St. Stephen the Martyr Lutheran Church...

St. Stephen the Martyr Lutheran Church ELCA

6101 South 51st Street, Greendale WI 53129; 414-421-3543 www.ssmelca.org

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JOIN US FOR WORSHIP

Saturday------------------------------------------------------5:00 pm Sunday--------------------------------------------------------9:30 am Sunday School Hour---------------------------------------9:30 am

Men’s Bible Study Wednesday, September 6 & 20-------------------------9:00 am

Monday Bible Study Monday, September 11-----------------------------------1:00 pm

Women’s Bible Study Wednesday, September 13 & 27-----------------------10:15 am

Sunday, September 10, 2017

This is the first day of the new Sunday School Year. Please be here for Sunday School pictures!

PASTOR’S PAGE...

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Dear Faith Family, It is hard to believe but fall is once again coming fast upon us. The hours of daylight are diminishing and we are experiencing some cooler evenings. Another sign of fall is Rally Day weekend, which is September 9-10. Rally Day, in a way, marks the beginning of fall programming.

This year as we celebrate Rally Day, we will have a Reformation Fair after the 9:30 a.m. worship. There will be some intergenerational activities including pretzel making, creating a Luther rose, writing statements of faith on a replica door (remember Martin nailing his 95 Theses to the castle door), and of course we will have some food! Mark your calendars for Rally Day. As we begin fall there are a few changes taking place. We give thanks for the ministry of Char Guiliani as she completes her time as the Shared Ministry Coordinator and continues her calling toward ordination, serving as an intern at Ascension Lutheran church in Milwaukee. We will still see Char, as her boys will be in our confirmation class. Thanks Char for your outstanding ministry at SSM. Another change this fall is our worship schedule. There will not be an 8 a.m. worship service. Weekend worship services will be Saturday at 5pm and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Educational opportunities will be offered before the 9:30 a.m. service. At 8:00 a.m. on September 17 and 24, Pastor Kipp Zimmermann will be leading a discussion of the Augsburg Confession. Look for additional Christian education opportunities to come. With fall approaching, many are also heading back to school. As the school year begins there will be a Blessing of Backpacks during the children’s sermon on Sunday, September 3. Youth are invited to bring a backpack this day, and all are invited to bring any tools of their trade (laptops, work boots, PDA’s etc.) for a blessing during this time. As fall approaches, again there are many ways to get connected. I invite you to continue to be a part of our mission as servants in the world. I invite you to reconsider what it is that makes us the Body of Christ as we gather together in worship. God is good! Grace and Peace, Pastor Brian

STEWARDSHIP….

“. . . for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

This saying of Jesus appears in two gospel accounts, Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34, and appears in the context of Jesus teaching about our relationship to our possessions. In truth, we are very centered on our possessions. We are taught to value ourselves and our standing in the world by the measure of our possessions; the brands we wear, the size of our cars, and many other indicators.

When I was working in senior services in New York, some of the services required disclosure of income levels. Every six months while doing personal assessments I needed to see savings accounts and bank books to assess qualification for the services. There were some of my clients who would show me surgical scars before they would let me see their financial records. We keep such personal matters close the chest because they hold a valued place in our lives. They reflect that sense of security.

We are far better at the location of our treasure than fully realizing the placement of our hearts. That truth comes closer to us every year as we consider our pledge and commitment to the investment of our money. Admittedly, this is a sensitive subject as we have all seen investments rise and fall to the ebb and flow of the stock market and other financial indicators. What God is asking of us is to be closely aware of the rise and fall of our hearts, as those indicators ebb and flow, and to recall that the investments that we make in the kingdom of God pay dividends far beyond our vision and our expectations. These come to be investments in human lives and needs that come to be felt across the world. There is also one more dividend that pays out. It usually comes as a surprise when we see it because it is counter intuitive. The more that we give, the more we realize that God supplies all of our needs. God provides countless examples of the abundance of his supply as he repeatedly transforms the scarcity of five loaves and two fish into a banquet for thousands.

God invites us into the constant reflections of the placement of our hearts, because God wants us to know the constant abundance of divine generosity.

God Bless, and may you always know the abundance of God’s provision.

In Christ - Rev. Dr. Kipp W. Zimmermann

2017 September Martyr Monthly—St. Stephen the Martyr Page 2

LAPTOP DONATION NEEDED The SSM counting teams need a new laptop for the weekly counting process. If you have

an unused laptop, that is in good working condition, please consider donating it to the church. This can save our church upwards of $500 for the purchase of a new one.

Please contact Jason Covert or Linda Sweet if you have any questions.

Because of God’s

Great Mercy

MUSIC NOTES FROM BILL BRAVENER DIRECTOR OF MUSIC/DEACON

The Memorial Committee met on July 22nd. Attending were Sandy Petricek - Chair, Dick Kroll-Financial Wizard, Julie Herman, Carol Birk and Faith O’Connell.

Work days at the Prayer Garden included lots of weeding, stone replacement in the back wall, and mulching.

Proposed projects: Columbarium and a Digital Sign are on hold.

We would like to have an altar and stands, and sanctuary furniture updated or rebuilt. The search for someone willing to build to our specifications is ongoing.

There are funds for the music program; new choir folders are approved. Bill will be consulted as to his wish list. The Memorial Book had some damaged pages replaced. A sign to bring attention to our Memorial Tree was discussed.

As always, anyone interested in this group may contact one of the members and/or sit in for a session. The next meeting is Oct. 7, at 9:30 a.m. … Faith O’Connell

MEMORIAL COMMITTEE NEWS

The choir potluck dinner will be Wednesday, September 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

Choir rehearsals begin Wednesday, September 13 with Handbell Choir at 5:30 p.m. and Senior Choir at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome.

See you at worship.

Christmas -- It’s not as far off as you think! Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, so we’ve made a few adjustments to our worship schedule for the Christmas season. The fourth week in Advent will be observed on Saturday, December 23rd. There will be no Sunday morning service on December 24th; Christmas Eve services will be at 4 & 10 p.m. Christmas Day service will be on Monday, December 25th at 9:30 a.m.

Additionally, we will be hosting a Thanksgiving Eve worship service on Wednesday, November 22nd at 7 p.m. Our New Year’s Eve service will be combined with our regular Sunday morning worship service on December 31st at 9:30 a.m.

We are always seeking volunteers. Many opportunities are available for all ages and with varied time commitments. Stop by the Music & Worship Committee table on Rally Day to learn how you can get involved!

MUSIC & WORSHIP

2017 September Martyr Monthly—St. Stephen the Martyr

WOMEN OF THE ELCA

TRIENNIAL GATHERING UPDATE Reflections by Julie Starks, [email protected]

Attending my 2nd Triennial Gathering placed me with 3,300 other faithful and active Lutheran women. Keynote speakers challenged us, sometimes made us squirm in our seats and encouraged us to get out of our seats and act in the name of justice, to “Get Woke” (see Romans 13:11-12). We were inspired to not just talk or donate but to immerse and take part in action for immigrants, the poor, for other women forced into or resorting to human trafficking (prostitution). We learned more about increasing educational opportunities for young girls. We made quilts, re-usable sanitary supplies, bath salts (led by Venice Williams from Alice’s Garden) and used finger labyrinths made by Lutheran women across the country (Thank you Betty Kroll & Diane Moraza for sending 9 to share). (FYI, I sent a thank-you to the woman who made the labyrinth I chose, in care of her church in North Dakota.)

And, I participated in a liturgy created for the dying called “Peace at the Last.” Created by Lake Chelan Lutheran in Chelan, Washington and available through Augsburg, this is beautifully illustrated and written and can be used not only with the dying but as a part of education and healing for those who may not have been with a loved one at the time of death.

I will remember standing in line (for food, for the bookstore, for coffee), talking with a solo attendee who shared that her large Iowa congregation has a “drive-in” service complete with radio broadcast and communion served to each vehicle! I will also remember a stirring final worship service sermon by Pastor Angela Khabeb, Ascension Waukesha, that inspired a rousing standing ovation! “Seeds for everyone!”

Now I will prepare for Phoenix in 2020 the site for the next Triennial! Think about joining in! The SSM attendees, Julie Starks, Bonnie Daleness, Diane Moraza and Carole Ropel

WOMEN OF THE ELCA

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – FALL/EARLY WINTER

We will resume our regular Bible Study schedule when we meet at 10:15 a.m. on September 13, and September 27, and will continue those studies on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise noted. We are currently studying the Book of Acts and will choose another source of study when that is completed. We are very pleased that Bonnie Zimmermann has agreed to lead our studies. We appreciate her time commitment to us. There will NOT be a Bible Study on Nov.22 or Dec. 27.

LOOSE ENDS LUNCHEON

We will meet at 11:45 on September 13, 2017 at the Olive Garden on South 76th Street. Sign-up on the form posted on the kiosk under Women of the ELCA. Please call Sally Kowalewski at 414-483-2191 with any questions or concerns.

PIECE MAKERS QUILTING

Our last gathering for 2017 will be on September 18th. Quilts will be packed in early October for shipment to Lutheran World Relief on October 14. Our regular meeting dates in 2018 will begin on Monday, January 15th. Quilts, along with the School Bags, will be displayed on Thankoffering Weekend, September 30/October 1.

THANKOFFERING SERVICES – SEPTEMBER 30/OCTOBER 1, 2017

This is a time for us to reflect on our many blessings, including those of family, friends and our church. With our offerings, we show our support for the many functions of Women of the ELCA at the Churchwide level, the Synod level, and the local church level. On that weekend, you will also enjoy the display of quilts and school bags. A special offering envelope will be distributed by our ushers in mid-September.

WELCA GREATER MILWAUKEE ANNUAL CONVENTION-OCTOBER 14

Registration is $60 & registration forms are posted on the kiosk. Karen Hoffman will be representing all of our SSM women as a Voting Member at the convention. This one-day event includes worship, workshops, a keynote speaker, luncheon and much more. Join us and bring a friend. Any questions? See Carole Ropel, Pam Maschke or Karen Hoffman.

CRAFT AND BAKE SALE

The Women of the ELCA at SSM are beginning to prepare for the Bake and Craft Sale that will be held November 18 & 19 this year. We are in need of baskets and new items to put in those baskets. A blue bucket is available in the narthex for your donations. Please see Bonnie Daleness or Julie Starks if you have questions about what kinds of donations are needed. Thank you to all who have donated in the past. We hope you will continue to help us with this annual event. Some of the proceeds of the sale this year will go to Outreach for Hope in our Greater Milwaukee Synod. The rest of the money will be disbursed to other charities determined later.

BEGINNING YOUTH GROUP Starting Sept. 17 @ 6:00 P.M.

BYG is a group for children in 3rd through 6th grade. We like to get the kids together to get to know one another through faith and fun. The group meets the 3rd Sunday of each month at 6:00. We have

dinner, play games and participate in a faith activity. The kids really seem to have a good time and look forward to it each month.

I mostly communicate through email to plan the group. If you have a child going into 3rd grade this year or are new, please let me know and I will add you to my list. Please feel free to contact me with questions at [email protected] or (414) 687-4871 - Jenny Resterhouse

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP Sunday, Sept. 10 & 24 @ 5:00 P.M.

We will begin meeting at 5:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month during the school year. Plan to join us for fun and fellowship!

HUMAN CONCERNS


YOUTH & FAMILY

Human Concerns has been very busy this summer. This is the time of the year, we are busy working on the school bag project. Thanks to all who donated supplies, cut out the bags, pressed, and sewed them. This is one big effort by the entire congregation that we do every year. It is so appreciated. So, thanks to all who helped in any way. A big thank you to Shirley Lieske for overseeing this project. She does a great job (along with Bob!) And thanks to the Sunday School children who will be filling the bags.

We will continue to collect supplies throughout the month of September. Needed to fill the bags are 70 sheet spiral notebooks, rulers, unsharpened #2 pencils, pink erasers, pencil sharpeners, blunt scissors, ballpoint pens, & 16 or 24 count crayon boxes.

We held a special collection on Aug 5 & 6 for the youth of All People's Church. With the money we collected, we filled 50 bags with snacks, water, juice and fruit for the youth of All People's Church as they went out into the community to help their neighbors. We still have money left to help with future community projects.

We had $74 profit from our candy bar sale. We used this money to make a donation to The Salvation Army's Food Pantry.

We are looking forward to Rally Day!

SEPTEMBER 2017 LAY PARTICIPANT SCHEDULE

Date Greeters Ushers Assisting Minister 09/02 Don & Carol Manning Jim Hennessy Brian Stoddard Jay Rosiewski Communion Set Up Communion Servers Diane Moraza Diane Moraza Assisting Date Greeters Ushers Minister 09/03 Tom & Gail Zuleger Cathy Peterson, Dan Resterhouse, Eric Sanders Kurt & Jenny Koeff Ron Ropel, Dick Rutzen Communion Set Up Communion Server Coffee Hour Hosts Dana Gorecki, Mike Mayer, Steve Mayer Don & Carol Manning Lynda Johnson

Date Greeters Ushers 09/09 Bonnie Zgola Janel Sweet, Jeff Sweet Communion Set Up Communion Servers Joy Kilimann Bob Brownell Date Greeters Ushers Acolyte 09/10 Mary Luedtke, Dennis Lucchesi, Doug Winter, Greg Guiliani Pam Gustafson & Adam Woerpel, Tom Zuleger Jeff Schmiedeck Communion Set Up Communion Servers Assisting Minister Kurt & Jenny Koeff Kurt & Jenny Koeff Bonnie Zimmermann

Date Greeters Assisting Minister 09/16 Bonnie Court Brian Stoddard Communion Set Up Communion Servers Betty Kroll, Carol Mueller Heidi Hennessy Date Greeters Assisting Minister Acolyte 09/17 JP & Pam Maschke Mary Luedtke Jordan Schultz Carol Malinowski Communion Set Up Communion Servers Coffee Hour Hosts Bob & Shirley Lieske Al Behling, Barb Fritschel Jay & Sally Chadwick Date Greeters Communion Set Up Communion Servers 09/23 Don & Barbara Davies Denise Sanders Denise Sanders Date Greeters Assisting Minister Acolyte 09/24 Jane Miller, Carole Ropel Julia Mayer Adam & Susan Mildren Communion Set Up Communion Servers Coffee Hour Hosts The Cover Family The Covert Family Eric & Diane Sundquist


The last three years have gone quickly and as my time as your Shared Ministry Coordinator at St. Stephen the Martyr has come to an end, I want to thank each one of you!

You have touched people inside the congregational walls and throughout the world. You may have prayed, made phone calls, sent emails, volunteered to do something you never dreamt of doing, shared your “treasure,” reassured someone that God loves them, reminded someone they are a child of God…the list could go on!

You fulfill SSM’s mission statement, “We come together in Word and Sacrament that we may go to live and serve in the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.” You show love to your neighbor as Jesus has commanded.

Each one of you has touched my life in some way, enhancing my spiritual journey. I have learned much from my experiences as your Shared Ministry Coordinator and as a member of this congregation. I cannot thank you enough for the love and support you have shown and continue to show my family and I!

As I enter my internship, I ask for your continued prayers.

Again, thank you!

Peace and blessings, Char

(P.S. - You can’t get rid of me that easy… I will be back sometime in the fall of 2018!)

SHARED MINISTRY CORNER

The Greater Milwaukee Synod and Diocese of Meru will share in a Common Day of Prayer on Sept. 24. Congregations with partners will especially pray for one another - bringing prayer requests to be shared.

SSM will lift up our partner, Mbaaseny, on Sept. 23 & 24 - celebrating our partnership with Tanzanian décor, hymns, prayers and an opportunity to view photos from Julie Starks’ last trip to Meru. Everyone is invited to attend this casual sharing of her trip on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 4:00pm. All are encouraged to wear African dress during either worship service that weekend!

MBASSENY NEWS - SEPTEMBER, 2017

NEWS & NOTES

OUTREACH FOR HOPE FAMILY BIKE RIDE…SATURDAY, SEPT. 9 By visiting the website www.ofhbikeride.com, you can register to take part in the 10th annual bike ride at St. Bruno Parish in Dousman. Your participation or donation will enrich the lives of many people of faith as we support food pantries, after school tutoring programs, meals and so much more. Please let us know you are planning to attend. There is a sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board near the church office.

RALLY DAY IS SEPTEMBER 10TH Plans for this year’s event are underway! This will also be the first Sunday of the Sunday School year. We encourage everyone to come and join us! You have the opportunity to learn about all the committees that are active in our congregation and see which of your special talents can help you serve. Please make sure that you sign-up at the bulletin board just outside the office and you may choose to bring a side dish, dessert, or a cooler with ice. We are also looking for volunteers for set-up, grilling (bring a propane grill) and clean-up. I am also looking for someone who would be interested in leading the event this year and/or in the future. Have questions? Please don’t hesitate to ask!...Andi Matusiak, Fellowship Chair

MONDAY BIBLE STUDY RESUMES - SEPTEMBER 11 @ 1:00 PM Our Monday Bible Study meets on the first Monday of the month; with a few Holiday exceptions. We will continue our study of one Psalm each month. Sept. is Psalm 73; Oct. is Psalm 90; & Nov. is Psalm 150. We will then begin a new study. Both men and women are welcome to join our lively, thought provoking, discussions as we learn from Biblical texts and share with one another. If you have any questions, feel free to ask Mary Kling, Carol Birk, Mary Rockstad, or Kipp Zimmermann. Please join us.

LUTHER’S AUGSBURG CONFESSION STUDY...SEPTEMBER 17 & 24 As part of our church’s commemoration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, Pastor Kipp Zimmermann will lead us in discussion and reflection on Luther’s Augsburg Confession. The Augsburg Confession is the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of the Lutheran Reformation. This two-session study will take place during the education hour from 8:00 - 9:00 A.M.

MARTIN LUTHER DOCUMENTARY...SEPTEMBER 18 @ 6:30 PM “The Idea that Changed the World” will be shown at South Shore Cinema in Oak Creek. You may purchase tickets online at http://luthermovie.link/MKE.

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http://www.ofhbikeride.com


MOVIE “MILWAUKEE 53206”, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, AT ASCENSION This is a powerful documentary, telling the story of those affected by mass incarceration in America's most incarcerated ZIP code, 53206, where 62% of adult men have spent time in prison. Through the honest stories of three 53206 residents, you will witness the toll incarceration takes on individuals and families in the community and on the hearts, souls and lives of so many Americans. Beverly Walker, the wife of one incarcerated man will be part of the Q & A following the screening. Rev. Mark Thompson, pastor of Breaking the Chains congregation; Rev. Joe Ellwanger and Wendel Hruska, executive director of Project Return will also be part of the panel. Doors will open at 6 PM. The event is FREE, thanks to the support of Ascension's AMIS group, St. Stephen the Martyr Human Concerns, Thrivent, and the generosity of individual donors.

NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTION SESSION, OCTOBER 8 @ 10:45 A.M. Fall is a great time to get connected ... to a church home.

Would you like to find out more about SSM? Grow in faith, spirituality, and service? Come and learn about SSM and its ministry, and ways you can get connected. There is no pressure at the introduction, and you can get as involved as you want. Please call or email Pastor Brian at [email protected] if you plan to attend or have questions.

SSM GROUP EVENT - OCTOBER 21, 6 PM $20 tickets include a Bobblehead of Martin Luther in an Admirals jersey! We have reserved a block of 25 tickets. Please make checks payable to SSM with “Admirals game” noted in the memo line. Payment is due by the end of September. Please sign up on the bulletin board outside the church office. For more information, contact Julie Starks, [email protected]

BLESSING OF THE PETS, SEPTEMBER 30, @ 12:00 NOON This year, St. Stephen the Martyr will be joining in with other churches & organizations in the Village. The “Blessing” will be at the corner of Broad Street and Northway.

REFORMATION POT LUCK IS BACK! Saturday, Oct. 28, 6 PM, in the Fellowship Hall Celebrate the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Thesis on the Wittenburg church door. There will be food, song and entertainment! Sign-up at the bulletin board outside the office.

NEWS & NOTES

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

CONDENSED MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING 08/08/2017

President Jason Covert called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

Council members present were: P. Burns, J. Covert, B. Daleness, M. Kling, J. Konop, L. Lisiecki, N. Mineau, J. Muroni, D. Sanders, J. Schultz and L. Sweet. Pastor Brian was also in attendance.

J. Konop led devotions.

June council minutes were approved with corrections.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S REPORT: July donations were a little down as usually happens with a five week month. They are right in line with donations for the last few years at this time.

TREASURER'S REPORT: July was a quiet month. Pastor’s insurance payments have gone back to full coverage as Maren is no longer receiving benefits from her interim pastoral duties. After discussing the insurance renewal with Church Mutual, the council decided to keep the Terrorism insurance coverage, which is an additional cost of $70.00 a year. Our premiums actually went down beginning with the September renewal. The checking account balances and benevolence giving reports were reviewed. Treasurer’s report was approved.

PASTOR’S TIME: The Volunteer Service Week for youth in the congregation was very successful. Seven senior citizens received help with their yard work, and the youth also worked at the Hunger Task Force Farm among other things.

Discussed ideas for Rally Day including some booths for a Reformation Fair that day. There will be a Reformation Potluck October 28 with another skit.

We will have cake and a gift for Char Guiliani on her last day, August 27.

The film “Milwaukee 53206” will be shown at Ascension on September 25.

New Building Use Policy will charge non-members $250.00 for use of the building.

Pastor would like to get members to participate in the Outreach for Hope Ride for Hope.

NEW BUSINESS: Rally Day is September 10 and Char will be working with Andi Matusiak (Fellowship) to get sign-up sheets for food, etc. Some committees will also have booths for a Reformation Fair with the theme of Luther and the Reformation.

Council agreed to again support our two seminarians, Char Guiliani and Isabelle Barry, with $500.00 each to help with books and tuition.

Newsletter deadline is August 18.

SSM Constitution update is being worked on. Eric Sanders and Pam Gustafson along with an attorney at the synod office have begun a review.

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CONDENSED MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING 08/08/2017

The Executive team has begun discussing staffing needs now that Char will be leaving her position.

OLD BUSINESS Vanco giving option called Give+ is being tested. This is an app that can be used from any smartphone.

L. Petricek is reviewing recommendations from two security companies. The Property and Safe Worship committees will also be looped in.

Char is finishing background checks and is developing a training manual for future use, in addition to training Glenna on the process.

Cell Tower update – The Village of Greendale did not submit transcripts from public hearings, so the court date set for August is extended, After the attorneys have reviewed the documents the judge will either hold a hearing (mid Oct) or make a decision (Dec – Jan).

COMMITTEE REPORTS: PROPERTY: Repairs on the shed are ongoing. Kitchen air conditioner needs a new part which had been ordered, but is currently on backorder.

HUMAN CONCERS: We collected $414.00 for the All Peoples lunch for their youth.

STEWARDSHIP: Quarterly statements will go out this week.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: Kipp Zimmerman will lead a study on the Augsberg Confession at 8:00 on Sept.17 & 24. There will be a discussion regarding the future of the book club on August 20 right after the service.

WORSHIP & MUSIC: D. Sanders indicated that the Rasmussens are stepping down from decorating the sanctuary and teams are being sought to take over. As Christmas Eve is a Sunday this year and also the fourth Sunday of Advent, the 4th Sunday will be celebrated at the Saturday service on December 23. There will be no Sunday morning service but the Christmas Eve services will be at 4 and 10 that evening with Christmas Day service on Monday.

YOUTH: Fund Raising is beginning for the Youth Gathering in 2018.

Next Council Meeting is Tuesday, September 12.

The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted --Bonnie Daleness, Council Secretary


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