Grace and Peace to you, our fellow travelers on the journey of following Jesus. It is with great excitement that we share with you this stewardship devotional booklet. I hope you will find each of these writings from various church members as meaningful for you as they have been to me. Centenary has some incredible disciples in our church family and these contributors are just a sampling of the deep love of Jesus we are surrounded by. This booklet is designed to provide you with a daily devotional to help you reflect and pray about your stewardship participation in the coming year. As we prepare for Commitment Sunday I invite you to start reading a daily devotion on November 1 so the last devotion will time out for November 19th when we will celebrate our commitment together as a church family. May God inspire you in new ways to share your time, talents, and financial resources out of your abundance so that we as a church can serve God’s Kingdom to the best of our ability. With a Thankful Heart,
Rev. Lory Beth Huffman, Senior Minister
Day 1 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” ~ 1 Chronicles, 29:14 Years ago, a dear friend gave me a powerful little book, “Always We Begin Again, The Benedictine Way of Living.” Based on St. Benedict’s Rule on living a monastic life in sixth century Italy, author and corporate attorney John McQuiston II interpreted the Rule for today’s world, or at least the world as it was in 1996. The original interpretation emphasized thankfulness, recently revised emphasizes loving kindness. But “at its core,” McQuiston writes, the Rule “is a series of remarkable insights into the art of living.” The book is full of deeply theological, spiritual, and yet--pragmatic meditations. The “Stewardship” meditation is especially powerful as our thoughts turn toward stewardship, thankful giving and the holiday season. The Benedictine Rule says “The only significance of things is our relationship with them. Everything we have is on loan. Our homes, businesses, rivers, closest relationships, bodies, experiences, everything we have is ours in trust, and must be returned at the end of our use of it: use nothing for our sole benefit, and to return that which has been in our care in as good or better condition than it was when given into our custody. Those who need little should be thankful. Those who believe they need more should seek to correct this defect. The only genuinely wealthy are those who are satisfied with what they have.” While everyday life seems overly full of so many things, their only significance is our relationship with them. We are to be good stewards of every single thing in our lives, and the passage above not only hints at ordering priorities, but to the nature of earthly things, all gifts from God, to be shared. ~ Tracy Mohr Prayer: Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Amen.
Day 2 “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” ~ Romans 12: 6-8 In elementary school my parents started giving me a $10 monthly allowance with the understanding that I would give the first 10% to the church. ($1 - simple teachable math) That was pretty easy as a child when it was a clear gift and I had $9 left for me. It’s more challenging as an adult with a job, a budget and varying financial decisions. I do believe that who I am and what I have is a gift from God and he only asks for a small portion back. He’s also clear that he doesn’t want what’s leftover when all the bills are paid, vacations taken, shopping done. He wants the fresh “first fruits”. He wants to be line item one on our family budget. It wasn’t until adulthood that I came to fully appreciate that’s what God wants from all aspects of our lives. As a young family attending a small church in eastern NC, we were busy with our own business, two careers and three young children, when stewardship time arrived. I was comfortable with pledging and knew the church needed money for its ministry. However, that year we were asked to turn in two pledge cards – one with a financial commitment and the other, a commitment of our time and talents. What?! I volunteered when I could, but my life was crazy and there wasn’t enough of me to go around. Was he really asking me for more commitment? The answer was an emphatic YES. Just like he didn’t want what might be left over from my $10 allowance, he doesn’t want what might be leftover of my time and energy. God wants me to put him first and give him my best in all things. ~ Carlin Hollar Prayer: God, please continue to remind me who I am and whose I am. Thank you for my health, my talents and my resources. Please help me budget those resources with my eyes on you. Amen.
Day 3 “Much will be demanded from everyone who has been given much, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.” ~ Luke 12:48b Jesus talks a great deal about money and how we manage it. 16 out of 38 parables and 1 out of 10 verses in the New Testament are about money. In Luke 12:48, Jesus is talking about the managers the master puts in charge of running things while he is away. What does the master find when he returns? Are the servants being managed well and all is in order? Or are the managers taking advantage of the master’s absence. In other words- while the cat is away the mice will play. Jesus’ point in these demanding verses is that God expects us to take responsibility for what we have been given in our lives. Compared to the global world, we at Centenary have been very blessed. We have been given much to work with, therefore, Jesus says God is expecting much from us. When we take seriously Jesus’ teaching, and realize that God is asking a great deal from us, we realize it is a high holy privilege to be able to give much in a mighty way. To be a living witness of this amazing God we worship. And to be a part of God’s good ministry. God’s asking. What is our response? ~ Rev. Lory Beth Huffman Prayer: Jesus, our Lord and Savior, we know that you are asking a great deal from us. But we also know that we are up for the task. Help us to be generous knowing all we have is a gift from you. Amen.
Day 4 “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not the people.” ~ Ephesians 6:7 Some of my fondest memories of growing up in a small town in southeastern North Carolina revolve around our church. You see, I grew up in Riegelwood, which was a town of about 900 people, just outside of Wilmington, NC. In our tiny village we did not even have a stop light but we had four churches! Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Catholic…needless to say, few of us missed church on Sunday mornings! There was not a lot of diversity in income class, we were all middle class families and we knew nothing more or nothing less. It was a pretty idyllic life. I was fortunate enough to grow up with parents who laid a good foundation for my brother, my sister and me. The verse above reminds me of my parents, who taught us to serve others with whatever means we have. We did not have a lot to give, but they gave of themselves and they tithed faithfully. One of my most vivid memories from this time in my life is of Saturday nights at home. After dinner, Daddy would get out his shoe polish kit and would proceed to polish our shoes for Sunday morning. Next, he and Mama would sit at the kitchen table and help us fill out our “envelopes” for church the next day. Our “envelopes” were tithing envelopes and we all had our own to take to church on Sunday morning. I know this sounds very old fashioned, yet it instilled in me the desire and the need to give back. Without even knowing it, I was learning to “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord.” We all have something to give, something to share with the world. ~ Jean Waugh Prayer: Dear Jesus, Thank you for giving each of us something special, something to share with the world. Guide us in your peaceful presence to do good for others. Amen.
Day 5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths.” ~ Proverbs 3:5-6 I love this scripture! It speaks to me in so many ways. I was first introduced to it, over fifteen years ago, by Pansy and John Young and the Potters House kids on a family mission trip to Hinton Rural Life Center. Trust in the Lord with all your heart! Through the good times and the bad times. I’m going to place my full trust in the Lord. Lean not on your own understanding. I need your help, Lord. My vision is limited, help me see beyond myself. In all your ways acknowledge him. How can I ever say thank you enough for the gift of your Son?! And he shall direct your paths. I know you will never leave my side, Lord. As we pause to again consider how we share our financial resources with God, for our work through his Centenary UMC church, how does our response show that we trust him? I am remineded to not lean on our own understanding and acknowledge him! I get so much joy in giving and sharing my time and (limited) talent gifts! ~ Tom Lawson Prayer: God of us all, please allow us the privilege of acknowledging you for all you have done for us. We trust you, Lord. Amen!
Day 6 “The father said, ‘You are always with me, and everything I have is yours.’” ~ Luke 15:31 In Luke 15: 11-32, Jesus tells about a forgiving father who is separated from two sons – one because of bad deeds, and one because of good deeds. In the end, both sons are welcomed home. It’s a beautiful story about the ways we look for our worth and value outside ourselves… when we’ve been the cherished children of God all along. Similar to the good son, my self-worth was often clouded by a “disease to please.” Responsible and appropriate, I respectfully followed rules, served others, and shared resources. Most importantly, I didn’t trust others to accept me unless I had something to offer. Recently, this mind-set was upset when I faced a personal struggle. As I tried to make sense of my challenging circumstances, I felt alone. A handful of loyal companions lovingly walked beside me, revealing God’s grace. Through them, God reminded me I am loved and welcomed because my worth is given, not earned. Even when my spirit was low and I had little to share, I experienced the gift of Love through the intentions and actions of kind-hearted people. Let’s remember… whether we are good or bad, responsible or rebellious, generous or needy…God our Father loves us all! ~ Lara Wilson Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us support those in our community who are struggling. As we use our resources to encourage, welcome and love, let us remind them (and ourselves!) that grace is given – not earned – through your eternal and abiding Love. Amen.
Day 7 “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.” ~ 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 I have to admit I enjoy giving back. I strive to give back in various ways: of my time, my talents and yes, my resources. As I have been meditating on this scripture passage for the past couple of weeks, though, I started thinking about what my motivation for giving really is. Sadly, I think I often give back because I want the accolades that come with it. I want to be thought of as a faithful Christian...by other people and of course, by God. I don’t necessarily think that it is a bad thing to be thought of by others as a faithful servant of Christ, in fact, it might be the example they need to draw closer to Jesus. But, I do think it is important to evaluate my motives. What really stands out to me in this passage is the charge to be found trustworthy. God has given me so much. I love God and I want to obey Him. Part of that obedience to Him is giving of my resources. I am a steward of the amazing gifts He has given me and I am entrusted to build up the church of Christ here on earth. I want to give back from an immense sense of gratitude for what God has done for me, through the gift of His son, not because I might look better to others. ~ Amelia Caudle Prayer: Lord, help me to keep you first and foremost in my heart and mind as I prepare to give of my resources. Let me give love, forgiveness, time, talents and financial gifts because of my love for you, not because I want to impress others. Let this giving deepen my relationship with you, grow my trust in you and further your kingdom here on earth. Amen.
Day 8 “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.� ~ Philippians 3:14 I press on. Those words define the morals of what every Christian should have. We preserve. In times that are hard we do not lay down and let it overtake us. We get up, dust ourselves off, and try and try again. We do not give up. This is the attitude Jesus had during his life. He would spread the Gospel to everyone he encountered, and when times got tough he was not defeated. When he was being tempted in the desert he did not give into the Devil. He trusted that God would make everything right. This is true. In times of sorrow and hopelessness, it feels as if no one is there. But God is there. Let us look at the victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. They have lost everything. They are like Job was at one point. It is impossible for us to understand their feelings because not many of us know what it is like to have everything taken away from us. I do not. However, I do know what it is like to experience bad times, and in those times of weary, we must trust God. We must press on. ~ Ben Schomberg Prayer: Thank you God, for giving us the strength to press on, when life gets hard. And help us to help others to perserve by sharing the life of Jesus through our generous giving. Amen.
Day 9 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” ~ 2 Corinthians 9:7 Have you ever been in church and noticed a small child with a dollar clinched in their fist and waiting to put it in the offering plate? Have you seen how excited they are? They sit on the edge of the pew anxiously awaiting the plate to come their way. After the dollar has been successfully put in the plate they sit back proudly from a mission well done. Are you a cheerful giver? Are you excited to give a portion of your income back to God? Paul tells us in the verse above that God loves a cheerful giver. This verse also tells us that it is a conscious decision to give and even not to give. I don’t know about you but I have to admit I’ve not always been as cheerful as I should be with my offering. But think about it…every single thing we have in this world is a gift from God. Our gifts back to the church are an expression of the relationship we have with God and the abundant grace He gives us every day. Giving is an act of worship. It’s a symbol of our trust in God. Let’s engage in joyful, cheerful worship! ~ Mary Ann Wexler Prayer: Dear Lord, we give thanks to you for all of the many blessings you have given us. We pray for a loving, generous and joyful heart as we work to spread the word of your son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Day 10 “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.” ~ 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Paul tells us in this scripture that God gives each of us different gifts which can be used in a variety of ways and for different services. They are his gifts, not ours and we show our love for him by returning them to him. Through these diverse gifts God’s love is manifested. My faith and understanding of God’s love is rooted in the legacy of my family and Centenary. Starting in kindergarten (in the 1930’s building) I was taught about God’s love and the life and ministry of Jesus. Since then gifts from Centenary’s lay members, clergy and staff, involvement in church activities and missional outreach, and gifts from community people and activities have increased and nurtured my faith and allowed me to discover and use God’s gifts to me. As a child, participation in Sunday school, worship, and mission was not an option. Nor was giving back tangible resources to God. These activities have become an integral part of my life and church membership. Bringing a dime for offering was one of my first experiences of exercising financial stewardship. This was a tangible gift that allowed me to help Centenary evangelize and show God’s love. The purpose is still the same but the need for dimes has multiplied many times over. To help multiply those dimes I continue to give to Centenary from a personal calling and a way to honor my promises at confirmation. ~ Deedee Fenwick Prayer: Dear God, may I unselfishly share whatever gifts you have given me to tell about and demonstrate your love and the love and example of Jesus.
Day 11 “It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money. “After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’ “The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’ “The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’ “The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. “’Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’ ~ Matthew 25:14-30 This scripture always reminds me of the phrase, “to whom much is given, much is expected.” Whether we are given talents, special gifts, or resources--we must use them wisely in building the Kingdom of God. Each of us has been blessed in ways other cultures may never realize. When people ask me what comes to mind when I think of Centenary, I always say, “endless possibilities.” And, it’s true. I truly believe that we have only scratched the surface of the ministry potential for Centenary. The first 100 years have been amazing, but what do we dare to dream of for the next century? When we support our church with our resources and gifts, we are able to live into those dreams. I can’t wait to see where God takes us in the next year. ~ Doug Peninger Prayer: Lord, you have given us much, may we use those gifts wisely to build your Kingdom. May we grow your church in ways we have never dreamed. May we ever live to be faithful to your call. Amen.
Day 12 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ~ Matthew 6:21 As United Methodists, we promise, before God and fellow Christians, to support the church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. When speaking about giving, how do we know if we’re upholding our promise? Is it by calculating what 10% of our income is? Perhaps. I prefer another barometer. Since the scripture tells us that our hearts follow our treasure, we can examine our expenses to see what we treasure most. Are we spending more hard-earned money on heavenly, or earthly, things? If our faith in Christ is a priority, then our spending should reflect that. Exodus 34:26 commands us to give God our first fruits. Are we repaying God, first, or is He getting what’s left, instead? Here’s something else to ponder. When hurricanes Harvey and Irma have become memories, and the world has moved on to the next crisis, who will continue supporting those victims? The church. Giving to the church prevents people in need from being forgotten. ~ Greg Fox Prayer: Heavenly Father, grant us the faith, and courage, to give you our first fruits. Help us always aspire to be more like you. Amen.
Day 13 “Be anxious for nothing [don’t worry about anything] but in everything by prayer and supplication [pray and ask God for everything you need] with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension [which is so great we cannot understand it] shall guard [keep] your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:6-7 [ Brackets: Me] As a small child I recall kneeling beside my bed each night and praying the child-like prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep”—and as a young adult the prayers became a little more sophisticated. Later on as I am starting to mature in my faith, thanksgiving played a small part in my prayers. Of course there was thanksgiving at all meals and always a Psalm on Thanksgiving Day and occasionally thanksgiving for some special need—but never an outpouring of thanksgiving. A few months ago I read a prayer by a lady who was giving thanks to God for Grace and Mercy!!!! What a great prayer I thought—and one I had never thought to pray. A flood of other sacred intangibles came to mind and I realized what prayers of Thanksgiving I had been missing all these years. Now, before I began my prayers of confession and intercession, I start with Thanksgiving prayers for Mercy and Grace, Protection, Provisions, Forgiveness, Salvation, Sanctification, Assurance, Hope, Love, Faith, and JOY! I am sure you can think of many more to pray to our Father and just think what a smile it brings to His heart when we give Him our praise for these gifts. ~ Helen Harris Kennedy Prayer: Father, forgive us when we fail to thank you for our many blessings, but we do praise and thank you for all the times you bless us anyway. Thank you for your bride, your church, our Centenary, and bless us as we strive to give back to others as you have given so generously to us. Amen.
Day 14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” ~ Joshua 24:14-15 My children have taught me many lessons. One of those lessons was around generosity and understanding the importance of sharing our resources. When my youngest son Luke was about six years old he had been out to breakfast with his grandmother before church on Sunday morning. A restaurant patron noticed Luke and his older brother Elliott’s good behavior. The kind man approached my boys and gave them both a five dollar bill and commended them for their polite manners. Following breakfast, the boys headed off to visit St. Paul UMC where Pastor Donald Jenkins preached a message on giving. Pastor Jenkins talked about purchasing a Happy Meal from McDonald’s. In the illustration, he shared that if every member of the congregation gave him three cents he would have enough money to purchase the meal. Pastor Jenkins explained the same is true in tithing. If all the members contributed a small portion of their income to the church then there would be more than enough money to conduct missions and ministries. At the end of the service, as Pastor Jenkins was saying “goodbye” to the congregants in the Narthex, Luke approached him and said, “Here is five dollars for your happy meal”. Pastor Jenkins, who wanted to honor Luke’s generosity, gladly accepted the gift. When I reflect on this story I often think of the words from Joshua 25:15, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Luke has been the example for my household and has taught us much about sharing out of our abundance. ~ Rev. Jeremy Pegram Prayer: Lord, help each of us that make up the household of Centenary United Methodist Church to serve you out of our abundance and not out of a mindset of scaricty. Amen.
Day 15 “The LORD proclaims: Do what is just and right; rescue the oppressed from the power of the oppressor. Don’t exploit or mistreat the refugee, the orphan, and the widow. Don’t spill the blood of the innocent in this place.” ~ Jeremiah 22:3 The Old Testament prophets often talked about taking care of the oppressed, the widow, the orphan, and the alien. The apostle Paul even petitioned the churches with which he had relationship with to help the believers in Jerusalem who were suffering from famine. Stewardship tied to mission work has a long tradition within our faith. The church after all is merely a collection of its members and can only do what the membership collectively commits to. Last year I took a job at a struggling elementary school full of students facing a variety of daily challenges. The only escape from poverty for these students is connecting them with getting an education. While happy at my previous job, I felt as if I was being called by God to give back to my community in some small way based on my skills. All of us have skills and gifts that we are called to use for the betterment of God’s creation. To answer the call means building up the church. ~ Walter Carmichael Prayer: Loving God, help us to determine the gifts we have so that we can build up your church. Help us all to realize that we have gifts we can offer up to your glory. Amen.
Day 16 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11 Trust in the Lord and understand that He has a plan for each of us. Sometimes our plans might not work out the way we first envision, but I find strength and hope in God that He knows what the best plan is for me. My faith grows stronger the more I speak to Him and listen for His calling to serve our community, and His church. God has blessed my life in so many ways; with wonderful parents, a loving wife, precious children, caring friends and a special church family. I am grateful for those blessings and want to honor God in all that I do. I pray that God will continue to use my service and financial offerings to do great things in this world. I know and trust that God will provide all that I need to live a full and satisfying life. ~ Will Spires Prayer: May the Grace of God and the Love in your Heart shine each day! Amen.
Day 17 “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” ~ Ephesians 4:16 The church has always been a melting pot of gifts and talents. All of them are gifts from God and the diversity among them allows the church to function as an outreach of God’s will in the world. If we all had the same gifts then nothing could happen in the church because we would all be trying to do our one thing. For example, if we could all only sing then there would be no one to read scripture, no one to organize worship and no one to start mission programs. We are blessed by God in the diversity of gifts and talents he has provided for us at Centenary. He manages, in ways we will never understand, to bring us all together to allow Centenary to be a church that can reach out to its community, whether locally or globally. He brings us together in a way that makes our faith stronger through each other and uses our many blessings to provide for each other. This is just as described in Ephesians 4:16. During the stewardship season, you are invited to share your gits and blessings with the church. This season reflect on what gifts you may have whether they are monetary, musical, leadership based or anything at all that you can see benefiting the spiritual lives of others and yourself. Ask God how he can best use you in the next year to spread his love and word throughout our world. ~ Andrew Epermanis Prayer: I know that you have gifted me in some way, Lord. Help me to claim that gift and support your Kingdom by offering my gifts to you, Lord. Amen.
Day 18 “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” ~ Romans 5:5 John Wesley said that “True religion is expressed as a life of gratitude for God’s good gifts and benevolence toward the needy neighbor in response to God’s gifts.” (The Unity of the Divine Being). At the very core of our beliefs is that God has given us everything that we need and that we, in turn, must share that abundance with others. When we live out of faith, we focus on the important truth that God (not us) is at the center and that God’s love, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, permeates our being. When we believe this truth, we cannot help but share it with others. The joy of giving our time and talents and presence and gifts to Christ’s church should overflow in our lives. Can your friends and neighbors see the joy of the Holy Spirit in your life? If not, how can you refocus yourself to share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone you meet? As you consider your pledge to the church for 2018, remember your neighbors in need – both financial and spiritual. May your gift to God reflect God’s boundless gifts to you. ~ Steve Reeder Prayer: Loving God, we are so thankful for the ways you have blessed us that we can’t help but share that love and blessing with others. Amen.
Day 19 “For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?” ~ Mark 8:36 Most of us spend our life seeking to gain more and more without realizing “we can’t take it with us.” As we get older we begin to say “what are we gonna do with all this stuff?” Why not stop accumulating and start sharing with those less fortunate? The church is a good place to start sharing some of which we have been blessed with. We at Centenary have been blessed more than most of the world’s population and much is expected of us. Let’s do out part in giving back our fair share to those less fortunate. Jesus showed us the way to live. There is no better example found in history. If we follow the example set, we will realize that “what counts most in this life is what we do for others.” ~ Jerry Warren Prayer: Dear Jesus, Help us to live for others – so we can live like thee! Amen.
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