Hudson Happenings
Next Summer Issue
will be published on
August 23
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| From the Transitional General Presbyter |
"Hello!" from Peter Surgenor, Temporary General Presbyter. 
Council called me to this service in the time between our Interim General Presbyter and the report of the General Presbyter Search Committee bringing a candidate to be our next General Presbyter.
Gavin Meek finished his work with us earlier this month and is beginning service as the Transitional General Presbyter this week in New Harmony Presbytery. We wish Gavin and Jen Thank You and Godspeed!
I hope that you are all taking advantage of time away as well as alternate times for worship this summer. The lectionary passages recently have mentioned times when Jesus was overwhelmed by crowds and tried to find time to catch up and find perspective both alone and with his disciples. May your summer be filled with these moments.
[Read on for highlights from General Assembly and a Proclamation of Kingdom Values]
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Video Trainings for Clerks of Session & Church Officers are Now Online
The comprehensive trainings offered at the Spring 2018 semester of Hudson River
 University by HRP's Stated Clerk, Susan DeGeorge, and HRP's former Interim General Presbyter, Gavin Meek, are online.
You can use these in your own congregation to review important themes and to train others. The videos are segmented into 20 minute segments and have accompanying powerpoints embedded in them.
Check them out.
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Pastoral Sabbath, Stony Point, August 22-23
Pastoral Sabbath is available at Stony Point Center, August 22-23.
Register today.
Led by Rev. Leslie Mott, the Pastoral Sabbath Retreat is a time for clergy "to come away by yourselves and rest for a while," so that we may return renewed to those we serve.
Those attending receive materials for reflection and study and have the opportunity to engage in gentle yoga class, guided meditation, group and individual spiritual direction, and prayer.
Cost is subsidized by HRP and SNE for ordained clergy.
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HRP/PW Promotes Knitting4Peace
Presbyterian Women of Hudson River Presbytery invite you and your congregation to participate in
Knitting4Peace which delivers knitted and crocheted items to people in places of conflict in the US and around the world. Participants
knit, crochet, and weave as an outward and visible sign of our real work: knitting together the global Beloved Community. While creating blankets, toys, and many other items, participants pray for one another and for our world. The tangible items we create are personally delivered to women, teens, children, infants, and families in local and global areas of conflict. It's a beautiful, creative, way for groups or individuals to contribute to peacemaking around the world.
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GA 223 Update and Summary of Key Actions
Don't forget you can visit
http://hrpga223.wordpress.com
for a summary of key GA decisions, to get front-line reports from HRP Commissioners and staff, as well as to link directly to overtures (on the overtures page) to see their final language.
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Help Commission Young Adult Volunteers for Service at Your Congregation, Sun. Aug. 26
The Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program is excited to invite your congregation to consider hosting a group of YAVs on Sunday, August 26, 2018 for Commissioning Sunday.
Commissioning Sunday is a reminder to both the volunteers and our Church that we 'do not go alone' in God's mission.
The 2018-19 YAV class will gather at Stony Point Conference Center from August 20-27 before embarking on their year of service for a week of orientation. Our hope is that a representative from your congregation will commit to picking up a group of YAVs at Stony Point Conference Center, transporting the YAVs to your worship service, commission the YAVs during the service, host a meal following the service and return the group to Stony Point by 4 pm that evening. If you would like to set aside time in the service for each YAV to briefly introduce themselves, say where they'll be serving and the work they'll be doing, that is something we encourage as well. To host a YAV, contact Blake Collins, [email protected].
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Communion Training for Elders, Sept. 9 & 30
The Committee on Ministry will offer two training sessions in Regions 2 and 3 for elders.
Download the flyer.
Sunday, September 30, 2:00 pm
at Cornwall Presbyterian Church,
222 Hudson Street, Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY 12520
This training is for those elders whose training has lapsed (had training 2+ years ago)
, t
hose who haven't been trained yet
, those who have been authorized by their home-church Session (please bring a letter from Session with you to the training)
- Training in creating/officiating a service of Communion
- Introduction to the different parts of the service and what they signify
- Resource materials for creating the service
To register: Please call or email Jean Kaiser in the Presbytery office (914) 941-2100;
[email protected]
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Boundary Training for Pastors and CRE's, Oct. 23
Boundary training for Pastors and CRE's will be held on October 23
rd
at Holmes Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center. Sessions for those who have not had HRP Boundary training are scheduled for 2-5 pm and 6-8 pm. Dinner will be served with reservations. Pastors and CRE's who have not participated in Boundary Training in the last five years should plan to attend the session scheduled for 6-8 pm. Invitations and reminders will be sent out and more details will soon be on the HRP website.
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Moderator Training, Nov. 10
HRP's Moderator training will be held at Stony Point Center on Saturday, November 10 from 9:00-3:00. This training is for:
- Elders who may be called on to serve as Session Moderators in churches without Pastoral leadership (especially in Regions 1 & 4); and
- Pastors not serving in pastoral positions who would like a stronger foundation for Moderating Sessions.
Learn more and share the flyer.
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HRP Youth and Youth Leaders: Save the Date for Presbyterian Youth Triennium, July 16-20, 2019 
Triennium is a truly amazing, once-every-three-year gathering of over 5,000 of Presbyterian Youth from across the US and the world. It is open to high school age youth from the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (entering 9th grade through graduated 12th grade). In 2016, the Hudson River Presbytery delegation members had a truly transformative experience as they were challenged to see all the ways that God is asking them to "GO" out into the world.
The theme of the 2019 Presbyterian Youth Triennium is "Here's My Heart", drawn from the words of the hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Young people and their adult leaders are invited to "come experience God's love in a way so powerful and compelling that they, too, are moved to say, "Here's my heart". And together we will learn what it means to serve Christ with our intelligence, energy, imagination and love."
What do we need to get ready for Triennium 2019?
- Think about being a Delegation Leader or Adult Advisor if you are an adult - clergy, lay staff, or volunteer - who loves hanging out with Youth and wants to have a high energy, worship filled experience.
- Post information about Triennium where your Youth and their familes will see it - bulletins, newsletters, websites, email blasts, text messages, carrier pigeons, etc. The National Triennium office is looking for a rough head count of interested participants in October 2019.
- Check out www.presbyterianyouthtriennium.org for more information about the event and graphics that you can use in your publications.
- Stay tuned for information on the registration process that will be available in the late summer/ early fall.
Please reach out with questions and interest (especially if you can help as a Delegation Leader) to Stephanie Hare, Director of Youth Ministries at FPC Yorktown, the 2019 Triennium Registrar for Hudson River Presbytery:
[email protected] or 914-826-1227.
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PC(USA) 2019 Grants for Church Seeding and Renewal
The Mission Development Resources Committee (MDRD) has a a number of grants
:
- New Worshiping Communities Seed
- Investment, Growth & Health Insurance Grants
- Presbytery Grants for Congregational Transformation and the Sam & Helen R. Walton Awards.
Information, timelines, and resources are available at
MDRD's website
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PW Urges You to Give to Support a Much-Needed Well in India
HRP Presbyterian Women invite your congregation to give financial support to help dig a well in Singngat, India.
Right now this young woman is attempting to get water from the mud. Eight people were waiting behind her. Hence the need for a well!
PW has been requesting funding for a few weeks, and the folks at Katonah, Huguenot, and Monroe have been very generous. We have enough to at least drill down the 225' or so where a source of water is indicated.
The well would serve a school with over 200 students. There are also 16 homes in the immediate area, and many more villagers would surely travel to use it. Most of the other water sources in the area dry up at various times of the year.
Contributions are still welcome for the pump, piping, tanks, etc.
The job is being set up right now. Send your contributions to
Julia Coss, PW Treasurer,
39
Emerson Ave New Rochelle, NY 10801. Have questions? Contact her by email [email protected].
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Youth from Rural and Migrant Ministry Need Your Help!
Meet the Youth Economic Group (YEG). This innovative group of high school students in Sullivan County meet to run a youth-led cooperative and to address issues of injustice that affect us all. Their van died (with 200,000+ miles on it) which means these youth who live in isolated rural setting can no longer get to their meetings. They hope to get a new van but need your help. Donate now! Even $10 would help! They've raised over $4,700 of their $30,000 goal.
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Welcoming the Stranger, Crossing the Border, A Retreat for Clergy, Aug. 5-8
In the midst of our call to welcome the foreigner, clergy are increasingly finding it difficult to discuss immigration within their congregations, let alone take action.
Rural and Migrant Ministry invites you to a Retreat for Clergy at Liturgia Rural Worker Education Center in Lyons, New York. For 3 days, in the midst of the Northern Border and a region filled with farmworkers and the Border Patrol, we will pray, share stories and strategies, hear the stories of immigrant workers and reflect on our call to welcome and love the stranger. The inspiration for the Retreat will be the teachings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Retreat Leader:
Rick Ufford-Chase
Co-director of Stony Point Center, Stony point, NY & Former Moderator of the PC(USA).
For more information and to register, please contact: West Cosgrove, Western New York Coordinator, Rural & Migrant Ministry, [email protected], 915-443-4146 or the Rev. Richard Witt, Ex. Director, Rural & Migrant Ministry, 845-706-0536.
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HRPGreen Video Library for Congregations 
HRPGreen has assembled a wonderful Environmental Film library which will be available for congregations to borrow beginning August 7. Housed at the presbytery office,
all HRPGreen Environmental Films may be signed out by giving name of borrower, phone, email, congregation town, name of film and sign-out date. When the film is returned the borrower must indicate return date on sign-out sheet. The film may be kept for three weeks. Checkout the catalog of films with brief descriptions. Questions? Contact Kathy Dean at [email protected].
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HRPGreen Visit to Chung Yen Monastery for Christian-Buddhist Environmental Dialogue, September 28
Join HRPGreen for an interfaith exchange on ecological issues with members of Chung Yen Monastery, located in Kent, NY, less than six miles from Holmes Camp. Starting at 10:30, participants will be treated to a Buddhist welcome ritual and a tour of Great Buddha Hall and Kwan Yin Hall, followed by lunch with members of the community. After our meal we will have a Buddhist-Christian dialogue about ecological issues and the potential for joint projects to address them. The visit will conclude by 2:30.
Download the flyer.
Our host for the day will be Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, an American Buddhist.
He obtained a PhD in philosophy from Claremont Graduate School (1972) and is the co-founder of Buddhist Global Relief. Space is limited so register now by emailing Kathy Dean, [email protected].
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Cyrano Behind Bars Featured in NY Times
Cyrano de Bergerac will be eligible for parole in 2022. For the time being, he is a vision in Gallic effrontery, pinballing around the stage in the gymnasium at Fishkill Correctional Facility in Beacon, N.Y.
The production of Edmond Rostand's canonical 19th-century comedy, which enjoyed a well-attended two-day run early last month, was the work of Rehabilitation Through the Arts, a 20-year-old organization that operates in prisons across New York State. The program introduces inmates to theater, dance, writing and other creative arts in the hope of teaching them life skills and improving their chances at success upon release.
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Emergency Summer Blood Drive at the FPC Yorktown, Aug.11 
The American Red Cross has an emergency need for blood and platelets. Imagine if someone you love needed a blood type that was missing from hospital shelves.
Without more blood donors now, hospitals may not have the blood needed to save lives. You are the #MissingType, and patients need you. Help the American Red Cross meet the emergency need for blood and combat a summer blood shortage. Donations are urgently needed now to help ensure blood types don't go missing.
Eligible donors with types O, A negative and B negative blood are urged to make a Power Red donation, where available.
Saturday, August 11- 10 AM to 3 PM
First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown - 2880 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights
Use Sponsor Code: FPCY
Donors can save up to 15 minutes by using RapidPass to complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online. For more information, visit RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass.
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Pleasantville Presbyterian Featured in Presbyterian News for Hunger Ministry
Shout out HRP's very own Pleasantville Presbyterian Church who was featured this past week in a Presbyterian News Service article on Hunger Action congregations!
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Regional and National Events
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Stony Point Center's Farm to Table Gala, Sept. 30
It's that time of year again. In just two months, the Farm-to-Table Gala will offer a chance for guest groups, neighbors and friends to support the continued development of Stony Point Center as
fertile ground
for cultivating, organizing, and transforming our world
. This year's theme is "seeding food justice" and the evening will feature the presentation of
the
Living Tradition Award
, as well as a delicious meal featuring farm fresh ingredients from our land and other local farms.
Always a down-to-earth gathering, the Gala is your chance connect with and contribute to the spirit that makes Stony Point Center shine. Please join the SPC Community from 4:00pm-8:00pm on Sept. 30th at Stony Point Center...and bring a few friends!
Purchase your tickets at
stonypointcenter.org/gala.
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is Looking for More Volunteers
With record numbers of natural disasters and in the wake of hurricanes and wild fires in the US, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is looking for volunteers to enlarge its ranks. Volunteers of all sorts and skills are needed.
Learn more about the need and how you can help this important ministry.
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Awakening the Spiritual Heart: Contemplative Formation, Sept. 2018 - June 2019
This program offered at the Mariandale Retreat Center in Ossining is for those who long for a deeper spiritual life, who crave the silent place where the Spirit speaks, who hunger for a closer walk with God. It consists of 5 weekend retreats from September through June, 7 monthly small group meetings, at home spiritual practices, readings and journaling.
The cost including the weekend retreats is $1,990. For more information contact Bruce Baker, one of the presenters, at
[email protected]
or go to the Mariandale website.
The application deadline is July 30, 2018.
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Community Organizing and Congregational Leadership Certificate
NEXT Church, Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, and Metro Industrial Areas Foundation have teamed up to offer a Certificate in Community Organizing and Congregational Leadership.
The in-person training will be October 22-26, 2018 at Christ Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD and there will be 12 distance learning sessions between Nov.-April.
This certificate program consists of a one-week intensive in-person training followed by a six-month distance learning cohort to integrate the training into your work. The program is open to clergy, laypeople, community leaders, seminarians, and others interested in organizing and community engagement.
Learn more!
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New Online Degree and Courses from Dubuque Seminary
UDTS has introduced a new
online
degree, Master of Arts in Christian Leadership, that strengthens students' knowledge of Christian scriptures and the church's theological tradition, and equip women and men for missional service and leadership in their chosen vocations. A B.A. degree in any field is the pre-requisite. For more information, please contact Kimberly Burnett-Hackbarth, Direction of Admissions 563.589.3405 /
[email protected]
.
Click here to learn more
.
And don't miss Dubuque Seminary's online courses in Christian leadership that start June 4 and run for 12 weeks. They're a great form of education that will equip and empower church leaders.
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Save the Date for Stewardship Kaleidoscope, Sept. 24-26! 
Meet us in St. Louis for Stewardship Kaleidoscope 2018 September 24-26, 2018! With keynotes by Diana Butler Bass and Chick Lane and worship led by Larissa Kwong Abazia, you'll be inspired and equipped for effective and joyful stewardship.
For Scholarship Information and/or to request a Scholarship for the Conference, please contact Charles Barton at [email protected].
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PC(USA) Evangelism Conference, Oct. 15-19
The 2018 Evangelism Conference is set for Oct. 15-19 at Zephyr Point in Lake Tahoe. Join fellow 1001 New Worshiping Communities leaders and others focused on renewing the church.
This retreat experience will include time for reflection and renewal. Registration is now open.
Learn more!
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Resources for Education, Liturgy & More!
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Peace and Global Witness Offering 
Webinar for Congregational Leaders, August 8
OnAugust 8, 2018 at Noon EDT
, the PC(USA) Office for Special Offerings will provide a webinar for
Congregation Leaders. A link to participate in the webinar or to view the webinar afterwards will soon be available on the office's website
http://specialofferings.pcusa.org/. Meanwhile you can find other helpful resources for this offering which is usually taken in during the Season of Peace, Sept - October, on that website.
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Holy Discontentment, PC(USA) Organizing Resource 
This free, updated resource from the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness serves as a blueprint for Presbyterians who wish to engage more deeply with civic life and move their community deeper into advocacy and organizing for just public policy.
Focused on legislative advocacy, the resource also connects you to further resources for in person training and reading. It provides sample interfaith worship services and much more.
Learn how to set a meeting with your Member of Congress, host a vigil, attend a town hall, and build your advocacy skills. Download Holy Discontentment.
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PC(USA) Resources for Youth Ministry, Confirmation and Education
As young people mature in faith and life, they search for greater understanding of themselves and their world.
Provide your church with resources that teach teenagers and young adults they can turn to their Bible and the Reformed tradition to find guidance throughout their lives. Explore PC(USA) resources for youth ministry and education.
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Six, Free, Sturdy Pews
The white plains presbyterian church has six sturdy wood pews that are free for the taking!
For 50 years they served in a choir rehearsal room that is now being re-purposed as an important community room. Come and get them before they are gone! Contact the Rev. Jeffrey Geary at
[email protected].
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Choir Robes Available!
First Presbyterian Church of Jeffersonville has 17 choir robes available for free or freewill offering. Please contact
[email protected] for more information.
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Communion Sets for Donation
Beacon Presbyterian Church has two, silver communion sets that are in excellent condition for donation to a congregation who many need them. Read more about each set and the pieces it contains. Interested? Contact Beacon Presbyterian Church at
(845) 831-5322 or
[email protected].
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Bedford Presbyterian Seeks Full-time Office Manager
The
Bedford Presbyterian Church
full-time Office Manager will provide administrative assistance to the Pastor, staff, and congregation and manage the church office to support the ministry and mission of BPC. Includes secretarial support, light bookkeeping, church database maintenance, facility scheduling and supervision of part time staff. Independent, can-do attitude, proficient in MS Office Suite, able to learn database and web management skills. Learn more.
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Nauraushaun Church in Pearl River Seeks PT Office Manager
The Nauraushaun Church in Pearl River is seeking a part-time Office Manager for a one-person office to manage the office and maintain communications that are vital to the church's ministries and mission. This position is 12 hours per week (9 am to noon, Tuesday to Friday) with two weeks vacation per year and standard holidays. Required: good interpersonal, administrative and computer skills; as well as knowledge of office equipment. Familiarity with Presbyterian denomination a plus. Salary: $12,500. For more information or to apply, contact
[email protected] or call 845-735-4745.
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All Souls Parish in Port Chester, Seeks Full-Time Solo Pastor
The All Souls
community consists of individuals at different points on their faith journeys who come together to join in worship, fellowship, small groups, and mission activities. We are looking for a pastor who will guide and encourage our involvement in both existing and new ministry and mission initiatives that evolve as a natural outgrowth of our vision to be more involved in the issues of hunger, poverty, social and environmental justice, and peace. Please see the
All Souls Parish Website
and
our
Ministry Information Form
or email the PNC at
[email protected]
for more information.
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Hitchcock Presbyterian Seeks PT Youth Leader
Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale is seeking a fun and energetic part-time youth leader to work with our youth ministry team, under the leadership of our Director of Christian Education. This role will primarily consist of co-planning activities and having direct interaction with our middle school and high school youth groups, seeking to build community and relationships through meaningful conversation and play. Please direct inquiries and/or a resume to
[email protected]. A more detailed job description can be found at
www.hitchcockpresby.org.
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Presby Church of Mt. Kisco Seeks Sunday School Coordinator
Sunday School Coordinator needed to help nurture the faith of the children of the Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco. The position is approx. 10 hours per week with competitive salary. Experience in Christian Education in a Reformed church setting desirable. For more information, contact
[email protected]
or call 914.666.7001.
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Germonds Church Seeks PT Music Director
Germonds Presbyterian Church seeks a part-time (10-13 hrs/wk) Director to lead our church music program and adult choir. Degree in Music Education, with experience conducting and developing choral and instrumental ensembles required. Candidate should be proficient in teaching and leading adults in church music. Salary commensurate with education and experience; 4 weeks paid time off. Professional development funds available. Read the full position description.
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Reformed Church of Bronxville Seeks
Senior Minister / Head of Staff
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 Color me interested in a publication that helps you and your church plug in to events, connect within and beyond your congregation, and discover useful and inspiring resources for life together.
Filled with links to local, regional and national news as well as information on fabulous educational and advocacy events, it's your "one stop" for interesting news and events in Hudson River Presbytery, Synod of the NE and PC(USA). So why not share it with your friends?! And with the link below, your friends can also subscribe to other e-updates from the Presbytery! Again, just invite them to go to http://tinyurl.com/m2l9kpj or send this photo of me, the dashing Jackson Chameleon (the link is embedded). |
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