Welcome to

Saint Francis by the Sea
Episcopal Church

November 15, 2026
The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost

[Image: Word cloud in the shape of a cross featuring words such as Treasure, Talent, Time, Terrestrial, Care, ministries, covenant, share, give, community, commitment]

Announcements for Sunday November 15, 2026

Meals on Wheels: The Meals Ministry Team continues to serve our community. Our remaining November date is November 17 (baked pasta). Thank you for your wonderful support of this ministry. We are able to serve 180 needy folks each month, as well as parishioners who are in need of meals. Remember that Love Meals are always available to anyone at any time; share the love with someone who would enjoy a meal!

Friendsgiving Invitation. Join us for the second annual Friendsgiving, Wednesday, November 18, at 5:45pm, as we gather around the table to share good food, laughter, and gratitude for the friends who enrich our lives. Saint Francis cooks will prepare the turkey and ham, along with drinks. Please bring your favorite holiday side for our table. Last year's attendance was overwhelming, and we hope to make it even bigger this year, so we are moving the celebration upstairs to our sanctuary. The hilarious turkey photo booth will be back with some other fun happenings. Please invite your neighbors and friends to join us as we give thanks for this special community, we call home.

Our Angel Tree will be available on November 18, and we will serve the children at Carteret Preschool. Please choose an angel, purchase gifts from the wishlist for around $35, and return the wrapped and tagged gifts to church by December 13. If possible, please purchase a $25 Food Lion gift card for the family, and put those (with the gift receipt taped to it) in the basket under the Christmas tree. Feel free to take more than one Angel from the tree. Thank you for helping these families at Christmas.

Hope Mission. On November 21, we will serve lunch at Hope Mission in Morehead City. If you would like to provide a dessert or help serve, please sign up on the Meals Ministry table in the parish hall. Desserts should be brought to church (in containers not to be returned) on Friday, November 20, from 1:00 - 3:00 PM or brought to Hope Mission on Saturday by 10:15 AM. Please bring a dessert that does not require refrigeration. Thank you!

Men's Fellowship Breakfast generally meets on the third Saturday of the month. Our next scheduled meeting begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, November 21. All men of the church are welcome to attend. We look forward to opportunities for service, prayer, study, and fellowship.

Advent Wreath Workshop. Join us November 22 following coffee hour. Celebrate the Season of Advent, a time of waiting and preparing for this coming of Jesus Christ, by creating your own advent wreath. Supplies are provided; donations accepted. Please sign up downstairs in the parish hall so that we can be sure to have enough supplies for all participants.

The Carolina East Singers, under the direction of Susan Gillis Bailey, will present their annual Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 5, and Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City. This year's concert will feature the 50+ voice choir John Rutter's Magnificat along with many other seasonal favorites. The choir will be accompanied by a live orchestra, making this a festive and uplifting holiday event for all ages. Tickets are $10.00 and may be purchased from any choir member or at the following local businesses:
Morehead City: First Presbyterian Church, Sea Paws, The Pool and Patio Store and Williams Hardware; Beaufort: Pet Provisions.
Come join the Carolina East Singers as they celebrate the joy of the Christmas season through music!

Coffee Hour: We encourage everyone to gather downstairs following our Sunday service for refreshments and to enjoy Christian fellowship. Please also wear your name tag to coffee hour. You may place your name tag on the Parish Administrator's desk at the end of coffee hour and the tags will be returned to the file in the sanctuary. Visitors are especially welcome, and a special note of thanks to our members who host coffee hour every Sunday!

Communion is available to our local homebound parishioners. If interested, please email layministrysfbts@gmail.com and include your preferred contact number. A lay minister will call to schedule a convenient time for a visit.

We prayerfully ask that you keep your offerings and pledges to Saint Francis by the Sea up to date. Thank you for your faithfulness to our church and to our Lord, Jesus Christ. You can support our ministries by donating via the QR code below, which will take you to our PayPal. Thank you for attending today, and we look forward to seeing you again!

Want to stay in touch? Subscribe to our email updates to receive news from St. Francis by the Sea.

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The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost — November 15, 2026

The Prelude

"Bread of the World" — Robert Lau

The Processional Hymn 388

"O worship the King" — Hanover
Sing verses 1-4

Hymn 388 — O worship the King (Hanover) — please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.

1 O worship the King, all glorious above! O gratefully sing his power and his love! Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days, pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

2 O tell of his might! O sing of his grace! Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space. His chariots of wrath the deep thunder-clouds form, and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

3 The earth, with its store of wonders untold, Almighty, thy power hath founded of old, hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree, and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

4 Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air; it shines in the light; it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

5 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail; thy mercies, how tender! how firm to the end! Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

The Word of God

Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be God's kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

Collect for Purity

Celebrant and People:

ALMIGHTY GOD, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your Holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Gloria S277

"Gloria in Excelsis" — Canticle 20, David Hurd

S277 — Gloria in Excelsis (Canticle 20, David Hurd) — please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.

1. Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
2. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
3. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,
4. you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us;
5. you are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer.
6. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
7. you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Music: From New Plainsong; David Hurd (b. 1950). Copyright © 1981 GIA Publications, Inc.

The Collect of the Day

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.

BLESSED LORD, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Reading — Judges 4:1-7

¹ The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, after Ehud died. ² So the Lord sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim. ³ Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help, for he had nine hundred chariots of iron and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years.

⁴ At that time Deborah, a prophet, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. ⁵ She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. ⁶ She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, 'Position yourself at Mount Tabor, taking ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. ⁷ I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand.' "

Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

The Psalm — Psalm 123

¹ To you I lift up my eyes, *
    to you enthroned in the heavens.
² As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, *
    and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
³ So our eyes look to the Lord our God, *
    until he show us his mercy.
⁴ Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy, *
    for we have had more than enough of contempt,
⁵ Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, *
    and of the derision of the proud.

The Second Reading — 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

¹ Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ When they say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; ⁵ for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. ⁶ So, then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober, ⁷ for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober and put on the breast-plate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

The Sequence Hymn LEVAS 126

"Here I am, send me"

LEVAS 126 — Here I am, send me — please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.

1. Hark! The voice of Jesus calling, Who will go and work today? Fields are ripe the harvest waiting, Who will bear the sheaves away? Loud and long the Master calleth, Rich reward He offers free; Who will answer, gladly saying, "Here am I, send me, send me."

2. Let none hear you idly saying, There is nothing I can do; While the souls of some are dying, And the Master calls for you. Loud and long the Master calleth, Rich reward He offers free; Who will answer, gladly saying, "Here am I, send me, send me."

3. Take the task He gives you gladly, Let His work your pleasure be; Answer quickly when He calleth, "Here am I, send me, send me." Loud and long the Master calleth, Rich reward He offers free; Who will answer, gladly saying, "Here am I, send me, send me."

The Gospel — Matthew 25:14-30

Deacon: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

¹⁴ "For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; ¹⁵ to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. At once ¹⁶ the one who had received the five talents went off and traded with them and made five more talents. ¹⁷ In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. ¹⁸ But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. ¹⁹ After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.' ²¹ His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' ²² And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.' ²³ His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' ²⁴ Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter, ²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' ²⁶ But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter? ²⁷ Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. ²⁹ For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ³⁰ As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon

The Reverend Chris Carlin

The Nicene Creed

Please stand, if able.

WE BELIEVE in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

WE BELIEVE in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

WE BELIEVE in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.

WE BELIEVE in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

The Prayers of the People

from "Hear our Prayer" by Jon White and Lisa Graves

The Deacon says: IN PEACE, we pray to you, Lord God.

LORD, you give us the gift and call us to use this gift for the betterment of the world and the glory of your name. Grant us courage to use your gift fearlessly and in joy and hear us as we say Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

WE PRAY for the church to be in deeper relationship with each community, for the wisdom to reach those who hunger for you, and to bring them into the work of loving and serving the world in your name. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

WE PRAY for this nation and all nations. We pray for the life and needs of all people and an end to policies of oppression. We pray for those who govern, that they might have hearts for their people and priorities for those most in need. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

WE PRAY for our local community and this congregation, that we might cling to hope and labor ceaselessly to build the kingdom in our midst. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

WE PRAY for the health of the world, for sustainable policies that ensure the abundance of creation and the thriving of all people and all your creatures. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

WE PRAY for our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, including the Church of the Servant, Wilmington. In our Ecumenical Cycle of Prayer, we give thanks for Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, Newport, and Mt. Pleasant Free Will Baptist Church, Newport. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

WE PRAY for an end to illness and suffering. We pray for those who work to bring hope, healing and assistance to those who are lost, marginalized, imprisoned, ill, suffering, persecuted or broken. Especially we ask for your healing presence to all we now name, for [today's petitions]. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

WE PRAY for the promise of new life and for all those who leave this life with the hope of being in your presence. May we and all those who came before and who will come after us, enter into your kingdom to hear your praise: "Well done good and faithful servant." Today, we remember [today's petitions]. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

WE PRAY and give thanks for all our blessings in life Lord, only made possible by You including [today's petitions]. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

The Celebrant concludes with this collect:

LORD, hear these prayers and answer them as may be best for us, O Father, O Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Confession of Sin and Absolution

The Deacon says: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. People:

MOST MERCIFUL GOD, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

The minister says: ALMIGHTY GOD have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

The Peace

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: WALK IN LOVE, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.

The Choral Anthem

"The Joy of Giving" — Tim Calahan
The Men of St. Francis

Somehow, not only for Christmas but all the long year through,
the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing the poor and lonely and sad,
the more of your heart's possessing returns to make you glad.

But what can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man. I would do my part.
Yet what I can I give him, give him my heart.

The Doxology

Old 100th

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,
Praise God, all creatures here below.
Praise God above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Eucharistic Prayer

from Enriching Our Worship, Prayer One

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Celebrant: It is truly right, and good and joyful, to give you thanks.

The Celebrant continues…

You have filled us and all creation with your blessing and fed us with your constant love; you have redeemed us in Jesus Christ and knit us into one body. Through your Spirit you replenish us and call us to fullness of life.

Therefore, joining with Angels and Archangels and with the faithful of every generation, we lift our voices with all creation as we sing:

The Sanctus MHSO 38

"Holy, Holy, Holy Lord" — John Bell

MHSO 38 — Holy, Holy, Holy Lord (John Bell) — please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.

Holy, holy, holy, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full, are full of your glory. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!

Words: from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) of the Episcopal Church USA. Music: John L. Bell (b. 1949) © WGRG The Iona Community (Scotland) (admin. GIA Publications, Inc., 7404 S. Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60638 [www.giamusic.com].) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

The Celebrant continues…

BLESSED ARE YOU, gracious God, creator of the universe and giver of life. You formed us in your own image and called us to dwell in your infinite love.

You gave the world into our care that we might be your faithful stewards and show forth your bountiful grace.

But we failed to honor your image in one another and in ourselves; we would not see your goodness in the world around us; and so we violated your creation, abused one another, and rejected your love. Yet you never ceased to care for us, and prepared the way of salvation for all people.

Through Abraham and Sarah you called us into covenant with you. You delivered us from slavery, sustained us in the wilderness, and raised up prophets to renew your promise of salvation. Then, in the fullness of time, you sent your eternal Word, made mortal flesh in Jesus. Born into the human family, and dwelling among us, he revealed your glory. Giving himself freely to death on the cross, he triumphed over evil, opening the way of freedom and life.

On the night before he died for us, Our Savior Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his friends, and said: "Take, eat: This is my Body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said: "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith: Celebrant and People:

Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues…

Remembering his death and resurrection, we now present to you from your creation this bread and this wine. By your Holy Spirit may they be for us the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Grant that we who share these gifts may be filled with the Holy Spirit and live as Christ's Body in the world. Bring us into the everlasting heritage of your daughters and sons, that with St. Francis, St. Clare, and all your saints, past, present, and yet to come, we may praise your Name for ever. Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to you be honor, glory, and praise, for ever and ever. Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray,

Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever, and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

a period of silence is kept

The Fraction Anthem WLP 867

"The bread which we break" — Carl Haywood

WLP 867 — The bread which we break (Carl Haywood) — please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.

The bread which we break is a sharing in the Body of Christ. We being many are one bread, one body, for we all share in the one bread.

Music: Carl Haywood (b. 1949), from Fraction Anthems, Canticles, and Chants. Copyright © 1997 Carl Haywood.

Celebrant continues: THE GIFTS OF GOD for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

WE INVITE ALL to join us and receive the Body and Blood of Christ at his table. If you desire to receive a blessing, please come to the altar with hands crossed over your chest. Gluten-free communion wafers and chalice are available upon request.

HEALING PRAYER with Mother Chris is available in the chapel, after you receive communion.

The Communion Response

"Prayer of St. Francis" — Sebastian Temple

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred; let me bring your love,
where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
and where there's doubt, true faith in you.

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope,
where there is darkness only light,
and where there's sadness ever joy.

Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love, with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving of ourselves that we receive,
and in dying that we are born to eternal life.

The Post-Communion Prayer

After Communion, the Celebrant says: All stand. Let us pray together: Celebrant and People:

GOD OF ABUNDANCE, You have fed us with the bread of life and cup of salvation; You have united us with Christ and one another; and you have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth. Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue for ever in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.

The Blessing

The Recessional Hymn 490

"I want to walk as a child of the light" — Houston

Hymn 490 — I want to walk as a child of the light (Houston) — please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.

1 I want to walk as a child of the light. I want to follow Jesus. God set the stars to give light to the world. The star of my life is Jesus.

2 I want to see the brightness of God. I want to look at Jesus. Clear sun of righteousness, shine on my path, and show me the way to the Father.

3 I'm looking for the coming of Christ. I want to be with Jesus. When we have run with patience the race, we shall know the joy of Jesus.

Refrain
In him there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

Words: Kathleen Thomerson (b. 1934). Copyright © 1970, 1975, Celebration, Aliquippa, PA 15001. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. Music: Houston, Kathleen Thomerson (b. 1934).

The Dismissal

Deacon: GO IN PEACE to love and serve the Lord.
     Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
People: Thanks be to God.
     Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

The Postlude

"'Tis the Spring of Saints Today" — arr. Richard A. Williamson

Reprint/podcast/streamed with permission under One License #A-730274 and RitePlanning. All rights reserved.

St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church Welcomes You

Happy Birthday: Grace Kemp (15^th), Mary Lou Wilson (15^th), Jeanna Tiller (15^th), Dona Styron (19^th), Francesca Styron (19^th).

Welcome! If you are new to St. Francis or visiting for the first time, we especially welcome you to our community of faith. We ask that you sign our guest register located at the back of the church.

Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church
920 Salter Path Road ● Salter Path, NC 28512
(252) 240-2388 ● www.stfrancisbythesea.org ● stfrancisbts@gmail.com
A parish of the Diocese of East Carolina ● The Rt. Rev. Sarah Fisher, Bishop
Follow us on Facebook: Saint Francis by the Sea

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