Good Friday 10 April 2020 “Grief and Hope Entwined” Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman Music: Rose Riebl (Piano) & Rhys Boak (Organ) Christopher Watson & James Emerson (Cantors)
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Good Friday
10 April 2020
“Grief and Hope Entwined”
Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman
Music: Rose Riebl (Piano) & Rhys Boak (Organ)Christopher Watson & James Emerson (Cantors)
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Welcome to St Michael’s
StMichael’sisauniquechurch.Weareproudofourindependentspirit;seekingcontinuallytodiscovernewwaystounderstandfaithandtodemonstrateitinourlives,andintheheartofthecity.
AspartoftheUnitingChurchinAustralia,StMichael’siscommittedtoinvolvementinsocialandnationalaffairs.WeholdfoundationalChristianvaluesoftheimportanceofeveryhumanbeing,theneedforintegrityinpubliclifeandconcernforthewelfareofthewholehumanraceirrespectiveofrace,creed,gender,sexuality,statusorage.
Office Bearers
ChairofCongregation:IanSmithChurchCouncilChair:LauraBeckett
DeaneryI:HouseholdDean:PeterAnderson
DeputyDean:JackMorgan
DeaneryII:ChurchServicesDean:GraemeAdamson
DeputyDean:AlbertPhillips
Organist&ManagerofMusicRhysBoak
Treasurer:IanCoxSecretary:MareeMcDonald
DeaneryIII:ContactandCareDean:LyndellO’BrienDeputyDean:JoyArnot
DeaneryIV:ProgramsDean:LorraineWoolleyDeputyDean:ValGill
CultureofSafetyContactPerson(KeepingChildrenSafe)
ValGill
St Michael’s Uniting Church Office
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MEDITATIONS StMichael’sisavibrant,progressive,inclusivechurchwithalongtraditionofnurturingthespiritualwell-beingofthehumanpersonandworkingforthecommongoodinsociety.
♥ Ourbuildingsmaybeclosed,butourheartsareopen. ♥ DuringtheCOVID-19viruspandemic,weareofferingSundayGatheringsonline–ReflectionsbyourministerRevDrMargaretMayman;biblicalandcontemporaryreadingsfromcongregationmembers;beautifulmusicbyorganist,RhysBoakandguestmusicians;andprayersforthesechallengingtimes.
AvideoofthisservicewillbeavailableonthewebsiteandYouTubeonSunday.http://www.stmichaels.org.au/
https://www.youtube.com/user/StMichaelsChurch/videos
Jesus’self-understandingdidnotincludethinkingandspeakingofhimselfastheSonofGodwhosehistoricalintentionwastodieforthesinsoftheworld,andhismessagewasnotaboutbelievinginhim.Ratherhewasaspiritperson,subversivesage,socialprophet,andmovementfounderwhoinvitedhisfollowersandhearersintoatransformingrelationshipwiththesameSpirithehimselfknew,andintoacommunitywhosesocialvisionwasshapedbythecorevalueofcompassion. MarcusBorg
Pieta,VasiliyMyazin
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GATHERING AS PEOPLE OF EARTH AND SPIRIT
WELCOME & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY REV DR MARGARET MAYMAN
WelcometoStMichaelsUnitingChurchandtothisonlineGoodFridaygathering.MynameisMargaretMayman,andIamtheministeratStMichael’s.Whereveryouhavecomefrom,whereveryouaregoingto;whateveryoubelieve,whateveryoudonotbelieve;youarewelcomehere.
WeacknowledgetheWurundjeripeopleoftheKulinNation,andotherFirstPeoplesonwhoselandthoseparticipatinginthisgatheringlive.Wehonourtheirelderspastandpresentandtheiryouthwhocarryhopeforthefuture.
DuringtheCOVID-19pandemic,wecannotgatherinphysicalproximitytooneanother,butwecanbeencouragedinknowingthatthroughthisvirtualgatheringwearereachingbeyondourusualcommunitytoincludepeoplefromotherUnitingChurches,fromotherdenominations,peopleofSpiritinMelbourne,acrossAustraliaandaroundtheworld.Thereisvulnerabilityinthisphysicalseparation.Iamgratefulthatwecanconnectwithoneanotherviatheinternet,butIamconsciousthatbecauseoflimitedaccesstotechnology,noteveryonehasthatprivilege.Inourcongregation,wearekeepingintouchwithmemberswhocannotjoinusonline.Weholdthosepeopleinourheartsalsoasweaffirmthat:
“Wearenotalone.EveryoneisheldintheCircleofCommunityandintheLoveoftheSacred.”
Whereverweare,beingchurchhappensaswereflectonoursacredstoriesofHolyWeek,storiesthatformandreformusthroughourlives.Ingatheringapart,inbeingtogether,thestoriesofJesus’death,andthestoriesofthepeoplewhoseliveshetouched,nourishourspiritsandsustainourlivinginthischallengingtime.Inoursearchformeaning,forwaystolivewellascreatorsofcompassionandpeace,forwaystokeepourselvesandotherssafe;theSpiritiswithinus,betweenus,andbeyondus.Maywetransformthenecessityofsocialdistancingintothegraceofspaciousconnecting,inwhichloveandcompassionareshared.
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GATHERING WecometodaytorememberJesustheHumanOne… whohaddreams, whohadthosedreamsshattered,whotooktimetothinkandprayandweep,whounderstoodtherisksofpropheticspeakingtruthtopower…
WerememberJesusapersonofextraordinaryspiritualinsight,whodiedacrueldeath.
Wegatherinthestillness,onthissolemnday,torememberthecapacityofhumanbeings,ourselvesandothers,bothtosufferrejectionandpainandtobetheoneswhocauseit.
HYMN CHRISTOPHER WATSON
Amanofancienttimeandplacewithforeignspeechandforeignface,revealstheglory,powerandgraceofcostly,unexpectedlove.
Arabbi,schooledinMoses’Law,amale,amendingHerod’sflaw,arouseswonder,rageandawewithcostly,unexpectedlove.
Byteasingwordandhealingdeed,alepertouched,anoutcastfreed,hebearsthefruitandplantstheseedofcostly,unexpectedlove.
Thecostwebarelycansurmisewhen,liftedupbeforeoureyes,thefaceofGodwerecogniseincrucified,unfathomedlove.
Mayfaithandhopewithinusgrow,thewayofChristtotellandshow,andmaytheSpiritbreatheandflowincostly,unexpectedlove.
Words:BrianWren(1936-)Tune:TallisCanon
ShortenedformofmelodybyThomasTallisc.1505-85FromThomasRavencroft’s‘Psalmes’,1621
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CONTEMPORARY READING REV CLARE BROCKETT
Whatmakesthisdaygood?byCherylLawrie Ifyouhaveeverbelievedthatloveinevitablyleadstobetrayal,thisdaysaysitdoesn’t.
Ifyouhaveeverbelievedthatsomepeopleareunlovable,irredeemable,thisdaysaystheyaren’t.
Ifyouhaveeverbelievedthatthereisalimittoforgiveness,thisdaysaysthereisn’t.
Ifyouhaveeverbelievedyouaren’tworthsaving,thisdaysaysyouare.
Ifyouhaveeverbelievedthatyoudon’tdeservefreedom,thisdaysaysyoudo.
Ifyouhaveeverbelievedthatfear,anger,hateanddespairwillalwayswin,thisdaysaystheywon’t.
Andthisdayisgoodforyou.
FIRST BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 27:27-36 IAN COX
ThenthesoldiersofthegovernortookJesusintothegovernor’sheadquarters,andtheygatheredthewholecohortaroundhim.Theystrippedhimandputascarletrobeonhim,andaftertwistingsomethornsintoacrown,theyputitonhishead.Theyputareedinhisrighthandandkneltbeforehimandmockedhim,saying,‘Hail,KingoftheJews!’Theyspatonhim,andtookthereedandstruckhimonthehead.Aftermockinghim,theystrippedhimoftherobeandputhisownclothesonhim.Thentheyledhimawaytocrucifyhim.Astheywentout,theycameuponapersonfromCyrenenamedSimon;whomtheycompelledtocarrythecross.AndwhentheycametoaplacecalledGolgotha(whichmeansPlaceofaSkull),theyofferedhimwinetodrink,mixedwithgall;butwhenhetastedit,hewouldnotdrinkit.Andwhentheyhadcrucifiedhim,theydividedhisclothesamongthemselvesbycastinglots;thentheysatdownthereandkeptwatchoverhim.
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HYMN JAMES EMERSON HowcouldaGodwhosenameislove seekbloodtopaysin’sprice?Aretorture,shame,andsenselessdeath aholysacrifice?Eachviolentcrimeistragicloss;howcoulditbeGod’swill?Howcanweglorifythecrosswhenvictimssufferstill?
DidJesuscomeasGod’sownchild toshareeachhumantear?DidJesusdieinspeakingtruth thatrulerswillnothear?IfWisdomhangsuponatree,what,then,arewetodo?Mustwe,likeJesus,riskourlivesforwhatisjustandtrue?InJesusChristwemeetaGod whoseloveembracesall, whoweepswhenchildrenareabused, whohearseachsparrowfall.Whengraceisancientastheearth,weneednotworshipdeath.SoletusliveintendercareforallwhomLovegivesbreath.
Words:RuthDuck(1947-)Tune:KingsfoldfromanEnglishandIrishtraditionalmelody
Coll.LucyBroadwood(1858-1929)Harm.andarr.RalphVaughanWilliams(1872-1958)
CONTEMPORARY REFLECTION MARGARET MAYMAN WhathappenedonthatFridaythatwenowcallgood?Itwasnotaheavenlytransactionbeyondourworldlyreality.Itwasnotthesacrificeofaninnocentvictimtosatisfyacapriciousdeitywithatasteforblood.No.Herearerealpeoplestrugglingwithrealpower.Herethemoralqualityofrealityisrevealed,inadisclosingthatdestabilisesthepowerofmoneyandviolenceandoppression.Jesusisthelensthroughwhichweunderstandpowernow;inhimweencounterthepowersoftheweak.ThroughthelensofJesus’lifeanddeathweassessthepracticeofpowerintheworld–powerexpressedinoursocialrelationsandinthepoliciesofthestate.Jesusexposesandthreatensthepowersthatbe:thepowersofwealthandmilitarydomination.NowonderhemadePilatenervousandthecrowdfrenzied.Inlifeanddeathandlifebeyonddeath,JesusrevealedtheDivine,theholyOne,standingwiththepoorandtheoutcast.Onthisdaywerememberthecrueltyandviolencewithwhichsuchchallengesaremet.
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Inthistimeofpandemic,wewatchingriefattheplacesintheworldwherepeoplearemostvulnerabletothevirusbecausetheylackresourcesnecessarytomaintainphysicaldistancing,andtheresourcestoaccessadequatehealthcare.Wewatchhelpless,asdespotsinrichcountriesandpoorcountries,denythetruththatcouldsavelives.ThedeathandhellofJesus’storyencountertherealitiesofourworldthisEaster.Wewonderwhatcanberesurrectedfromthis.Ittakesstrengthtostaywiththisstoryasweseekforhealing,notjustfromthediseaseofCOVID-19butfromtheinjusticesthatdivideourworld,anddamageearth.Wewanttolookaway,butthisyear,morethanever,thereseemsnootherwaytoturn.Yetifwestaywiththestory,wemaydiscoverthatintertwinedwiththeviolenceandthebrokenness,thesufferingandthegrief,thereareresilientthreadsofhope.Inthecompanyofhope,wefindthecouragetoremainatthecrossandthereencounterthedepthsofgriefandloss.Hopeisnotunjustifiedoptimismthateverythingwillbealright.Itdoesnotsuppressourlamentandourhelplesstears.Inthemidstofgrief,wegathertore-memberallthatthelifeofJesushastaughtusaboutthenatureofexistence–thatonlylovehasthepowertomendwhatisbrokeninusandinourworld.
PRAYER Godofthepoorandpowerless,youhavetaughtushowtospeakinthefaceofinhumanity—youcallustotellthetruthandexposethefalseorderingsofpowerthatoppressandkill.MakeusboldtofollowtheexampleofJesusandtospeakyourword,trustinginjusticeandfreedomreconciliationandlove.Amen.
SECOND BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 27: 45-51 IAN COX Fromnoonon,darknesscameoverthewholelanduntilthreeintheafternoon.Andaboutthreeo’clockJesuscriedwithaloudvoice,‘Eli,Eli,lemasabachthani?’thatis,‘MyGod,myGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?’Whensomeofthebystandersheardit,theysaid,‘ThismaniscallingforElijah.’Atonceoneofthemranandgotasponge,filleditwithsourwine,putitonastick,andgaveittohimtodrink.Buttheotherssaid,‘Wait,letusseewhetherElijahwillcometosavehim.’ThenJesuscriedagainwithaloudvoiceandbreathedhislast.Atthatmoment,thecurtainofthetemplewastornintwo,fromtoptobottom.Theearthshook,andtherocksweresplit.
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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE CLARE BROCKETT
Ameditation“AttheCross”byChrisPolhill
IseeChristcrucifiedstill–today:wherethehungrycryforfood,dieforfood,thoughthere’splenty.Wherepeopleareyelledat,jeeredat–bricksthroughtheirwindowsbecausetheirskinisn’twhite,isn’tright. Whereabuseandrapeoccur,wherequeerpeoplearebeatenup,wherelustkillslove-IseeChristcrucifiedstill.
IseeChristcrucifiedstill–today:wherewarsscarpeople,lands,God’shands–theendless,killingpoliticsofhate.Wherethecryforjusticeisunheard,oppressed,beatendownbycold,worldsystems. Wherepowercomesfirst,wherereligiontwistsfaith,wherefearkillstrust–IseeChristcrucifiedstill.
IseeChristcrucifiedstill–today:wherecreation’sfabricshreds,isbled,by‘musthavenow’,‘mustuse’.Whereearth’sbeautyisdestroyed. Wheretreesburn,wherewaterpoisons,wheregreedkillsneed– IseeChristcrucifiedstiIl.
AndItry–alittle–tostemthedeadlytideasIgive-alittle,writetothoseinpower–alittle,takemyrubbishforrecycling,andtrytoloveasJesussaid;trytoloveandchange–alittle.
AmomentofsilenceOGod,forallthesecrucifixions,namedandunnamed,maythereonedayberesurrection.Amen.
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MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Walk-LudovicoEinaudi(1955-)LudovicoEinaudiisanItalianpianistandcomposer.ThegrandsonofanItalianpresidentandsonofapublisher,hebegancomposingasateenagerandreceivedadiplomaincompositionfromtheConservatorioVerdiinMilan.Hegarneredinternationalrecognitionforhisworkcomposingforfilm(ThisisEngland,TheIntouchables,I’mStillHere)andsincethen,hasbeentouringasaperformingartist.
RoseRiebel(piano)
CONTEMPORARY READING CLARE BROCKETT “Allmystars,”byAnnePowell
WomanoftheUpperRoom,whatdidyoutellthemofyourboydeadtoosoon?
Thathewasmobbedandrobbedbybanditsforenrichingothers?
Thathewasstonedandbrokenformendinglives?
WomanoftheUpperRoom,whatdidyoutellthemofyourboydeadtoosoon?
Alumpasbigastheearthquakesyoursoul.They’vekilledmysunmymoonandallmystars.
THIRD BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 27: 55-61 IAN COX
Manywomenwerealsothere,lookingonfromadistance;theyhadfollowedJesusfromGalileeandhadprovidedforhim.AmongthemwereMaryMagdalene,andMarythemotherofJamesandJoseph,andthemotherofthesonsofZebedee.Whenitwasevening,therecamearichmanfromArimathea,namedJoseph,whowasalsoadiscipleofJesus.HewenttoPilateandaskedforthebodyofJesus;thenPilateorderedittobegiventohim.So,Josephtookthebodyandwrappeditinacleanlinenclothandlaiditinhisownnewtomb,whichhehadhewnintherock.Hethenrolledagreatstonetothedoorofthetombandwentaway.MaryMagdaleneandtheotherMarywerethere,sittingoppositethetomb.
MaryofBethany,KerryMartin
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HYMN CHRISTOPHER WATSON
Herehangsamandiscarded,ascarecrowhoistedhigh,anonsensepointingnowheretoallwhohurryby.Cansuchaclownofsorrowsstillbringausefulwordwherefaithandloveseemphantomsandeveryhopeabsurd.
Canhegivehelporcomforttolivesbycomfortboundwhendrumsofdazzlingprogressgivestrangelyhollowsound?Lifeemptiedofallmeaning,drainedoutinbleakdistress,canshareinbrokensilencemydeepestemptiness:
Andlovethatfreelyenteredthepitoflife'sdespaircannameourhiddendarknessandsufferwithusthere.Christ,ifyounowarerisen,helpallwholongforlighttoholdthehandofpromiseandwalkintothenight.
Words:BrianWren(1936-)Tune:Aurelia,S.S.Wesley(1810-1876)
CONTEMPORARY READING “TheCureforSorrow”byJanRichardson.
BecauseIdonotknowanymedicineforgriefbuttoletourselvesgrieve.
BecauseIdonotknowanycureforsorrowbuttoletourselvessorrow.
BecauseIdonotknowanyremedybuttolettheheartbreak,toletitfallopen,thentoletitfallopenstillmore.
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BecauseIdonotknowhowtomendtheunmendable,unfixable,unhealablewoundthatkeepsfindingitselfhealedaswetendit,aswefollowthelineofit,asweletitleadusonthepathitknows.
BecauseIdonotknowanysolacebuttogiveourselvesintothelovethatwillneverceasetofindus,thatwillneverlooseitsholdonus,thatwillneverabandonustothesorrowforwhichitholdsthecure.
HYMN CHRISTOPHER WATSON
Something’sdeadinsideme,someyesterdayisslain,myheartishunguponacross,mythoughtsarefilledwithpainandyetthereiswithinmeahopeIcan’texplainforinthedarknessIcanseeGoddancingintherain…Isurrendertothemysteryoflossthatturnstogain,thelittleseedofwheatmustdietobecomeafieldofgrain,andIknowit’sinthistimeofgriefthatChristisrisenagain,forinthedarknessIcanseeGoddancingintherain…
Words:JoyCowleyMusic:RainDance
ColinGibson(1933-)
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BLESSING MayyouliveintheworldinthepoweroftheSpiritofChristasyouwalkthroughdarknessanduncertaintytowardsthelightofEasterDay.Goinpeace.Sharepeacewhereveryoumaybe.
POSTLUDE AdagiofromtheToccata,AdagioandFugueinCBWV564–J.S.Bach(1685-1750)RhysBoak(organ)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CherylLawrie’sreflectionsarefromHoldThisSpace:PocketLiturgies.Published2008byProostwww.proost.co.uk“AttheCross”byChrisPohillfromEggsandAshes:PracticalandliturgicalresourcesforLentandHolyWeek,ed.ChrisPolhillandRuthBurgess,p.203.JanRichardson,“TheCureforSorrow”ablessinginTheCureforSorrow:ABookofBlessingsforTimesofGrief,p.122.Hymnsareprintedandstreamedwithpermission.ChurchCopyrightLicense(CCL):261070andChurchStreamingLicense(CSL):569311
GUEST MUSICIAN Rose Riebl RoseRieblisaMelbournebasedpianist,composerandproducer.Shebeganlearningpianoatfive,andwascompetingandperformingafewyearslater,whileherlegswerestilltooshorttotouchtheground.At14shemovedtoViennatoacceptaplaceatViennaConservatorium:hereshespenttimeperforming,competingandexploringherEuropeanroots.FollowingherreturntoAustraliaRosecontinuedperformingandstudyingattheAustralianNationalAcademyofMusic,andintheyearsfollowingcontinuedtostudyandliveinNewYork,LondonandSydney;usingthetimeabroadtotravelwide.WhileinLondonshecompletedaliteraturedegree:booksandstorieshavebeenamajorinfluenceoncurrentworkincomposingformovingimageandsoloprojects.RosehasperformedthroughoutEuropeandAsian,performinginsomeoftheleadingconcerthallsofChina.Herself-producedshowsIndigoAtlasandAntigoneReimaginedbothsoldoutatMelbourneMusicWeek(2017and2018)andherimmersiveperformanceNightsong,whichpremieredatMelbourneFringeFestival(2017)wasawarded‘BestMusicPerformance’ofthefestival.ShehascomposedforshortfilmswhichhavepremieredatSydneyFilmFestival,SouthbySouthwest,aswellasafeaturedocumentarywhichpremieredatRotterdamInternationalFilmFestivalin2018.Whilestillregularlyperformingclassicalrepertoire,Rose’smajorfocusisoncomposingformovingimageandherrecordingsandliveperformancesofminimalist,ambientpianomusic
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NOTICES
CONTACT AND CARE TEAM
ThemembersoftheContactandCareTeamareavailabletotalkwith,orassistpeople,whoareexperiencingdifficulttimesduringtheCOVID-19pandemic(orforanyotherreason).IfyouwouldliketospeakwithamemberofContactandCare,pleasecontacttheofficeandleaveyourphonenumberoremailaddress.Allmattersremainconfidential.LyndellO’Brien-DeanofContactandCareJoyArnot-DeputyDean
PRAYER TREE
Weareasmallgroupofcaringpeople,committedtosharingtheload,withthosegoingthroughdifficulttimes.Wehavewelcomedthepositiveoutcome,experiencedbythosewhomwehavesupported.Allpersonalinformationistreatedwithrespectandconfidentiality.Ifyouwouldlikeyourownnameputonour'PrayerTree'pleasespeakwithCatherineJonesdirectly,orcontacttheStMichael'sofficeandaskforamessagetobeforwarded.Ifthisrequestinvolvesanotherperson,pleaseseektheirpermissionfirst.‘Aprayermaybeawordlessinnerlonging,asuddenoutpouringoflove,acryinthedarknessforhelp,whenallseemslost.’(PaulGallico)CatherineJones,PrayerTreeLeader
PASTORAL CARE
Ourminister,RevDrMargaretisavailableforpastoralcaremeetingsbyphone.Pleasecalltheofficetoarrangethisoremailoffice@stmichaels.org.au
ST MICHAEL’S SOCIAL MEDIA
https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelsmelbourne/
https://www.youtube.com/user/StMichaelsChurch/videos
Podcastwww.soundcloud.com/stmichaelsunitingchurch
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PROGRAMS & EVENTS
EASTER AND HOLY WEEK @ ST MICHAEL’S – ONLINE
“ResurrectionHopeforaWorldReborn”
Videosoftheservicesareonourwebsite: https://stmichaels.org.au/the-church/gatherings-reflections/
GoodFriday10April9am EasterSunday12April10am
PROGRAMS & EVENTS atStMichael’sarepostponeduntilfurthernotice.THE MINGARY COUNSELLING SERVICEiscurrentlysuspended.Mingaryclientsarebeingcontactedtodetermineiftheyneedreferralstootherservices.DiscussionsareunderwaywiththeCairnmillerInstituteregardingtheongoingmanagementoftheMingaryInterns.Ifyourequirecounselling,pleasecontacttheofficeandwewillgetbacktoyouassoonaspossible.
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