have a jolly, holly christmas!

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As I write this, that Christmas carol is wafting

down the hall from the kitchen where ladies of

the church are making chicken salad in

preparation for the Holly Fair tomorrow. They

are regaling each other with stories of past

Holly Fairs, both wildly successful and wildly

near-disastrous. And that’s half the fun! Who

wants to be in the kitchen at home making

chicken salad by yourself when you can be

surrounded by joy and anticipation and music.

For those of you who prefer solitude, I leave

you to your own contemplative devices.

Wrapping presents by yourself with only Bing

Crosby and Rosemary Clooney singing “White

Christmas” with us has its appeal. But it’s fun,

it’s fulfilling, our joy is compounded when we

rejoice with others – just as when we worship

with others.

We all have many ways in which we celebrate

Advent and Christmas, and make no mistake,

there is a difference between the two. Advent

is the season of prayerful anticipation of the

birth of Jesus. Christmas is the season of

celebration of his birth. God came to live

among us as one of us, a human being and

God, both human and divine. That is what

Incarnation is all about: Jesus, both wholly

human and wholly divine, 100% human and

100% divine, totally impossible. Madeleine

l’Engle called it the Glorious Impossible in her

book of the same name (a great book for

children, by the way).

Some people are very strict about the

difference between Advent and Christmas, and

the Episcopal Church makes distinction in our

hymnal between hymns for Advent and carols

for Christmas. Some people don’t put up their

Christmas tree until Christmas Eve. Some

churches don’t perform the Christmas Pageant

until the Christmas season (after Christmas).

Some churches don’t do the “greening” of the

church until the very last minute – all well and

good, but it can be nerve-wracking, and

tempers can get short, and there’s a jolly holly

for you!

I am not as strict as some. I like to stick to

Advent music during Advent, but a carol now

and then in the course of our worship is OK

too. I love to see the Pageant before Christmas

while our children are in a state of anticipation

of Santa (don’t worry, it translates to

anticipation of Jesus!). I love the visit of St.

Nicholas of Myra, this year on December 4.

I also love the rising excitement, excitement

over Incarnation, something we will never be

able to fully understand so we will always be

able to explore it. As Madeleine l’Engle said,

“Like love, it cannot be explained. It can only be

rejoiced in.” Rejoice!

Mother Susan+

The Shepherd’s Crook The Church of the Good Shepherd

Pitman, NJ The Rev. Susan E. Osborne-Mott, Rector December 2016

“We Love Our Church”

“Have a Jolly, Holly Christmas!”

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Church History Display

I hope that you are taking a few moments to check out the rotating church history exhibit in the glass case in our parish hall! Items are displayed there from our collective family history as a church! I try to rotate these exhibits every 4 months or so. If you have anything at all to display, please let me know. I need more materials. Someone just gave me a VERY interesting newspaper article on our church! Stay tuned…..

Thanks so much! Ellie Dunn - 609-868-7104

OUTREACH

Thank you again for your wonderful donation of clothing to people in need in Camden. We received two full bags of men’s shoes! That is just so wonderful! They will be gone quickly! Carl delivers the bags of clothing to St. Wilfrid’s in Camden. They hold a clinic there two Saturdays a month and give our clothing to those in need. Men’s clothing and shoes are ALWAYS needed! If you have clothing in good condition that you would like to donate, please place it in manageable size bags on our front porch and we will be happy to take care of delivering them for you. We are located at: 223 Highland Terrace, Pitman.

Ellie and Carl Dunn

Friendly’s Fundraiser The Church of the Good Shepherd raised $224.10 from the Friendly’s Fundraiser. The Vestry decided to contribute these funds to the décor of our new downstairs Youth Room. Come Visit! Thanks to all who came out to support this event.

CHURCH MINISTRY LEADERS

These are some of their names and numbers, if you have any questions.

Senior Warden George Funk - 856/232-0941 Junior Warden Sue Burkhard - 856/218-1035 Treasurer Lee Braidwood - 856/228-0737 Asst. Treasurer George Funk - 856/232-0941

Brotherhood of St. Andrew Wayne Szalma – 856/469-3028 Women at the Well Diane Wall - 856/374-9081 Jenn Harrington – 856-383-0823 Altar Guild Shelly Harris - 856/589-8160 Newcomers Deb Prieto – 856/478-0795 Youth Group - Chelsea Richmond – 856-723-4123

VESTRY LIAISONS, 2016

Personnel – Jack Daugherty Property & Security – Len Clark Endowment Planning – Rich Harrington Columbarium – Deb Prieto Greeters – Deb Prieto Adult Christian Education – Jack Daugherty Internal Ministries – Cindy Taglienti Outreach – Connie Parent Sunday School – Elizabeth Nelson Brotherhood of St. Andrew – Wayne Szalma Youth Activities – Chelsea Richmond Family Promise – Rich Harrington Prayer Ministry – Cindy Taglienti Stewardship Committee – Len Clark Choir – Rich Harrington

Senior Warden – George Funk Junior Warden – Sue Burkhard Treasurer – Lee Braidwood Clerk of the Vestry – Chuck Lezenby Assistant Clerk of the Vestry – Diane Wall

Pastoral Emergencies

If a Pastoral Emergency should come up for you, hospitalization, death in the family, please call the Church Office 856-589-8209 or after office hours please call Mother Susan at 732-759-4358.

SERVICES

Saturdays: 4:30 PM – Contemplative Prayer 5:30 PM – Holy Eucharist

Sundays: 9:00 AM – Contemplative Prayer 10:00 AM – Holy Eucharist Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9 AM Morning Prayer

tel:609-868-7104

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Prayers for the Parish Families

For December

Potter family, Prieto family, Ralston family, and Randolfo family

From the Parish Register

Baptism

November 13, 2016 Luke James Cerveny

Infant son of James & Jessica Cerveny

“sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own, forever.” BCP p. 308

OUR PRAYERS MINISTRY

Each Sunday during Communion time, our team of Pray-ers offer prayers with our parishioners. We have now expanded this meaningful ministry to our Saturday evening Holy Eucharist at 5:30pm.

After you receive Holy Communion, if you want/need additional prayers, there will be a team of Pray-ers in the front of the Church who are willing to pray with you. These prayers can be offered in joy for a Blessing you have received, or can be to help ease a burden which lies on your heart. Please take advantage of this wonderful ministry of our parish. All prayers are confidential.

PRAYER MINISTRY

Anyone interested in being a Prayer Minister at the Saturday night or Sunday services please contact Cindy Taglienti @ 227-1566 or [email protected].

Special Thanks

A special thanks to all who came out to help with the Fall Clean-up Day on November 19th. The Church and Rectory yards look great!

HEALING PRAYER

Mother Susan is now offering Healing Prayer with anointing and laying on of hands on the first Saturday of every month following the Saturday evening service.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT

PUTTING OUR BELOVED PARISH,

GOOD SHEPHERD, IN YOUR WILL?

INQUIRER'S CLASS

Wow! There was so much to discuss at last

month's session, we didn't have enough

time! The reality that we are going through

just one more upheaval that happens

every 500 years is both scary and exciting.

One thing that happens within Christianity

during these upheavals is the question

"Where Now is the Authority?" The last

upheaval, the Reformation, gave us

Scripture as our authority. We have wit-

nessed the questioning, the new scholar-

ship and archaeological discoveries which

have uncovered new understandings of

scripture. This has created an

uncomfortable struggle for some and a

"aha" moment for others. In our next session

on December 4, we will be focusing on

how we saw scripture as the authority and

what has changed. While emergence

Christianity does not lessen the authority of

scripture it does call us to think outside the

literal understanding of scripture. Join us for

this discussion in the Conference Room at

11:30 a.m.

(Note: We will obviously not have class

on January 1, but whether we skip January

or move the date is yet to be determined.

Watch for a further announcement!)

mailto:[email protected]

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Jane E. Terry Johnson Ashley Kari Donna Barton Aaliyah Seely McFadden family Seely family Art Dilworth Walter Hickman Amy Elfreth family Don Snyder Clint Lorance Anna Lorance Carole Melissa Benson Bill Brower George Farley Kim Evans & twins Henry Traz Gloria Rubino Audrey Bill Beard Andrew Buck Joe DeMarco James Anna Candyce Rich Reiniello Kate Killebrew Len Davis Emily Eugene & Jean McLaughlin

Church of the Good Shepherd

Prayers of the People

Prayers for the Church and Clergy

For all Churches in the Diocese of NJ & Ecuador Michael Curry, the Presiding Bishop William “Chip” Stokes, Our Bishop The Rev. Susan E. Osborne-Mott, Rector Sister Cass, AF Charles Nakash – Missionary in the Dominican Republic

Prayers for the Nation

Barack Obama, Our President Chris Christie, Our Governor

“For all those who serve and protect us at home”

Prayers for the Sick and in Need

Gordon Ellis II Ruth DeLoreto Heather Alice Swan Antonette Gorman Sandy Mary Jane Merille Ulisny Radd Dilworth Frank Meralinda Stevis Lenny Jim Doris Faith John & Pat Wisniewski Vincent Jackson Tod Porter Terri Tara Chase Michael Jeremy Williams & family Freda Ryan Bubnoski Daniel Moore Regina Sandra Louie Michelle F. Janet L. Jim Minnie Ms. DeStefano Julie Landwher Florence

Tracie & family Mike Daly Maripat Makalusky Deborah & Glynn Helen & Ken Michelle Siegle Jeanne Hilda Natasha Tuoy

Prayers for all Military Personnel

* We pray for our enemies and for those with whom we are at war. *

“Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Peter Larrabee Brian Almondrod Raymond Harris, III Steven Sanders Matt Spangler Lynn Spangler Scott Thomas Glen Tim Dan Hurlbut Zak Bartelt Alex Driscoll Brian Randazzo Buzz Parish Charlie Hiemeril John A. Lukacs Joe Sheridan Hal Wagner Matt Rebecca Jon S. Lehr Keith Tucker Dave McElwain Hugh Robinson Andrew Olsson

Joshua Albright Zachary Guise Scott McPherson Andrew Ten Eyck Matthew Cushinotto Theresa Cushinotto Mike Grzybowski Ted Mike McHugh Tom Devore Bonnie Weis Kane Lawlor Drew Naphy Rhen Brinkerhoff Brian Opel Jonathan Dickson Matt Michael Marta Marcos Bryan Jensen Allistair Edinger Andrew

Kyle

Caroline Melissa Czechowicz Brickner family Jane Kraus Pat Jenkins

Dora & Ed Beard & family Debbie Milward

Baby Victoria

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Christmas Pageant Schedule

December 4 (Sundays) (lasts about 45 minutes) In - church practices following service

Saturday December 10 at 10 AM (lasts 1+ hours) Dress rehearsal

December 11 (Sunday) Pageant begins at 12:30 (after service and lunch served in parish hall)

A Partnership with Mannino’s Cucina Italiana

Vito Mannino (owner of Mannino’s Cucina

Italiana) has agreed to a partnership with the

Church of the Good Shepherd. A donation will

be made to the church of 10% of the luncheon

or dinner bill for every member who dines at

the restaurant (located at 126 South Broadway

- between the bakery and the Police Station).

Please notify your server that you are a

member of the Church of the Good Shepherd

before placing your order. The restaurant is

open Monday thru Thursday and Sunday from

11:00AM until 9:00PM and Friday and

Saturday from 11:00AM until 10:00PM.

Reservations are recommended on Friday and

Saturday evenings. The food is excellent!!

Your support of this partnership will be greatly

appreciated!!

Pictures!

Let’s get in the habit of taking pictures of everything around here! Pictures of Sunday School, meetings, even of events at services if you can be extremely surreptitious!

Prayer Shawl/Caring Hands Ministry

Every so often we get a request for a Prayer Shawl to be given to someone in need. Sometimes it is during an illness, sometimes during grieving periods after the loss of a loved one. The Shawls are crocheted or knitted by the women in this ministry. Every other Tuesday morning you will find our Caring Hands Group knitting/crocheting the shawls in our Conference room. They are made with prayer for those who will receive them.

I can’t begin to tell you of the peace and comfort these shawls have brought to so many people. They need not be members of our parish. Need is spread everywhere.

If you know of a need, just ask Pat Braidwood.

Page Turners’ Book Group

NO MEETING IN DECEMBER January 15: ANIMAL VEGETABLE MIRACLE by Barbara Kingsolver February 19: INTO THIN AIR by Jon Krakauer

The Page Turners meet once a month, immediately following the 10am Holy Eucharist, in the Conference Room. Please come and join us for some very interesting discussion, exchange of ideas and sharing.

THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

We gather in the Conference Room at 9:30-10:30 a.m. for a DVD presentation and discussion on scripture. This series will focus on Uppity Women of the Bible series on "Song of Songs". Rev. Lisa Wolfe leads us in this six-week series. Join us as we ex-plore this mysterious, beautiful and alluring study of Song of Songs. Who wrote it? What sort of people are the main characters? Is it based in history, mythology, or both? As you enter into the world of the lovers Ra'yati and Dodi, you will have plenty of opportunities to laugh and even blush, right along with Dr. Wolfe (and Mel!) We begin on Thursday, January 12.

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Christmas Poinsettias & Greens

The beauty of the Church of the Good

Shepherd at Christmas is made possible

through the participation of many parishioners.

While no specific amount is required for a

memorial or thank offering, generous gifts will

permit us to put flowers on the altar on

Sundays during the year when there are no

memorials. Please use this form to indicate your

wishes as to how your memorial/thank

offering is to be listed and return it to the

parish office or put it in the offering plate as

soon as possible. We would like to be able to

prepare the insert in advance. The absolute

deadline for inclusion of the names in the

Christmas bulletin is Monday, December 19th.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2016 Christmas Poinsettias & Greens

In Memory of

_____________________________________

In Memory of

______________________________________

In Memory of

______________________________________

In Memory of

_______________________________________

In Thanksgiving for

_______________________________________

In Thanksgiving for

_______________________________________

Enclosed is a check made out to The Church of

the Good Shepherd and noted “Flower Fund”

for $________________.

Given by (Your Name) _________________________________________

Nominations for the Annual Meeting Elections

According to the By-Laws of the Parish of the Good Shepherd, the Nominating Committee is to be made up of the out-going members of the Vestry.

After deliberation and the contacting of possible candidates, the Committee will draw up an initial list of persons in the parish who are willing and qualified to serve; and to have their names put forth to be elected as members of Good Shepherd’s Vestry.

The Canon Law of the Episcopal Church requires that the election be open to all who are qualified. Qualifications are as follows:

1) They must be a Communicant of the Church of the Good Shepherd in good standing.

2) They must attend Church Worship regularly and

faithfully.

3) They must regularly give to the financial support of the Church.

4) They must be committed to the Doctrine, Discipline and Worship of the Episcopal Church.

It is also expected that any candidate will have the ability and intention to attend all of the regularly scheduled monthly Vestry meetings and also participate in Parish functions and events.

All nominations should be addressed to any member of the Nominating Committee. December 20, 2016 is the deadline. If no additional names for candidates are received by that date, the initial slate of the Nominating Committee will be presented to the Annual Meeting, uncontested.

If you have any questions, please speak to any member of the Committee. The Committee members are: Deb Prieto, Rich Harrington, Cindy Taglienti.

Contemplative Prayer Time Before Our Worship Services

For those who seek a time for quiet prayer on Saturdays and Sundays, from now on Mother Susan will open the church on Saturdays at 4:30 PM for the 5:30 PM service. We ask that 4:30 PM to 5:15 PM be a quiet prayerful time. Likewise, for Sundays, she will be in the Church at 9 AM for a quiet time from 9 AM to 9:30 AM.

We ask that all who come early to church honor these times as times for quiet prayer and contemplation.

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What’s Happening In December

All Tuesdays & Thursdays - 9 AM Morning Prayer

All Wednesdays – 7 PM Bible Study

All Thursdays – 6:30 PM Bell Choir

7:15 PM Choir Practice

December 1 & 2 – Holly Fair Set-up

December 3 & 4 – ADVENT 2

Saturday, 9 AM – 3 PM Holly Fair

4:30 PM Contemplative Prayer

5:30 PM Holy Eucharist

Healing Prayer

Sunday, 9 AM Contemplative Prayer

10 AM Holy Eucharist

Pageant practice

11:30 AM Inquirers’ Class

11:30 AM Vestry Meeting

December 7 - 7 PM Brotherhood of St. Andrew


Saturday, 10 AM – Pageant Dress Rehearsal

4:30 PM Contemplative Prayer




10 AM Sunday School

Luncheon

12:30 PM Christmas Pageant

December 12 – 7 PM Women at the Well – ECW

December 13 – 9:30 AM Caring Hands

December 14 –7 PM Property Committee Meeting


Saturday, 4:30 PM Contemplative Prayer



10 AM Holy Eucharist & Christmas Cantata

10 AM Sunday School

Greening of the Church

December 24 & 25 – CHRISTMAS

Saturday, 7 & 10 PM Holy Eucharist

Sunday, 10 AM Holy Eucharist

December 26 – Parish Office Closed

December 27 – 9:30 AM Caring Hands

December 31 – Holy Name of Jesus

Saturday, 4:30 PM Contemplative Prayer


January 1 – Holy Name of Jesus



December Birthdays

02 – Janice Engstrom 02 – Bob Morton 03 – Kira Brinkerhoff 04 – Bryan Smith 05 – Sean Hills 05 – Jacob McHugh 07 – Harvey Corbett 08 – Brian Opel 09 – Lyric Chimenti 10 – Morgan Masciangelo 12 – Kristin Braidwood 14 – Liz Grantham 14 – Jennifer Harrington 14 – Shelly Harris 14 – Lisa Perini 14 – Allison Vadino 16 – Lori DeVore 18 – Gabriel Handley 19 – Allison Higgins 19 – Jessica Higgins 20 - Dennis Richardson 22 – Brian Startare 25 - Jesus Christ 27 - Lauren Bradley 27 – Jackie McFadden 28 – Robert Perini 29 – Louise Clark 30 – Lauren Southwick 31 – Ryan Braidwood 31 – Amy DeVore

DEADLINE

The deadline for the January 2017 Crook will be on December 15, 2016. Please e-mail all articles and pictures to [email protected].

Maryanne Charlton Parish Administrator

mailto:[email protected].

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A Special Ministry

Mother Susan needs volunteers to take turns picking up and returning a parishioner from Pitman Manor for Sunday service. Please contact her if you would like to volunteer for this very special ministry.

THE FOOD PANTRY

We have changed our approach for collecting food donations for the Pitman Food Pantry. Each week we will be collecting a different food item. We will announce the upcoming needed food item each week in the trifold. Also we will have a monthly list in the Crook.

Food donations for November are: 12/3 & 4 - Canned Vegetables 11/10 & 11 - Jelly 11/17 & 28 - Canned Ravioli or Spaghettios 10/24 & 25 - Cereal

All donations are greatly appreciated and accepted.

The Pitman Food Pantry is also in need of volunteers to help on Tuesday evenings to give out food. They are open on even dated Tuesdays each month from 6pm – 7pm.

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

December 18th - 10am Christmas Cantata &

Greening of the Church

December 24th - Christmas Eve

7pm – Our Family Eucharist celebrating the

Birth of our Lord Jesus

10pm – Festival Eucharist with special music

December 25th - Christmas Day

10am – Holy Eucharist with Carols

December 31 & January 1 – The Holy Name of Jesus

Saturday, 5:30pm – Holy Eucharist

Sunday, 10am – Holy Eucharist

No Sunday School

Treasurer's Blog - December 2016 Results through October 2016

Total Income:

Here is a breakdown of our total income for ten months of 2016:

Budget Actual

Loose Plate 1,900 1,574 Envelopes 173,500 172,246

Special 5,500 4,087

Other 250 300

Income 181,000 178,207

Total expenses:

Here is a recap of our total expenses for ten months of 2016:

Budget Actual

Expenses 177,823 169,325

Thank you for keeping your pledges current and thank you for your support during our fall stewardship campaign. Please note: We are now looking to raise funds for Parish Hall air conditioning. While we now have a less expensive estimate if we plan to install the equipment in January, we need to raise 2.6K to reach our goal. Please give thoughts to helping us make our hope of having coffee hour in a cool environment for next summer.

MOVIE SATURDAY!

Our next Movie Saturday will be on January 21 at 9:30 a.m. in the Conference Room. Breakfast and a movie on a wintry Saturday - can't beat that! Our movie this time will be "Visions of a Universal Humanity" featuring futurist Barbara Marx Hubbard. Together with some of the finest minds of our time, including world-renowned physicist Freeman Dyson, biologist Bruce Lipton, scholar Jean Houston and others, Hubbard pre-sents cutting-edge perspectives on human-kind's potential to create a positive future for the Earth. This movie takes us beyond now into a future of infinite possibilities. Can religion and science blend and work together?

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Surprise Reception for Meg Dutill

Children’s Choir

The Children’s Choir performed on October 23rd.

Congratulations to Meg & Robert!

Their big day was November 5th, 2016

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First Solemn Communion November 13th, 2016

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December 2016

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1 9 AM Morning Prayer 6:30 PM Bell Choir 7:15 PM Choir Practice

Holly Fair Set-up

2

3 9 AM – 3 PM Holly Fair 4:30 PM Contemplative Prayer 5:30 PM Holy Eucharist Healing Prayer

4 Advent 2 9 AM Contemplative Prayer 10 AM Holy Eucharist 10 AM Sunday School – Fellowship 11:30 AM Vestry Meeting 11:30 AM Inquirers’ Class Pageant practice

5

6 9 AM Morning Prayer

7 7 PM Bible Study 7 PM Brotherhood of St. Andrew


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10 10 AM Pageant Dress Rehearsal 4:30 PM Contemplative Prayer 5:30 PM Holy Eucharist

11 Advent 3 9 AM Contemplative Prayer 10 AM Holy Eucharist 10 AM Sunday School Luncheon 12:30 AM Christmas Pageant

12 7 PM Women at the Well - ECW

13 9 AM Morning Prayer 9:30 AM Caring Hands

14 7 PM Bible Study 7 PM Property Committee Meeting


Crook Info Due

16

17 4:30 PM Contemplative Prayer 5:30 PM Holy Eucharist

18 Advent 4 9 AM Contemplative Prayer 10 AM Holy Eucharist & Christmas Cantata 10 AM Sunday School Greening of the Church

19

20 9 AM Morning Prayer

21 7 PM Bible Study


23

24 Christmas Eve 7 & 10 PM Holy Eucharist

25 Christmas


26 Parish Office closed

27 9 AM Morning Prayer 9:30 AM Caring Hands

28 7 PM Bible Study


30

31 New Year’s Eve 4:30 PM Contemplative Prayer 5:30 PM Holy Eucharist

Place Fridge Magnet here!

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The Shepherd’s Crook

Church of the Good Shepherd

Pitman, NJ

December 2016

Church of the Good Shepherd 315 Highland Terrace Pitman, NJ 08071

Telephone – 856-589-8209 E-mail – [email protected]

www.goodshepherdpitman.org

mailto:[email protected]

have a jolly, holly christmas!

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