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Stewards of God's Vision
Robert Seng writes in his book, The Fifth Discipline, "There are two fundamental sources of energy that can motivate organizations: fear and aspiration." To an organization motivated by fear, the primary concern is to avoid a negative outcome. For example, you've probably heard people say, "we need to attract more young people to our church or we won't have a church in the future." Fear of closure motivates this need. Or you may have heard, "we need people to increase their giving or the church won't meet its budget." Fear of fiscal shortfall motivates this desire for increased generosity.
An organization motivated by aspiration organizes its time, talent and resources around fulfilling a shared vision. A shared vision answers the question, "what do we seek to create?" In the church's case, it answers the question, "what is God seeking to create, and how are we called to participate in God's vision for creation?"
Walter Brueggeman writes in his book, Living Toward a Vision, "The central vision of world history in the Bible is that all of creation is one, every creature in community with every other, living in harmony and security toward the joy and well-being of every other creature." The Biblical term for this vision is the Kingdom of God. Rooted deeply in Judeo-Christian scripture and consciousness, the Kingdom of God is God's vision of a creation healed and restored; a people reconciled to God and each other through forgiveness and love; and a lifestyle marked by discernment, wisdom, compassion, righteousness and justice. God's vision and desire for creation can be summed up by the word shalom.
Central to Jesus' ministry was his proclamation, "the Kingdom of God is at hand." The Kingdom is both a promised future and a reality yearning to bear fruit in our lives right here and now. Jesus not only proclaimed this good news, he was a living epiphany of the Kingdom lifestyle. He called people to follow him into a relationship with God that would transform their lives toward this Kingdom lifestyle.
If we, the church, are called to share God's vision for creation, then we need to be intentional about asking ourselves several basic questions:
How do we discern God's presence here and now, and how do we discern God's vision for the future? What are the characteristics of God's Kingdom? Where do we see, or not see, these characteristics present in our lives, our church and our world?
How do we proclaim this vision of God's Kingdom in a way that has a joyous, healing, reconciling, liberating and transforming impact on our lives and the lives of others?
How do we respond to this vision of God's Kingdom through the lifestyle choices we make and the ministries we develop? How do our lifestyle choices and ministries reflect and fulfill our commitment to this vision of God's Kingdom?
All this boils down to one key question--how do we invest ourselves most fully into God's vision for creation? How may we invest our time, talent and resources into God vision of transforming this creation toward shalom?
This is the question we will reflect on together as we turn our attention to the issue of Christian stewardship this fall. Stewardship is much more than giving money to meet the church budget. It's about investing as much of our lives as possible into God's transformative vision for all creation. So let us reflect deeply and prayerfully this Fall on what we are willing to invest in God's vision.
SOMETHING NEW
"COLLEGE AGE" FELLOWSHIP BEGINS
After long planning and discussion, a new "College Age" Fellowship group will begin late September 2001.The name of the program is "Sanctuary Fellowship" and is aimed at church and community members that are "20-something - 30-something," covering the age of most University and Graduate School students. The group is aimed at any young person, not just those enrolled in higher education.
Additionally, the group is an inclusive one, inviting young people from any age, any belief, any race, any gender, any sexual orientation. EVERYONE IS WELCOME.
The group will meet every other Friday, starting September 28th, 2001. The group will enjoy a home-cooked meal at 6:00 pm, with a program to follow. Sometimes the group will have speakers but, most often, the group will go out into Austin following dinner to do something... see a movie or attend a concert. Meals will be provided by volunteers from the church (Would you like to help with this?). The cost of the outings will be the responsibility of the individuals involved.
There will also be a Sunday School class EVERY Sunday for this same age-group. The new office (used to organize this ministry) and a classroom are both located on the Third Floor of the Towery Wing. (Please come up and visit!) The Sanctuary program has furniture for the new classroom as well. As we prepare to launch this ministry, we still are trying to find volunteers to make slipcovers for the classroom sofas. We have the material; we just need the volunteers to make them. Would you volunteer to help?
Contact us if you'd like to get involved! Call the Church or call Craig Headley at 851-0320
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Craig Headley, who is currently at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest, is working on a degree in Pastoral Ministry. Because he is not in a program that ends in ordination, he does not qualify for a majority of available scholarships, both at the seminary, and within our own conference. He must raise the funds himself, and find a way to pay for his tuition and books.
Craig has gotten permission to have a Yard Sale at the church and is planning it for late October or early November. The sale will help pay for tuition and books. If you would like to donate goods for Craig to sell, or would like to have a table of your own to sell your own things, get in touch with Craig at 851-0320, or on his cell phone at 512-644-3070.
SEPTEMBER "HATS OFF"
The Pastor's office has been recently painted and the basement dining hall has newly polished floors. Our appreciation to those who were involved in these un-dertakings.
Our Corporate Worship
Communion Steward
Joe McMillan, Jr.
Scripture Readers:
2 - Dennis Murphy
9 - Rev. VandeStadt
16 - Doyal Pinkard
Time With Children:
2 - Michael Adams
9 - John Burlinson
16 - Lisa Kirch
23 - Dennis Murphy
Fellowship Hour Hosts
2 - Tommie & Doyal Pinkard
9 - Jean & Vic Appel
16 - Church Potluck
23 - Karl & Andrea Putz
C O M I N G :
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, our annual United Nations Day/Oktoberfest International Potluck. IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THIS YEAR THAN EVER!
AS ALWAYS, THE FUN & FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE WELCOMES ALL THE HELPING HANDS WE CAN FIND. ESPECIALLY BLESSED ARE THE CLEANER-UPPERS
STUDENT GROUPS FIND A HOME WITH US
Three U.T. religious organizations have rented space in our church, and, in addition, one of our own members is organizing an activity for student-age men and women in the central Austin area. This means our church will not be a deserted building during the week.
On Monday nights, a fraternity, known as Brothers Under Christ (and yes, Pat, there is a similar organization for women), will be meeting in our basement. They expect about 70 young men will be meeting 6:30 - 9:30 each week.
On Wednesday nights, 7:30-10:30, the Reformed University Fellowship will hold worship services in our sanctuary, and will also use the Fellowship Room. Then, on every other Friday night, Redeemer International Fellowship will hold conversational English classes for foreign students in our choir room. Both these groups are ministries of the Presbyterian Church in America.
These groups will pay a charge to cover utilities and, in addition, an hourly rate to our custodian, Jay Harris, who will be present to unlock and lock the building, take care of air conditioning and heating needs, and respond to any problems they may have.
Then, Craig Headley is organizing Sanctuary Fellowship, a program promoting Christian fellowship for college and graduate school aged persons in central Austin. He will use the Fellowship Room or the basement dining room (depending on the number of participants) on alternate Friday evenings. Craig will be making special efforts to find and encourage gay, lesbian and bisexual participants, not as a sole target audience, but with the realization that often there is a tendency to exclude, if only passively, these young people from Christian or mainstream society. Craig has scheduled his first meeting for September 28. Each meeting will start with a meal (come of our members have already offered to prepare meals), and will continue with a group activity--music, movie, bowling, etc.
Craig is also planning a Sunday morning class to meet at the same time as our regular Sunday School classes on the third floor of the Towery Wing.
Craig deserves our thanks for organizing this activity, and our support to assure its success.
-Tommie Pinkard, Chair, Board of Trustees
"OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS"
1 - Frances Alford
2 - Gary Pickens
3 - Marie Scheel
7 - Catherine Hubbs
10 - John Burlinson
13 - Corliss Gasparri
15 - Marguerite White
18 - Muriel Deisler
19 - Beth Oakes
George Carruthers
Conrad Deisler
Don W. Brown
25 - Michael Sparkman
26 - Mark McCoy
A BUSY SUMMER
This summer has been a time of considerable improvements to the church structure-- inside and out. Maybe you've noticed.
Most important, was the professional rewiring of old electrical circuits throughout the building. Many of these dated back to the building of the church in 1923. We can all feel much safer knowing that a possible fire-hazard has been removed. Not only were existing circuits replaced, but many, needed, new circuits were added. We can now be confident that the greatly expanded capacity of our electrical system will not be over-taxed. The bonus of all of this was that our electricians, the Kanetzky Electric Company, not only did a great job, they completed the entire task for far less than our original estimated cost.
To better coordinate the efforts of the Pastor and the Administrative Associate, the church office was moved adjacent to the pastor's office. This placed the church office in a very prominent and visible location in the westernmost part of the annex. The space had previously been a children's VCR viewing room. This move required a complete refurbishing of the space including repainting the walls and cabinets, carpeting the floors, and installing vertical blinds. It was a complete "make-over." The final product looked so nice, it made the Pastor's Study look poor by comparison. So, recently, his office walls have been painted (the same attractive, cream color as the church office.)
God must have been smiling down on us this summer, allowing us to complete the re-guttering of the entire church less than a week before the start of the heaviest and most extended rainfall in memory. The new gutters are larger, seamless, and with multiple, added downspouts. We can now manage the heavy flow of rainwater from our steep-sloped roof far better than before.
The only casualty from the recent rain was our basement. But the gutters were not to blame. They worked fine. The first, strong rain turned the alley into a river which overflowed the curb and ran like a waterfall down the steps of the front, basement entrance into the basement itself. Our beautiful, newly purchased area rugs were soaked with the muddy water.
Thanks to the splendid efforts of our new custodian, Jay Harris, we were able to mop up all the water, dry out the rugs with a battery of fans (hurriedly solicited from church members) and then spray the back of the rugs with a bleach solution to deter mold. Finally, a professional rug cleaner was imported to extract the remaining dirt from the rugs. All this effort was accomplished for slightly less than $250. Ironically, though the church has flood insurance, our $250 deductible, made filing a claim superfluous.
John Moore and Suzanne Bradford are not the only ones with mold problems in their home. Mold was recently discovered in our first floor kitchen pantry. As this issue of The Visitor goes to press, we are replacing the water stained dry wall of the pantry, in the hope that we will prevent further spreading of that mold into other parts of the building. We will also be moving the A/C unit from the kitchen ceiling to the pantry floor, and thereby permit far easier access.
Our newly painted and restored basement has inspired donations of new furnishings. A donated dishwasher was installed adjacent the basement kitchen sink. Another family has given two new refrigerators. The generosity of still another family who bought two new tables has inspired the donation of funds for at least six more. This assures that we will have ample seating for our Sunday meals and celebrations without having to move in heavy tables from other floors.
The front entrance to our sanctuary has been getting much needed attention. First, two of the large limestone blocks in the east archway of the front porch were badly cracked and threatened to collapse if not attended to. After much effort, a stone restoration firm from Georgetown was found. The firm carefully removed the limestone blocks, propped up the surrounding brickwork, and is now engaged in the tedious work of carving two replicas of the broken limestone. They hope to have the work done by October, and will then refit the limestone blocks to the archway.
Not only was it necessary to repair the stonework on the sanctuary porch, we also needed to replace water rotted wood beams on the underside of the porch, roof, and replace the composition roofing on the topside. Fortunately, Jay Harris, our custodian, has many talents. These include more than a decade of experience as a carpenter and equal time as a roofer. He has carried out that roofing task and has only to finish painting the underside beams.
All of these efforts represent the combined efforts of many persons. The dollars contributed by many more have paid for the additional help provided by outside, professional craftsmen.
We now have a more attractive church, and that has given us a new sense of pride. No telling where the new spirit will take us!
-Vic Appel, Co-Chair, Bldg. & Grounds Committee
There was a tradesman, a painter, who was interested in making a penny wherever he could. Often he would thin down his paint to make it go further. He got away with this for some time, but eventually he took the job of restoration on a church building, having put in a lower bid. One day he was on the scaffolding, with the job nearly completed, using his thinned-down paint, when the sky opened up and rain poured in, washing away the thinned paint. Falling off the scaffold and landing among cemetery gravestones, he knew this to be the judgment of the Almighty, so he got to his knees and cried: "Oh God, forgive me! What should I do?"
From the thunder, a mighty voice spoke..."Repaint! Repaint! And thin no more!"
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? TOO MUCH PARKING SPACE!
The Publicity Committee
For as long as we can remember, we've been plagued by insufficient church parking space. There just did not appear to be sufficient room for our congregation on Sunday mornings (especially for last minute worshippers). We were even more concerned that visitors would be turned off by not being able to find convenient parking.
Last June our hard-working and innovative Trustees chair, Tommie Pinkard, was able to negotiate the rental on Sunday mornings of 25 parking slots from a parking lot owner. Those slots are just one block away.
But, lo and behold, we now find outselves again concerned about the parking problem. But, this time because we have too much parking space! More than half of our rental slots are going begging each Sunday.
We have discovered that some of our membership, who were gone this summer are not aware of the new resource we have. So, for their benefit and that of others who may still not be sure exactly where our supplemental parking facility is, the Building and Grounds Committee wishes to remind everyone that the new parking facilities are located on the west side of Nueces (between 23rd and 24th Street). The street is one way heading south from 24th. A sign posted at curbside clearly identifies the area set aside for us.
In addition, you need to be aware that The Cadeau management has been leasing spaces in their lot to students and others in the area, leaving fewer and fewer spaces for us.
To identify yourself as a CCA member, you need to get a bright yellow, church parking placard. It is available to all who ask. Get one from the ushers on Sunday, or from Louise in the church office during the week. It is yours to keep. We suggest leaving it in the car. The placard needs to be displayed on your dashboard. As implied above, our agreement with the parking lot owner is good only on Sunday mornings and not at other times.
Finally, we wish to remind church members with a handicapped sticker, that three spaces remain set aside for you in our church parking lot (on the west side of the annex). Let us know if you have any trouble with parking.
PERSONALS
by Catherine Hubbs
This is being written on September 15-16. It's been an apocalyptic week. Tom helped us with The Service of Hope and Remembrance held at our church at noon on Friday. At the program bottom he wrote: "Filled with Christ's peace, we bring Christ's peace to our hurting world." It helped to anchor us. We will need that anchor in the days ahead.
Suzanne VanderPoel, who is our representative to Austin Area Interreligious Ministries, attended the prayer meeting south of the Capitol Building called for noon on Wednesday, September 12 in response to Tuesday's tragic events. We know that Tom and Craig also attended, and there may have been others. She said that a Moslem was the second to lead in prayers. She particularly noted the gesture of an Austin rabbi, who put his arm around the shoulder of the Moslem, and she mentioned the considerable number of Arab students in attendance.
There was another meeting on Tuesday itself. The Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary had set aside September 11 for a memorial service for Rev. Dr. Alan Lewis on the occasion of the celebration of his book, Between Cross and Resurrection: a Theology of Holy Saturday. It was followed by a luncheon at which friends of Alan and Kay Lewis were invited as guests. The book was reviewed, and a collection of Alan's class prayers was introduced. Those attending had a chance to see Kay, her son Mark, now a first year student at Baylor School of Medicine, and his fiancée, Stasha Hester, a second-year student at the same institution.
We have some good news from Pat Oakes, who is recuperating following outpatient arthroscopic surgery August 30 on her knee, which she had injured while bending over to pick up a piece of candy thrown during the Fourth of July neighborhood parade. (She says,"How embarrassing!") Daughter Mardie was in town and helped her mom. Pat took three days off plus the labor Day weekend, and since she went back to teach, she reports her colleagues and students have been most helpful, and Mel has taken on grocery shopping and laundry to help keep her off her feet. They have told her that recovery should be complete within a month or so. More power to you, Pat!
The Appels are busy getting ready for the birth of Debbie's baby, due September 26. Debbie's sister Cheryl was to have arrived the weekend of September 15, but her flight was cancelled, and she is not sure when she can make it. Debbie's husband, Bob, howevery, says he will not be stopped and if necessary he will drive down from New York. Meantime, on Labor Day weekend Gregg and Carolee Appel with their family joined Jean, Vic, and Debbie to celebrate Jean's and Vic's forty-fifth wedding anniversary! Congratulations, Jean and Vic! We love you!
Rizer Everett reports that they have not had any sudden hospital visits but that Hildegard finds the walk and two hours sitting at lunch in the central dining hall are just too painful for her arthritis despite medication, so Rizer is bringing home her midday meal. However, at home Hildegard is able to get around using the walker. We send our love and best wishes to you both!
John Burlinson's mother is doing well after her heart operation and is in the process of being changed from ICU to Rehabilitation. Congratulations!
Mary Halladay tells us that her shoulder surgery is scheduled at North Austin Medical Center Hospital for Monday, September 24. She has one last examination on Wednesday before the operation, and is counting the days because though it will not make the shoulder functional, it should get rid of the pain. We're rooting for you, Mary!
Marie Scheel and Mary Charles Williams both noticed in the Austin American-Statesman for Friday, September 7 a death notice for Jean Cassel, longtime member and friend, who for years worked as music librarian at the University of Texas and faithfully sang in the choir. She cared for years for her mother, Mary Cassel, and only after her death did she move back to Crete, Nebraska to be near her brother. Marie was fortunate enough to locate her and speak with her by telephone this past year. She was a good friend.
We congratulate Weldon Scheel on his ninetieth birthday on September 4 and thank Florence Castle for reminding us! When Catherine phoned to congratulate him, he was on the way out the door to play with the Silver Strings at retirement homes. Way to go, Weldon!
All sorts of sudden changes have taken place in the lives of our Congolese refugee family. Judith heard from a friend now settled in Manchester, New Hampshire that she had been able to get a $14 an hour job in an orphanage there. So she and Martin decided that she should take the four children (by herself) on the bus and get a job there while Martin stayed here, where he has been working for George Lemley, and join her later after disposing of the apartment and furniture. Mary Sinclair even made laminated tags for each child to wear, giving first initial and last name and whom t o call if found. She lectured them sternly that they must obey Gedeon, the oldest, and never get separated. "If one of you needs to go to the restroom, all of you need to go!" she reiterated. Judith phoned Mary from Pennsylvania to tell her that they had all slept and eaten, and each of the children had been able to have a window seat and were fascinated by what they saw. It was not quite so easy as Judith had hoped. Her friend Bernadette met them. They are temporarily staying with her and her four boys ages, four to twelve. (She is a widow.) Judith has applied for three different jobs but didn't have enough language skills to qualify. They are looking for an apartment, and Martin is getting ready to drive up in the car and join them.
Joe McMillan, Chair of Deacons, tells Catherine that Corliss Gasparri, who has completed her preparation for the ministry, desires ordination, and the Deacons voted to re commend her for In Care Status to the Brazos Association Church and Ministry Committee. We all enjoy her singing in the choir.
Rev. Wilmer Brown, Associate Conference Minister, South Central Conference, and his wife Hulen Brown became members earlier in the year. Wil attended General Synod in Kansas City, Missouri this last summer, and Catherine asked him on the spur of the moment to give us an idea of what Synod was like this year. He was nice enough to oblige. He recalled that Olivia White of Dallas from our South Central Conference was in a working group which dealt with a resolution supporting stem cell research, and the Synod passed this resolution. Another observation was that a great many youth were in attendance from different parts of the United States. Both UCC and Disciples held meetings simultaneously and arranged to meet together several times in such a way that each group shared in the other's process. The two denominations select their delegates in very different ways. Thirty-nine conferences made up the UCC Synod, each conference's representation dependent on the number of churches in that conference. There were seven official delegates, for example, from South Central Conference. In all, there were 3,000 official delegates from the United Church of Christ. In contrast, each church member can attend as an official delegate to the Disciples national meeting so that there were 10,000 representatives from that denomination. The opportunity to meet together several times was a constructive development.
We welcome Ricky Masters and his wife Lindsey, who joined us in early summer and was worshipping with us on September 16. Nancy Brown mentioned seeing Eric Isenberg in church the other Sunday and quickly hailed him before he left. She knew him as a little boy who came to church with his mother Tamya, who used to teach alongside Nancy at Oak Springs Elementary School. Ricky says that Eric is moving back to the Austin area.
Have you said hello to Nicole Harter, studying international literature at U.T.? Sara Ross proudly announces that Nicole is her first protégé, at least the first one who discovered our church by finding its web site. Congratulations, Nicole! We're glad you did.
Sara Ross herself has been notable by her absence this last week. Her work is sponsored by the Navy, which scheduled an exercise beginning Tuesday, September 11. She was off by 7:00 a.m. before any of the day's terrible events took place, which left Dave without any word all week, at home alone, trying to rein in his imagination while watching TV. He was delighted to get a telephone call from her Saturday night from Norfolk, Virginia. She could speak for only a minute because there was a long line of would-be telephone users. It may take her awhile to make her way home (by air?), but Dave is now better equipped to wait.
We understand that Kimmie Robinson, granddaughter of Stella Morrison, was married on May 5 in Dallas. Her husband Giovanni Washington Wright, plays in two bands and taught wind instruments at the junior high level this last year. He was in North Texas' number one band last year and Kimmie in the number three band. They were married at the bandleader's home in an outdoor ceremony under the oak trees. We wish them both much happiness.
We have been checking on our church school population now that school has begun. This is not a complete list but is a start. Bree Hawes Domingue is attending ACC. Ned Murphy is a senior at McNeil High School and Jake Burlinson a senior at Anderson High. Kathleen Hawes-Domingue is a junior at Westlake and Jamie Adams a junior at Huntington-Surrey. Jeffrey Lemley and Sarah Moore are both in the seventh grade, Sarah at O Henry and Jeffrey at Canyon Vista Middle School. At Brykerwood Elementary School Ava Deisler is in sixth grade, Olivia Deisler in fourth, Travis Moore in third, and Eric Deisler in first. More next month.
Fran and Rambie Briggs evidently got away for an extended labor Day weekend vacation on South Padre Island. They hadn't been there for more than twenty years and remembered the last time when they and the Towerys crossed the border into Mexico.
Jim Tomasek spent two weeks with daughter Dorcas at Bethany Beach, Delaware and Mary came up to join them for Labor Day. It is a nice area that has managed to stave off commercialization and has always been a favorite spot for the Tomasek family. At home in Austin Jim and Mary are sharing living quarters with Mark, Sally, and their two children until the middle or end of October, when Mark's and Sally's new home in Pflugerville should be finished.
We get word from Bee Harris Polome that she had a three-and-a-half week summer visit from her daughter Carole Marie Harris with her husband and children, who came from their home in Norway. Her daughter Marilyn Harris came three separate times in order to accommodate a schedule with the Neil Diamond band. They were on the "Today" show at the end of July plus A & E's "Live By Request" and then ABC's August 2 showing of the taped "The View" with Barbara Walters. She begins a four-month tour throughout the country with Neil Diamond in September. Carole Marie and Lana played a "Mozart Duo" for Violin and Viola at the Twentieth Anniversary Finale of the Austin Chamber Music Center's celebration July 21. All three girls were featured performers at the International Convention of Mu Phi Epsilon, Professional Music Fraternity, playing Dohnany's "Serenade" for violin, viola and cello. The Convention closed with the singing of the official version of the Fraternity song as arranged by bee herself.
Marilyn Gaddis and George Carruthers were at church on September 16, but they have been in Missouri, Houston, and points west. In April on Palm Sunday in Perry, Missouri they attended the annual get-together of Marilyn's relatives, where, directed by her cousin, they performed Mendelssohn's "Elijah." The cousin says this is the last time for "Perry's Passion." Later they visited George's sister, nephew, and family. In May they attended George's POW reunion. The pilot who had flown George came back with them to San Marcos to see sights of Central Texas. In June they discovered there was room for them in a "Lewis and Clark" Elderhostel trip which included lectures, walks to historical markers, a night at the Medora Pageant, a boat trip on the river, and guides that really made history come alive. They ended their journey in Astoria, Oregon, where they received word of the death of George's brother-in-law and came back to help with arrangements.
Every Sunday, we begin our worship service by lighting the candles in our sanctuary. This symbolic act helps us center our hearts and minds on God, Christ and the Holy Spirit through the rich symbolism of light and fire. The light shining on the candle's wick recalls God's very first act of creation, when God said, "Let there be light." The candle's light helps us recall the ministry of Jesus Christ--we follow the way of Christ as we would follow a light in the darkness, Christ lights the flame of compassion within our own hearts, and Christ enlightens our minds to the presence of God all around us. The flame also recalls the birth of the Christian church on Pentecost, when tongues like flames of fire descended from the heavenly realm among people who were then filled with the Holy Spirit.
We invite you and your family to participate in this rich symbolic act of worship. Please sign up to light the candles during our service of worship. Help us center our lives upon God, Christ and the Holy Spirit as we gather for worship together.
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