Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, June 5, 2025)
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
This Thursday evening is the last Thursday evening of the Easter Season. This coming Sunday is the Feast of Pentecost, also known as Whitsunday or Whitsun. Like Christmas, Easter, and Ascension, it is a important festival of the Church year. It celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ disciples.
In England Whitsun and Whitsuntide, the week that followed, were considered the first holiday of the summer and were observed with fairs and parades.
In churches of a number of Christian traditions, it is customary to vest the pulpit-lectern and the communion table with red paraments, clergy to wear red stoles, and the congregation to dress in red on the Feast of Pentecost. The red symbolizes the tongues of fire that burned above the heads of those gathered in the upper room when the Holy Spirit descended.
The topic of this evening’s message is “testing the spirits.”
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link to hear Percy Whitlock’s Prelude on Song 13 for organ.
Silence
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins
through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all
goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in
eternal life. Amen.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Alleluia.
Open this link to hear Carl P. Daw Jr.’s paraphrase of the Phos hilaron, “O Light Whose Splendor Thrills and Gladdens.”
1 O Light whose splendor thrills and gladdens
with radiance brighter than the sun,
pure gleam of God's unending glory,
Jesus, blest Anointed One;
2 As twilight hovers near at sunset,
and lamps are lit, and children nod,
in evening hymns we lift our voices
to Father, Spirit, Son: one God.
3 In all life's brilliant, timeless moments,
let faithful voices sing your praise,
O Son of God, our Life-bestower,
whose glory lightens endless days.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Kiran Young’s Wimberly’s “You Have Searched Me” (Psalm 139)
You have searched me and known me, Holy Lord
Know when I sit and rise
You’re acquainted with my ways
Where I go and where I lie
You know each word completely
before I speak it, Lord
You lay your hand upon me
hem me in behind, before
Where can I flee from your spirit
Or from your presence go?
If I rise up to the heavens
Or descend to the depths below
If I take the wings of the dawn to
the far side of the sea
Even there, your hand will hold me fast
your right hand will guide me
For you formed my inmost being
within my mother’s womb
When I dwelt within that secret place
I was not hid from you
You ordained that the days before me
be filled with love and grace
Made me beautiful and wonderful
for this I give you praise
How precious is your every thought
how vast the sum of them
Though I try to count them
they are more than every grain of sand
O that you would pull down the ones who
do harm and seek to gain
My heart is heavy and I long
for goodness and love to reign
Search me, O God, and know my heart
know every anxious thought
And lead me on the path of
your everlasting way
Open this link in a new tab to hear Randy Ferris’ arrangement of the Gloria Patri.
Glory to the Father!
Glory to the Son!
Glory to the Spirit!
Glory to the Lord!
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever,
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever.
Amen!
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the First Letter of John.
1 John 4:1-6
Dear friends, don’t believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see if they are from God because many false prophets have gone into the world. This is how you know if a spirit comes from God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come as a human [or in the flesh] is from God, and every spirit that doesn’t confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and is now already in the world. You are from God, little children, and you have defeated these people because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world. So they speak from the world’s point of view and the world listens to them. We are from God. The person who knows God listens to us. Whoever is not from God doesn’t listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
In this evening’s reading John warns against an early heresy that rose in the Christian Church. Simply put, a heresy is a belief that is the opposite of the widely held beliefs of the Church. This belief denied that Jesus was a human being. From John’s description, it sounds like Docetism.
Docetism is the belief that Jesus had the form and semblance of a human being but was not actually a human being. He only seemed to be a human being. Docetism maintains that Jesus’s body was an illusion and that he did not really suffer and die on the cross. He just gave the appearance of suffering and dying.
Docetism denies that Jesus was fully human. Consequently, he did not experience what we experience. This belief carries with all kinds of implication, particular regarding Jesus’ ability to serve as a intercessor for humankind. Docetism has been described as believing in a Jesus who walks several inches above the ground and not on the ground itself.
The emergence of this belief is not surprising. In the ancient Mediterranean world, it was not an uncommon belief that deities would take on human form and mix with human beings. The Greek myths contain a number of stories in which Zeus, the chief god of the Greek pantheon, takes on human form to dally with some maiden who has caught his eye. In Acts 14:8-18 the people of Lystra mistook Barnabas for Zeus and Paul Hermes after Paul heals a crippled man. They believed that two men were these gods in human guise and were going to offer sacrifices to them.
Variations of Docetism have cropped up over the centuries since that time. One modern-day variation is that Jesus was an ascended being, a being who had achieved a higher state of existence or spiritual enlightenment. even an alien from a distant planet, another dimension, or a alternate universe. What these views have in common is the belief that Jesus was not fully human like us and occupied a different plane of existence from ourselves.
In this evening’s reading John draws attention to a larger problem—people who spread false teaching, claiming to speak for God. This was not only a serious problem in John’ day but also is a serious problem in our own day.
In John’s day false teaching spread primarily by word of mouth. Only a small segment of the population could read and write. In our own day, it spreads more rapidly in social media posts, in podcasts, in videos as well as in lectures, seminars, and publications.
In this evening’s reading John gives to those to whom his letter is written this instruction, “Test the spirits to see if they are from God because many false prophets have gone into the world.” This instruction is also given elsewhere in the Bible. One example is what the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Thessalonians, “Don’t brush off Spirit-inspired messages, but examine everything carefully and hang on to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 CEB).
How then do we “test the spirits”? Following the example of the apostles, Christians have historically looked to the teachings of the Bible, particularly those of Jesus, as their final authority in matters of faith and practice. They have believed the books of the Bible to be inspired by the Holy Spirit and revealing God’s mind on key matters.
The way we test the spirits is to compare a particular idea with what is clearly taught in the Bible. This involves carefully and conscientiously not only reading and studying the Bible but also employing sound principles in interpreting and understanding its content. It entails being familiar with the more common ways that the Bible is misinterpreted. It also involves acquainting ourselves with what have long been recognized as false teachings.
A critical principle in the interpretation and understanding of the Bible is that Jesus provides us with a lens through which its meaning is most clearly seen. His life and teaching bring out the meaning of its books with the greatest clarity. This is how the author of the Letter to the Hebrews put it:
“In the past, God spoke through the prophets to our ancestors in many times and many ways. In these final days, though, he spoke to us through a Son. God made his Son the heir of everything and created the world through him.” Hebrews 1:1-2 CEB
When we read the Bible in this way, we weigh what we read against what Jesus said and did. This includes how Jesus read and used the Old Testament as recorded in the Gospels, particularly what he gave emphasis to and what he did not. We acknowledge Jesus not only as our Savior and Lord but also as our Teacher and Exemplar.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s “Tell Out, My Soul.”
1 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
Tender to me the promise of his word;
In God my Savior shall my heart rejoice
2 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
His mercy sure, from age to age to same;
His holy Name--the Lord, the Mighty One
3 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight
The hungry fed, the humble lifted high
4 Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
To children's children and for evermore!
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth;
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us with your Holy Spirit
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son
Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to
strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior
Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right
judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that
peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be
fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered
from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness;
through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.
Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy
defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love
of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Edward Eicker’s arrangement of James Quinn’s “Word of God, Come Down on Earth” for SATB choir, keyboard, guitar, and solo instrument I & II in C.
1 Word of God, come down on earth,
living rain from heaven descending;
touch our hearts and bring to birth
faith and hope and love unending.
Word almighty, we revere you;
Word made flesh, we long to hear you.
2 Word eternal, throned on high,
Word that brought to life creation,
Word that came from heaven to die,
crucified for our salvation,
saving Word, the world restoring,
speak to us, your love outpouring.
[Instrumental interlude]
3 Word that caused blind eyes to see,
speak and heal our mortal blindness;
deaf we are: our healer be;
loose our tongues to tell your kindness.
Be our Word in pity spoken;
heal the world, by our sin broken.
[Instrumental interlude]
4 Word that speaks your Father’s love,
one with him beyond all telling,
Word that sends us from above
God the Spirit, with us dwelling,
Word of truth, to all truth lead us;
Word of life, with one bread feed us.
God of providence, God of love,
we pray for all people: make your way known to them, your saving power
among all nations.
[Especially we pray for…]
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
We pray for your Church throughout the world: guide and
govern by your Holy Spirit, that all who call themselves Christians
may be led in the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit,
in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life.
[Especially we pray for…]
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
We commend to your fatherly goodness all who are afflicted or distressed
in mind, body, or circumstances. Relieve them according to their needs.
Give them patience in their sufferings, and deliverance in their afflictions.
[Especially we pray for…]
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Gracious God,
you have given us much today;
grant us also a thankful spirit.
Into your hands we commend ourselves
and those we love.
Be with us still, and when we take our rest
renew us for the service of your Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.
In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us, heavenly Father,
to trust your love,
to serve your purpose,
and to praise your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely
more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from
generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus
for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21
with radiance brighter than the sun,
pure gleam of God's unending glory,
Jesus, blest Anointed One;
2 As twilight hovers near at sunset,
and lamps are lit, and children nod,
in evening hymns we lift our voices
to Father, Spirit, Son: one God.
3 In all life's brilliant, timeless moments,
let faithful voices sing your praise,
O Son of God, our Life-bestower,
whose glory lightens endless days.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Kiran Young’s Wimberly’s “You Have Searched Me” (Psalm 139)
You have searched me and known me, Holy Lord
Know when I sit and rise
You’re acquainted with my ways
Where I go and where I lie
You know each word completely
before I speak it, Lord
You lay your hand upon me
hem me in behind, before
Where can I flee from your spirit
Or from your presence go?
If I rise up to the heavens
Or descend to the depths below
If I take the wings of the dawn to
the far side of the sea
Even there, your hand will hold me fast
your right hand will guide me
For you formed my inmost being
within my mother’s womb
When I dwelt within that secret place
I was not hid from you
You ordained that the days before me
be filled with love and grace
Made me beautiful and wonderful
for this I give you praise
How precious is your every thought
how vast the sum of them
Though I try to count them
they are more than every grain of sand
O that you would pull down the ones who
do harm and seek to gain
My heart is heavy and I long
for goodness and love to reign
Search me, O God, and know my heart
know every anxious thought
And lead me on the path of
your everlasting way
Open this link in a new tab to hear Randy Ferris’ arrangement of the Gloria Patri.
Glory to the Father!
Glory to the Son!
Glory to the Spirit!
Glory to the Lord!
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever,
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever.
Amen!
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the First Letter of John.
1 John 4:1-6
Dear friends, don’t believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see if they are from God because many false prophets have gone into the world. This is how you know if a spirit comes from God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come as a human [or in the flesh] is from God, and every spirit that doesn’t confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and is now already in the world. You are from God, little children, and you have defeated these people because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world. So they speak from the world’s point of view and the world listens to them. We are from God. The person who knows God listens to us. Whoever is not from God doesn’t listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
How to Test the Spirits
In this evening’s reading John warns against an early heresy that rose in the Christian Church. Simply put, a heresy is a belief that is the opposite of the widely held beliefs of the Church. This belief denied that Jesus was a human being. From John’s description, it sounds like Docetism.
Docetism is the belief that Jesus had the form and semblance of a human being but was not actually a human being. He only seemed to be a human being. Docetism maintains that Jesus’s body was an illusion and that he did not really suffer and die on the cross. He just gave the appearance of suffering and dying.
Docetism denies that Jesus was fully human. Consequently, he did not experience what we experience. This belief carries with all kinds of implication, particular regarding Jesus’ ability to serve as a intercessor for humankind. Docetism has been described as believing in a Jesus who walks several inches above the ground and not on the ground itself.
The emergence of this belief is not surprising. In the ancient Mediterranean world, it was not an uncommon belief that deities would take on human form and mix with human beings. The Greek myths contain a number of stories in which Zeus, the chief god of the Greek pantheon, takes on human form to dally with some maiden who has caught his eye. In Acts 14:8-18 the people of Lystra mistook Barnabas for Zeus and Paul Hermes after Paul heals a crippled man. They believed that two men were these gods in human guise and were going to offer sacrifices to them.
Variations of Docetism have cropped up over the centuries since that time. One modern-day variation is that Jesus was an ascended being, a being who had achieved a higher state of existence or spiritual enlightenment. even an alien from a distant planet, another dimension, or a alternate universe. What these views have in common is the belief that Jesus was not fully human like us and occupied a different plane of existence from ourselves.
In this evening’s reading John draws attention to a larger problem—people who spread false teaching, claiming to speak for God. This was not only a serious problem in John’ day but also is a serious problem in our own day.
In John’s day false teaching spread primarily by word of mouth. Only a small segment of the population could read and write. In our own day, it spreads more rapidly in social media posts, in podcasts, in videos as well as in lectures, seminars, and publications.
In this evening’s reading John gives to those to whom his letter is written this instruction, “Test the spirits to see if they are from God because many false prophets have gone into the world.” This instruction is also given elsewhere in the Bible. One example is what the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Thessalonians, “Don’t brush off Spirit-inspired messages, but examine everything carefully and hang on to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 CEB).
How then do we “test the spirits”? Following the example of the apostles, Christians have historically looked to the teachings of the Bible, particularly those of Jesus, as their final authority in matters of faith and practice. They have believed the books of the Bible to be inspired by the Holy Spirit and revealing God’s mind on key matters.
The way we test the spirits is to compare a particular idea with what is clearly taught in the Bible. This involves carefully and conscientiously not only reading and studying the Bible but also employing sound principles in interpreting and understanding its content. It entails being familiar with the more common ways that the Bible is misinterpreted. It also involves acquainting ourselves with what have long been recognized as false teachings.
A critical principle in the interpretation and understanding of the Bible is that Jesus provides us with a lens through which its meaning is most clearly seen. His life and teaching bring out the meaning of its books with the greatest clarity. This is how the author of the Letter to the Hebrews put it:
“In the past, God spoke through the prophets to our ancestors in many times and many ways. In these final days, though, he spoke to us through a Son. God made his Son the heir of everything and created the world through him.” Hebrews 1:1-2 CEB
When we read the Bible in this way, we weigh what we read against what Jesus said and did. This includes how Jesus read and used the Old Testament as recorded in the Gospels, particularly what he gave emphasis to and what he did not. We acknowledge Jesus not only as our Savior and Lord but also as our Teacher and Exemplar.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s “Tell Out, My Soul.”
1 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
Tender to me the promise of his word;
In God my Savior shall my heart rejoice
2 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
His mercy sure, from age to age to same;
His holy Name--the Lord, the Mighty One
3 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight
The hungry fed, the humble lifted high
4 Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
To children's children and for evermore!
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth;
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us with your Holy Spirit
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son
Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to
strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior
Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right
judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that
peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be
fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered
from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness;
through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.
Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy
defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love
of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Edward Eicker’s arrangement of James Quinn’s “Word of God, Come Down on Earth” for SATB choir, keyboard, guitar, and solo instrument I & II in C.
1 Word of God, come down on earth,
living rain from heaven descending;
touch our hearts and bring to birth
faith and hope and love unending.
Word almighty, we revere you;
Word made flesh, we long to hear you.
2 Word eternal, throned on high,
Word that brought to life creation,
Word that came from heaven to die,
crucified for our salvation,
saving Word, the world restoring,
speak to us, your love outpouring.
[Instrumental interlude]
3 Word that caused blind eyes to see,
speak and heal our mortal blindness;
deaf we are: our healer be;
loose our tongues to tell your kindness.
Be our Word in pity spoken;
heal the world, by our sin broken.
[Instrumental interlude]
4 Word that speaks your Father’s love,
one with him beyond all telling,
Word that sends us from above
God the Spirit, with us dwelling,
Word of truth, to all truth lead us;
Word of life, with one bread feed us.
God of providence, God of love,
we pray for all people: make your way known to them, your saving power
among all nations.
[Especially we pray for…]
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
We pray for your Church throughout the world: guide and
govern by your Holy Spirit, that all who call themselves Christians
may be led in the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit,
in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life.
[Especially we pray for…]
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
We commend to your fatherly goodness all who are afflicted or distressed
in mind, body, or circumstances. Relieve them according to their needs.
Give them patience in their sufferings, and deliverance in their afflictions.
[Especially we pray for…]
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Gracious God,
you have given us much today;
grant us also a thankful spirit.
Into your hands we commend ourselves
and those we love.
Be with us still, and when we take our rest
renew us for the service of your Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.
In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us, heavenly Father,
to trust your love,
to serve your purpose,
and to praise your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely
more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from
generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus
for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21
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