a child-size coffin made from plain pine wood which carried two loaves of bread, one a fluffy, delicious sour dough (made by Herb Reed) and the other a loaf made with animal feed. We also included food items, toiletries, menstrual products, and a pair of sandals that represented the walking that marks Palestinian dispossession from 1948 to Gaza today. The coffin was topped by an MCC comforter and our banner saying “Food, Not Bombs.”

We spoke briefly to Luis about what Mennonite Action is and how we have been informed by our church’s long history with the Mennonite Central Committee and its recent difficulties in getting a truck load of food into Gaza. We read a letter to Glenn Ivey which asked him to support a ceasefire and humanitarian aid, including funding for UNRWA, an end to weapons to Israel, and for Ivey to “Reject AIPAC.”

Then we opened the coffin and those who had contributed items took them out, set them on the table, and explained their real and symbolic significance. We told Luis that if Ivey supported a ceasefire, we would leave these items but if he did not, we could take them back with us when we left, except for the loaf of bread made with animal feed which we asked Luis to give to Ivey. (We explained to Luis that we had heard people in Gaza were eating animal feed which this loaf represented).

We sang a few songs and then John Martin and Arienne McShane made short statements that emphasized our deep concerns. We took the next forty minutes to have a conversation with Luis that was open to everyone around the table. As a group, we maintained a robust focus on our talking points, offering evidence and information from the head and the heart that supported the need for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid. We brought honest, heartfelt, direct challenges to Rep. Ivey who has tied himself to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The interests of AIPAC override Ivey's otherwise progressive and thoughtful stance to issues of justice in his home district. Luis was gracious and sometimes said that he could not exactly speak for Glenn Ivey, especially when we pressed him on Ivey's close connection to AIPAC.

After about 40 minutes of conversation, we thanked Luis for his time and repeated our call for a ceasefire. Then we sang more songs as we packed up the coffin and exited the office, leaving only the loaf of animal feed bread behind. In the parking lot outside, Cindy Lapp took the sourdough loaf of bread, broke it in half. We shared “communion” there in the parking lot as we remembered the broken bodies in Gaza and reflected on the meeting we had just had. We voiced our sadness for the present situation in Gaza and prayed that the bread would nourish our hope in the future.

News from the

Church Council

The generosity of HMCers and guests helped the congregation to once again have a “surplus” in budget year 2023. Our custom has been to tithe 10% of the “surplus” to an organization that we support as a congregation. This year, there have been a number of groups asking for our support so our tithe is above and beyond.

The council approved spending the $17,500 surplus this way:

$1,000 - to the Queer Constituency Council. This will support a person who will represent the queer community at the MC USA Constituency Leaders Council.
$3,000 - The Exchange Congregation. The exchange is a new congregation in Allegheny Conference that joined the month after the IGH funds were distributed. Each current congregation is being asked to share some of their funds with the exchange.
$3,000 - AMC general fund. Allegheny Conference is in a period of growth with new congregations and soon a new conference minister. This extra contribution will help the bottom line and help AMC pay their portion of support for our summer Ministry Intern, Josue Coy Dick
$5,000 - HMC debt/mortgage. HMC took on a new mortgage when we did the rebuild in 2013. We currently owe $380,000. This will go toward the principle.
$5,000 - New website. Our current website is over 10 years old and it is time for a refresh. This may not cover all the cost but the trustees will take some money out of reserves if needed.
$500 - scholarships for the mental health first aid course on May 11

Church Use in April

Wednesday mornings - comforter project
Wednesday evenings - Washington Women’s Chorale
1st and 3rd Sunday afternoons - Daisy Troop
Maryland for Ceasefire - April 20
Engagement Party (rental) - April 20

Transforming the Back Swamp

by Mira Grieser

For many years, most of us have hurried past the area behind the HMC parking lot on the way to or from church, barely glancing over to see the mass of vines growing out of areas of standing—or sometimes rushing—water. With a closer look, English ivy vines were crawling up tree trunks, layers of euonymus vines covered the ground, and bush honeysuckle had spread rampantly. The vines had already brought down some of the medium trees, and these invasive plants were providing very little benefit to the ecosystem.

But thanks to significant hard work from a lot of HMC attendees, this parcel of urban tree canopy has started an incredible transformation towards a healthy and thriving ecosystem that supports all levels of plant, insect, and bird life here in Hyattsville. This work aligns well with what we and many communities of faith see as a call to be stewards of the environment and care for creation.

This work starts with native plants and trees, that have evolved with native wildlife to create an intricate ecosystem. Attracting pollinators is a key function of plants, which then can support all types of life.

While we have viewed this area’s tendency for standing water as a negative, we see here an important function—to be able to absorb run-off from surrounding areas—and keep the water on the property rather than running into the sewers, washing topsoil and trash with it into the rivers. Many native plants have deep root systems, which can help manage run-off. In contrast, the invasive vines and bush honeysuckle have shallow roots.

And the timing of this project is great because many urban municipalities are looking at ways to preserve and enhance their tree canopy, recognizing that trees can mitigate some of the effects of climate change. There have been studies that have found as much as a 25 degree difference in air temperature under a tree compared with air temperatures over a blacktop.

With this background, here is what we all have accomplished together on this project so far:

We held 3 workdays focusing on invasive plant removal. 15 people can make a lot of progress in a couple of hours on pulling out vines and digging out roots!
We rented a wood chipper and spent hours turning 2 massive piles of branches into beneficial mulch.
We filled 60+ bins with vines and other invasives, which were then picked up by the City of Hyattsville and transported to the PG county organic composting location.
We cleared some dead and dying medium sized trees, thanks to the professional efforts and chainsaw of forester, Alex Navarri.
We created a wood chip path that will encourage wandering through the woods, while keeping feet dry.
The City of Hyattsville planted 20 trees! We chose a variety of species, such as bald cypress and black willow, which will develop extensive root systems to better absorb water and support an incredible variety of insect and bird species. The trees were all FREE to HMC supported through funds made available by the American Rescue Plan Act to preserve the urban tree canopy. We have made valuable connections with administrators of the City of Hyattsville who are very supportive of these efforts! Note: if you are a resident of Hyattsville, you are eligible for free trees!
We met with folks from Chesapeake Natives and other local native plant advisors for ideas on areas of focus. In exchange for the use of our building for a meeting earlier this year, Chesapeake Natives will be giving us plants: Shrubby St. Johns wort, cardinal flower, goldenrod and asters.
We have started adding other natives as they are available. Many folks are happy to share starts. So far we have the following, all of which support pollinators including native bees, flies, butterflies and moths and bloom at different times.
Cut-leaf coneflower (sochan)- the early spring leaves are edible (like spinach or kale).
Golden ragwort
Black-eyed Susans (the Maryland State flower)

Looking ahead, the challenge will be to maintain the areas that we have cleared, especially as the vines start growing in the warmer weather. The focus will be on keeping the trees cleared and watered especially this first summer. More information will be coming on how to help with these efforts.

In this time of feeling overwhelmed by climate change, this is one area that we do have control of, and can make a difference. And it has been inspiring to discover that we are joining the efforts of other faith communities, municipalities, and individuals, hopeful that together, we can make a bigger change.

For more information:

Check out “Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that starts in your yard” by Doug Tallamy
Take a look at Homegrown National Park, a grassroots call to action for land owners to plant native plants and remove invasive species with a goal of achieving 20 million acres of native plantings in the US.
Read about other communities of faith involvement with native plant gardens here.
Or talk with Mira or Kimberly about our work as Wildlife Habitat Advisors with the PG Audubon Society

The current state of the "Back-Swamp" with newly planted trees.