Dear Members and Friends,
As I scrolled through my social media feeds over the past few weeks, I was struck by the rejoicing expressed by so many of my friends as they gathered in person for Holy Week and Easter with their communities for the first time in three years. I too felt that sense of joy as I participated in worship during these holy days. It was especially moving to be able to sing together as we celebrated the great mysteries of our faith.
As we experienced glorious music and robust congregational singing on Easter Sunday, I was struck by one very notable difference between Easter 2022 and Easter 2019. The entire choir and the entire congregation sang with masks. I thought about that difference when a few days later I came across a news story about a recent outbreak of COVID-19 among members of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. More than 30 members tested positive after a recent event during which the chorus had sung without masks.
While it is now far safer for us to gather and resume most normal activities, it seems pretty clear that singing without masks still carries considerable risk. Surely Christians have a responsibility to continue showing care for the most vulnerable among us—the elderly, the immunocompromised, and families with small children. As we sing our praise, our prayer, and lament, the Gospel calls us to consider the well-being of those who are least able to protect or speak for themselves.
May this Easter season bring much joy to you, your families, and your communities of faith. As we sing together, may we also continue to love and care for one another.
Sing a new song!
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J. Michael McMahon (he/him/his)
Executive Director
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2022 Annual Conference: Singing the World God Imagines
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Registration for our upcoming Annual Conference has been brisk—more than 250 members and friends have already signed up for this historic gathering! If you’re not one of them, you may register online here.
As we celebrate The Hymn Society’s one-hundredth anniversary, we are gathering to “Sing the World God Imagines,” with an international and multicultural focus. The conference will take place July 17-21 at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. We expect to be welcoming participants from at least ten countries on six continents! If you’re not able to attend in person, you may sign up for our digital option.
The conference will include an abundance of opportunities for learning, connecting, celebrating, singing, and more:
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A centennial hymn festival late Tuesday afternoon, followed by a gala banquet celebration (included in the price of registration)
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Five hymn festivals in all, led by Stanley J. Thurston, Carlos Colón, Peter Kolar, the compilers of Voices Together, Benjamin Brody, and Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra
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Five plenary presentations by Cynthia A. Wilson, Martin Hoondert, Tanya Riches, Mikie Roberts, and a panel of international leaders
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Six featured sessions, led by Patrick Alston, Mikako Ehara, Sarah Eyerly, Marcell Silva Steuernagel, C. Michael Hawn, FHS, and I-to Loh, FHS
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Three short-metre sessions, with short presentations by international leaders John Crothers, Miki Yamamoto, and David Scott Hamnes
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More than forty sectionals on a wide variety of topics by presenters from Argentina, Japan, Nigeria, Norway, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States
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A pre-conference organ recital by Eileen Guenther
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A free afternoon for sightseeing in Washington
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A bookstore, silent auction, photo displays
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Times to eat, sing, and share conversation
Advance registration rates are available through June 15. Click here for complete information or to register online.
During the registration process you will be asked to verify that you have been fully vaccinated and to agree to follow any onsite COVID safety protocols that may be required by government authorities, by the institutions in which we meet, or by The Hymn Society’s Executive Committee. The Hymn Society Executive Committee has established a policy that at all conference sessions and bus travel during the conference, masks will be worn by all participants.
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At Hymnary.org we have made improvements to our list of suggested hymns for lectionary weeks. It is now possible to filter the list so it is limited to hymns that are in a “My Hymnals” collection. “My Hymnals” allows users to set up a collection of hymnals that they have access to.
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Canterbury Highlights from C. Michael Hawn
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Increase your knowledge of congregational song!
Each month, Michael Hawn, FHS, USA Editor, suggests some timely articles that you might find of interest. With more than 5,500 entries (and growing daily), you will find answers to most of your questions in the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology (CDH) as well as answers to questions you should have. Check it out! Access to the CDH can be enjoyed as a benefit of membership in The Hymn Society.
Centennial Biographies: Hymn Society Fellows (1962)
The Hymn Society recognized five Fellows in 1962.
Fellow 12 (1962): Paul Westermeyer. "Walter E. Buszin [FHS]." The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed December 6, 2021.
Fellow 13 (1962): C. Michael Hawn. "Leonard W. Ellinwood [FHS]." The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed December 6, 2021.
Fellow 14 (1962): Robin Knowles Wallace/Carlton R. Young. "Armin Haeussler [FHS]." The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed December 6, 2021.
Fellow 15 (1962): Andreas Teich. "Earl Enyeart Harper [FHS]." The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed December 6, 2021.
Fellow 16 (1962): Nancy Wicklund Gray. "Thomas Tiplady [FHS]." The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed December 6, 2021.
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Join Center Director Brian Hehn and a special guest on Monday, May 2 at 10:00 a.m. ET for a conversation about Mary, the Magnificat, and the tradition of Marian Hymns. The stream can be found on The Center for Congregational Song's Facebook* Page.
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Become a Hymn Society Conference Sponsor!
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All of our conference hymn festivals have been sponsored already, but there are still some opportunities remaining for you to show your support for our upcoming Annual Conference celebrating The Hymn Society’s one-hundredth anniversary.
Our centennial conference provides some special sponsorship opportunities. We are offering ten sponsorships for the Tuesday evening gala banquet celebration at $1,000 each. You may also choose one of the plenary addresses or events that range from $1,750 to $2,500. For as little as $275 you may sponsor one of the dozens of sectionals that focus on various aspects of congregational singing.
A conference sponsorship may be the ideal way to honor a significant person, to remember a loved one or mentor, or to mark a significant life event. For a complete list of remaining sponsorship opportunities, please click here, scroll most of the way down the page, and click on “Sponsorships.”
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2022 Song Search--Deadline is one month away!
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As part of The Hymn Society’s ongoing commitment to the enrichment of congregational song, and in anticipation of the 2022 conference, “Sing the World God Imagines,” the Executive Committee has announced a search for a new song (both text and tune). The winning entry will be premiered at our 2022 conference in Washington D.C. This search honors the role contemporary genres and forms have played in a renewal of congregational song in recent decades to unite singers across diverse global communities. An effective entry in this search will center the conference theme and feature either a verse-chorus form (with optional bridge section) or a short chorus in a congregationally-singable, modern style. A prize of $500 will be offered to the winning entry. All entries must be received by The Hymn Society by May 31, 2022, in order to be considered. For full details, click here.
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An Interview with Emily Brink, FHS: "100 Years of Song"
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Join us on Monday, May 16, at 1:00 p.m. ET, for a free online event featuring Emily Brink, FHS, who often speaks of her life “before and after” joining The Hymn Society. Her first career was in teaching, with music degrees from Calvin University, the University of Michigan, and Northwestern University (Ph.D. in Music Theory). She taught in Montana, New York, and Illinois before moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1983 to become editor for the Psalter Hymnal (1987) of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC) and immediately joining The Hymn Society. For 20 years she was music and liturgy editor for the CRC, and then joined the staff of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW) at Calvin University where she became program director for the annual and increasingly international Symposium on Worship. She was founding editor of the quarterly Reformed Worship, eventually served as editor for four hymnals, and traveled widely as a worship and church music consultant, also in several Asian countries. For The Hymn Society she served on the Executive Committee, became the first woman President, and was named a Fellow in 2004. In retirement she continues to enjoy planning and leading hymn festivals.
This conversation will be the final installment in our nine-part interview series, “100 Years of Song,” featuring nine Hymn Society leaders speaking about their own stories and interest in congregational song, their experience in and service to The Hymn Society, the contributions of our organization and our members to singing communities, and issues that are facing us today. This series is part of The Hymn Society’s centennial celebration (1922 – 2022). Registration and more information may be found here.
Each interview will be made available for free as a real-time Zoom webinar, but registration will be required to view the live broadcast. The interviews will also be archived on The Hymn Society website where anyone may view them on demand. You may view previous interviews with Swee Hong Lim, Mary Louise Bringle, FHS, James Abbington, FHS, John Ambrose, FHS, Carl P. Daw, Jr., FHS, Slats Toole, Cynthia Wilson, and David Music, FHS, here.
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Puentes: A New Bilingual Blog
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Puentes es un blog que presenta un equipo central de escritores que se preocupan profundamente por la voz de la congregación y que buscan tener conversaciones profundas y significativas. Nuestro equipo de blogueros está siempre en busca de grandes eventos, ideas frescas y artistas apasionados por el canto congregacional. Debido a que el equipo está compuesto por gente de una variedad de orígenes y experiencias, este blog ofrece una variedad de puntos de vista y opiniones sobre el canto congregacional, celebrando la diversidad que encarna el canto de la iglesia cada semana.
Nos complace presentar a la editora del blog, Maria Monteiro. Para leer sobre ella y la introducción a lo que espera que el blog logre, puede ir a:
Puentes (Bridges) is a Spanish-language blog featuring a core team of writers who care deeply about the voice of the congregation and are looking to have deep and meaningful conversations. Our team of bloggers is always on the lookout for great events, fresh ideas, and artists who are passionate about congregational singing. Because the team is made up of people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, this blog offers a variety of views and opinions on congregational singing, celebrating the diversity that church singing embodies each week.
We are excited to introduce the editor of the blog, Maria Monteiro. To read about her and the introduction to what she hopes the blog will accomplish, you can go to:
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Nancy L. Graham has uncovered the previously unknown role played by Erik Routley in creating The Summit Choir Book. Read her very fascinating story here.
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It is extraordinary to witness the way in which The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada has enriched the worship life of thousands of North American congregations, added immeasurable depth to hymn and worship scholarship, and deepened the spiritual lives of our members and constituents over its first 100 years. There is so much to celebrate about our first century!
There is also much to celebrate about our present. Despite the dramatic disruption of congregational worship wrought by COVID-19, the work of The Hymn Society has been marked not only by adaptation, but also by innovation. Our digital presence has grown exponentially, with over 185,000 unique users in 2021. Over 100,000 people viewed our regular COVID updates. Nearly 50,000 people have accessed the many resources on our YouTube channel. Our membership is stable, our finances are solid, and our staff are deeply committed to the future God is preparing for us.
Now we look to that future. If we are to move boldly into our second century, if we are to become the international presence we now dream of being, if we are to welcome new friends from around the world, then an even bolder commitment to generosity is necessary.
We have set a goal of raising $500,000 as part of our centennial celebration. Because of the generosity of some of our members, more than $350,000 has already been raised. Please help us continue the good work we have begun. You may make your gift to the centennial fund online or you may download a donation form and mail it to The Hymn Society office with your check or credit card information. Thank you!
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Our Founders: Calvin Laufer
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Calvin Weiss Laufer (1874-1938) was the host of the first meeting of The Hymn Society. It took place on January 19, 1922, in his office at the Presbyterian Building on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 20th Street in Manhattan. Laufer was appointed secretary of the gathering and named, with Emily Perkins and Carl Price, to draft a founding document. When they gathered again on January 28, with offices defined by the constitution, he was elected Secretary-Treasurer.
Laufer was already well-acquainted with Perkins through Presbyterian connections, and he had contributed several items to Songs of Life, compiled in 1921 by Price. He was a staff member of the Board of Publications and Sabbath-School Work of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. That role provided the Society a direct link to the sort of connections that come with a denominational structure.
When the Presbyterian Church reorganized its agencies in 1923, Laufer and his work were transferred to Philadelphia, where he became Musical Editor of the Board of Christian Education. It appears that he moved sometime during 1924. He was listed among the guests from the Philadelphia area when THS was hosted by Louis and Caroline Benson in their home on December 14 of that year. His relocation removed him from regular participation with, though not membership in, the group meeting in New York.
Laufer’s major contributions to hymnody and hymnology occurred in Philadelphia. He was Assistant Editor of The Hymnal (1933), overseeing the in-house work that complemented the guidance of Clarence Dickinson. Collaborating with William Chalmers Covert, he was Associate Editor of Handbook to The Hymnal (1936), which contained contributions from 39 other writers, several of whom were members of THS (Perkins was among these). Covert and Laufer organized The Hymn Society of Philadelphia in 1935, which later affiliated with what had become The Hymn Society of America. He edited a series of graded hymnals, as well as a collection for men’s meetings, for the Board of Christian Education. In the introduction to Hymn Lore (1932), a study of 50 hymns from The Church Hymnal for Youth, he articulated a principal motivation for his work:
To live with hymns and to make them one's own is the only sure way of appreciating their literary beauty and spiritual power. . . . That the reading and singing of hymns may become less mechanical, more thoughtful and intelligent, and emotionally more effective, this volume is released to the public.
Laufer was born in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania, and baptized in that town's Zion German Reformed Church. Following completion of degrees at Franklin and Marshall College (B.A., 1897; M.A., 1900), and Union Theological Seminary, New York City (B.D., 1900), he was ordained a Presbyterian minister. He was pastor of Steinway Reformed Church, Long Island City, New York (1900–05) and First Presbyterian Church, Union City, New Jersey (1905–15) before editorial work became his occupation. He wrote both texts and tunes, though none survive in current hymnals. The Hymnal includes two texts, four tunes, and the setting of a response.
In tribute to Laufer following his death, Carl Price wrote: “His radiant spiritual life, and especially his devotion to the cause of better hymns and tunes and more devout worship, have endeared him to all those who love the church, and his inspiring influence will be felt for years to come.”
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Music that Makes Community Pre-Conference Workshop
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Music that Makes Community is hosting a one-day workshop on Saturday, July 16, at the Church of the Pilgrims in Washington, DC. Full details can be found here.
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Thomas H. Troeger, FHS, 77, died on April 3 in Scarborough, Maine. Holding dual standing as an Episcopal priest and a Presbyterian minister, Tom made an enormous impact throughout his career as a hymn writer, preacher, homiletics professor, theologian, poet, musician, columnist and author. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, May 3, at 10:00 am. at the Church of St. Mary, Falmouth, Maine. It will be live streamed on Facebook and available afterwards as well. You don't need a Facebook account, but may access the livestream or recording here. For more information on the life of this remarkable Hymn Society member, click here.
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Writing The Church's Song
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We are so excited to be rebooting "Writing the Church's Song" for this fall in Richmond, Virginia. The event that was canceled in 2020 due to Covid lives again and we're so glad that Fellows of The Hymn Society Sally Ann Morris, FHS, and Mel Bringle, FHS, are available to lead the way. Check out the event page for more information and to register. Registration is limited, so book your spot soon!
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Joan in Portland, OR, has 100 copies of The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration published by Word Music in very good condition that she is looking to donate. She can be contacted at [email protected], or by phone at 602-400-5626.
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Ready to show your excitement for The Hymn Society's centennial year? We've got just the thing for you! To celebrate this momentous milestone, we've assembled this commemorative box that includes various products featuring our centennial logo. Each box has a 14 oz tumbler, cap, teddy bear, 5.5” x 4.25” magnet, and sticky note pad. It is available for $50 USD (shipping included) and can be purchased at our online store.
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Monthly Zoom Gathering: Sharing Stories
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Please join us for our monthly informal Zoom gathering for conversation, learning, sharing, and singing on Tuesday, May 17, at 3:00 p.m. EDT. Our conversation this month will include stories of significant Hymn Society experiences from Sharon Beckstead, Chi Yi Chen, and Emily Brink, FHS. Access information will be sent by email the day of the gathering.
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Seeking Silent Auction Contributions
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The Silent Auction will be in person this year, as part of our Centennial conference! We are gladly accepting books and other materials related to hymnody and church music. If you have items you would like to contribute, please contact auction coordinator Kelly Grooms at [email protected]. All proceeds from the auction benefit the Lovelace Scholarship, so please consider what you may have to offer. Whether or not you contribute, please plan to visit the auction at the conference--many interesting items await!
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First Baptist Church in Carrollton, GA, is seeking a full-time Minister of Music for their congregation. Information about the church and the job description can be found here.
Grace Baptist Church, Richmond, VA is seeking a part-time (25 hr/wk) Minister of Music to begin in August 2022. Grace Baptist, a creative, welcoming and affirming congregation, affiliates with American Baptist Churches (USA), Alliance of Baptists, River City Faith Network, and Baptist World Alliance. For more information about the job description and congregation, please click here.
The Stanza accepts listings for paid professional positions that relate to some aspect of congregational song. Each item is limited to 50 words and must link to a full job listing.
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Mary Louise Bringle, FHS, and Sally Ann Morris, FHS, were featured in a recent episode of the podcast “Practicing Gospel.” This interview was part of an ongoing series that host David Rayburn is calling “Christian Music Not Played on Christian Radio.” Check it out here.
We love hearing about what you are doing! Don't forget to let us know by sending an email to [email protected] with your updates.
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Subscribe to "Word and Song" Lectionary Reflections
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Each week Executive Director Mike McMahon offers a reflection on Lectionary readings for the following Sunday and a hymn for the day. You may find these on Monday of each week at The Hymn Society's web page and Facebook page. You may also sign up to receive these reflections in your inbox by sending an email with your name and email address to [email protected] and the word "Lectionary" in the subject line.
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Advertising Opportunities in The Hymn and The Stanza
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Your organization can reach readers of The Hymn, our quarterly peer-reviewed journal, and of The Stanza, our monthly e-newsletter, by advertising in either or both of these publications. For more information on these publications and advertising rates and specifications, click here.
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The Center for Congregational Song
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Make sure you're keeping up with all the exciting new programs being offered through The Center for Congregational Song! For more information about The Center, upcoming events hosted by the Center, and to explore all that we have to offer, go to www.congregationalsong.org.
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Members of The Hymn Society enjoy access to the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology and other resources through our website. Access the CDH by logging in to our website and then clicking the link on the landing page.
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If you shop for books and gifts on Amazon, you can help support The Hymn Society. A percentage of your purchases will be sent to the Society. Every bit helps! Go to The Hymn Society's page at AmazonSmile.
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The Hymn Society is sustained through the donations of generous members and friends who keep our mission alive. Consider making a donation today!
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Join us in Washington, D.C. from July 17-21 for "Sing the World God Imagines", our Centennial Annual Conference.
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Did you know The Hymn Society has an online store? Take a look if you are interested in buying any of our merchandise or acquiring some of our resources that are for sale!
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The Hymn Society in the US and Canada | 800-THE-HYMN (800-843-4966)
5 Thomas Circle, NW, 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Planning a hymn festival? Need help with background information on hymns? Looking for a hymn on a particular topic? Let us know how we can assist you in your ministry to encourage, promote, and enliven congregational song.
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The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada
is an ecumenical, non-profit organization devoted to congregational song.
We believe that the holy act of singing together shapes faith, heals brokenness,
transforms lives, and renews peace.
Our mission, therefore, is to encourage, promote, and enliven congregational song.
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Copyright © 2022. All Rights Reserved.
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