"I ~vAS IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD 'S D Y ND HEARD ~ GREAT VOICE S OF A TRU lPET , S YING , 'HAT THOU SEEST 'fRITE IN A BOOK A D SEND IT TO THE EVEN CHURCHES IN ASI 11 REVELATION 1:10-11

. "THE CHURCH OF MY DREAMS"

IN THESE EARLY CHAPTERS THE RITER OF THIS STRANGE APOCALYPSE DELIVERS THE '!ESSnGE OF "LORD OF THE CHURCHES" TO SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA. WE ARE OT TO THINK OF THEM AS SEVEN BUILDINGS BUT RATHER AS SEVEN CHRISTIAN CO ID<ITIES ORSHIPING IN PRIVATE HOMES , PUBLIC ACADEMIES AND FORU1S . YOU RECALL THE N MES OF THESE CHURCHES: EPHESUS ,

r.cRNA , PERGAMUM , THY TIRA , SARDIS, PHILADELPHIA , LAODICEA . .

HE PICTURES THE SON OF W~N , THE VICTORIOUS CHRIST, AS THE DIVINE LA PLIGHTER GOING ON HIS ROUNDS . 11 I SAVI SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS AND IN THE rHDST ONE LIKE UNTO SON OF MAN ..• HE HOLDETH THE SEVEN STARS IN HIS RIGHT HAND 11

• HIS VOICE IS RESONANT HAVING IN IT THE H UNTI G REVERBERATION OF THE SEA .

THE hRITER DISCUSSES Th"'E IELE RE vORK OF EACH OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES . DISCUSSION BASED ON ACCURATE KNm 'LEDGE ND INFORMATION. PERHA.FS DELEGATES HAD BEEN SE T TO REPORT TO I PRISONED APOSTLE ON ISLAND OF PATMOS. BE THAT AS IT MAY , iE. SENSE THE Vv'RITER HAS INTI. ATE KNO,,LEDGE AT HIS

CO AND. HTH SUPERB COURAGE HE ANALYSES THE SIT­UATION IN EACH CHURCH ; AND THEN viTH UTTER REAL­ISM HE LAYS BEAR THE TRUTH .

TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES AS E READ THESE MESSAGES Y,E DISCOVER THEY BELONG NOT TO FIRST CENTURY BUT

TO EVERY CENTURY , INCLUDING OUR OWN. THESE RE REPRESENTATIVE CHURCHES - METROPOLITAN , DO NTOWN, COUNTRY, MISSIONARY , PERSECUTED , ORTHODOX , LIB­ERAL . GRO ING AND DECLINING CHURCHES; PROSPEROUS AND POOR CHURCHES; 10RLDLY AND SPIRITUAL CHURCHES. BUT LET US LOOK A·LITTLE MORE CLOSELY AT THEM .

CHURCH AT EPHESUS. CHARGED ~ITH DESERTING ITS FIRST LOVE . OLD ENTHUSIASM HAD iA1~D . C LL OF THE SPIRIT IS TO A NEV'• DEVOTION AND LOYALTY.

CHURCH fiT SMYR TORN BY DISSENTION INTO

-2-FACTIONS. DIFFERENCE IN POINTS OF DOCTRINES HAD RESULTED I DOGMATIS,f AND INTOLERANCE. LSO THERE

S THE TEMPTATION OF ME BERS •HO WERE POOR TO COMPROl\IISE AND DE ART FRO~ CHRISTIAN STANDARD­BE FAITHFUL UNTO DE TH AND I ~ILL GIVE CROWN LIFE.

CHURCH T PERGA.ViUA~•. EJ:.i?EROR 1wORSHIP STRONG HERE. CHRISTI~Ns BEING COERCED TO DECLARE PRIMARY ALLEGIANCE TO STATE RATHER THAN TO GOD. PERSECUT­ED ND SORELY TRIED. INJUNCTIOr TO STAND FAST! TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH I ;ILL GIVE iHITE STONE; AND ON THE STONE A NEW NAME 'RITTEN WHICH NO N KNO 'IETH SAVE HE THAT RECEIVES IT.

CHURCH AT THYATIRA. ALSO FACING PERSECUTION. FAITHFUL FE' i ENJOINED TO KEEP FAITHFUL.

CHURCH AT SARDIS. THOUGH RICH AND MATER_.._n...c_ . .L.J..L

BLESSED BY GOD, HAD LITTLE TO SHOW. YET THERE A FE\ HONORED . AMES ON CHURCH ROLL - FE IHO H VE NOT DEFILED THEIR GARMENTS; THEY SHALL •ALK

ITH ME IN HITE; FOR THEY ARE WORTHY. CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA. RECEIVES COMk~NDATI

FOR F ITHFULNESS. ULTIMATELY THEY WOULD BECOME PILLARS IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD.

CHURCH AT LAODICEA. HALF-HEARTED, LUKE.•iARM. UNA'ARE OF ITS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES. RICH CHURCH; 11 RICH IN THINGS AND POOR IN SOUL". SPIRITUALLY DEAD. BECAUSE THOU ART NEITHER HOT NOR COLD, I \',ILL SPUE THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH . THOU ART 'i RETCHED,

ISERABLE, POOR, BLIND AND NAKED. UCH IS JOHN'S DIAGNOSI~ OF THE SEVEN. THEN

HE PICTURES THE CHURCH OF HI DREAMS, THE IDEAL CHURCH, THE NE v JERUSALE , COMING DO ,N FRO .. l GOD OUT OF HEAVEN, PREPARED S BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD'S DAY HE BEHELD THE CHURCH OF HIS DREA S - FIT TO DO GOD'S wORK IN THE vORLD AND ORTHY PLACE FOR PRESENCE.

I TOO HAVE DREAMED I TOO HAVE DREAMED. I TOO VAS IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD'S D Y. I TOO SA THE IDEAL, THE

CHURCH OF MY DREAMS. LET ME SHARE LY DREAM VviTH YOU. THIS DREAM-CHURCH OF ·"INE STANDS AT CENTER OF THINGS - IN MIDST OF TEEMING LIFE AND CRYING NEED. FROU THE OUTSIDE:: IT APPEARS- VIELL CARED FOR, CLEAN AND VENERABLE. EVERGREENS, SY BOL OF BELIEF IN !U[ORTALITY, SURROUND IT. PASSERSBY FIND THEIR THOUGHTS SOARING UP'iARD AS THEY PASS BY. IN SOME STRANGE, ~ITSTIC F SHION, THOUGHTS OF GOD

-3-FUL BE UTY STE L THROUGH THEIR ~. INDS A THEY PASS BY. TIE 0 RING LINES TOUCH THE ETERNAL GOTHIC t!ITHIN THEIR SOULS.

ND Or~ THE LORD'S D Y I BEHELD Tlli T CHURCH. I SAvr ~ANY PEOPLE .iEl'miNG THEIR WAY TO ORNING •lOR-SHIP - "BRIG"IT YOt.JIH ~D .3JO,/-CROWNED AGE; STRONG ~N ND lffiiDENS FAIR 11

• NOR 'ERE THEY LATE FOR 1HEIR APPOir TMSNT vviTH GOD. NOR DID THEY HURRY -THEY 'v10ULD NOT BUSTLE INTO PRESENCE OF . .mST HIGH GOD. liND S THEY ENTERED THEY VJERE MET AND V ELCOM-ED BY THE OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH - ELCO D, NOT FUSSILY NOR FLIPP~NTLY, BUT CORDIALLY ~S THOSE HO SHARE THE JOY OF THE LORD. THEN 1AS I LED TO GO INSIDE THIS HOUSE OF GOD.

1HE SANCTUARY 1AS RESTFUL AND DIG IFIED. IT 'AS EASY TO SEE THAT EVERY CARE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO ~~KE EVEN THE ATMOSPHERE MINISTER TO THE SERVICE OF GOD. THE CHURCH WAS CLEAN A D \fELL KEPT • HERE P~OPLE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS INDEED THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. IT AS EASY TO SENSE THE BE UTY OF HOL-INESS AND THE HOLINESS OF BEAUTY. FRO· ORGAN C •E STRAINS OF MUSIC TO SET THE IND ON HOLY DITA-TION. THERE WAS NO CHATTERING OR NEEDLESS ~OISE. AND AS I LOOKED OUT UPON THE PEOPLE IT WAS EASY TO SEE THEY LOVED THEIR CHURCH; AS THEY MEDITATED I IMAGD!ED MANY OF THEM V'iERE REMEMBERING F'ORMER DAYS. ME ORY AS ENTVINED AROUND THEIR OLD CHURCH.

THEN I SA'V THE CHOIR ENTER. UPON THEM RESTED THE TERRIFIC RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADING OTHERS IN ~~ORSHIP. FOR THIS TASK THEY HAD PREPARED THEMSEL-VES PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. IT WAS A POINT OF HONOR •ITH THEM TO BE IN THEIR PLACES SUNDAY AFTER SUNDAY - SO MUCH DEPENDED ON THEM.

IT v S A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE. HELPFUL, SIMPLE, REVERENT. THE SERMON iAS RECEIVED 1 ITH YMP THET-IC INTEREST. THE PEOPLE SEEMElJ TO KNO i TH~T THE MINISTER AS HIS Ov N SEVEREST CRITIC. D AT L ST, iHEN THJ:I: SERVICE W S OVER I 1 OTICED THE REGULAR

ATTEN rTS H D AN EYE AND A v~ORD FOR PEOPLE HO OBVIOUSLY rfERE VISITORS. I THIS CHURCH OF MY DREAMS VAS THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTI N FELLO~SHIP.

ND AS I W S IN THE SriRIT ON THE LORD'S DAY I BEHELD THE CHURCH SCHOOL OF MY DR~A~ CHURCH. IT 'v S STRONG IN NU BERS - PEOPLE SA\ TO IT TH T THE CHILDREN viERE BROUGHT EARLY I.~: TO TOUCH YITH THIS CHURCH. I ALSO NOTICED THAT TEACHERS iERE THERE

I GNL!!.R5TOOD. "BUT V1H T OF Till T GREAT CONGREGATION? 1HERE

I CO [E FROM ONLY T.11ENTY-FIVE PER CENT OF HE BER­SHIP IS USUALLY PRES~NT. EXCEPTION IS EASTER. HOv DOES THE 1INISTER GATHER ~UCH CONGREG TIONS? FOR HE SEEMED QUITE ORDINARY". ND Hi NSv;ERED; "IN THIS CHURCH THE INISTER REALLY DOESN'T GATHER THE CONGREGATION. IT IS SUFFICIENT IN CHURCH OF' DREAM FOR THE PRE CHER TO FILL THE PULPIT; IT IS RESPON-

• SIBILITY OF OTHERS TO FILL THE PE vS. EVERY MEMBER IS A MISSIONARY 1HO GIVES TIME TO BRI~GING OTHERS TO CHURCH. EVRY ME iBER S EAKS V;ITH LOVE. AND RES­PECT OF HIS CHURCH AND COM1.ENDS IT TO OTHERS. IT WAS THUS WITH THE EARLY CHURCH AND IS THE ONLY ~AY TO KE CHURCH GRO I. ONE LOVING HEART SETS ANOTH ER ON FIRE. 11

THEN IT SEE ~D TO iE TH T IN THE SPIRIT I DID HEAR THE SONG OF THE REDEEMED IN THE CHURCH OF f.iY DREAMS. AND AT LAST I UNDERSTOOD THAT ALL THIS, AND ~ORE IGHT COME TO PASS I NY CHURCH, EVEN I THE CHURCH I CaLL 11 Y CHURCH", IF ViE COULD BUT CATCH THE VISION OF THE CHRIST 11 ·•mo HOLDETH THE SEVEN STARS IN HIS RIGHT HAND AND WHO ;ALKETH IN THE MIDST OF THE SEVE GOLDEN C f DLESTICKS".

THIS CHURCH OF MY DRE S 11 IS NO Dt.;bD PILE OF STONES N U MEANI TG TIMB R. IT IS A LIVING THING

LIKE HALTING CARAVAN ~·TOVSS 'IHE CHURCH OF HRI .;)T; ·,E :U: Fi:33LY F T3R ~~G TO. ~ R0 O:JR TL. .. ID TRYST. I ::!. RE ALL DIVIDED'

NY BODIES E, KEPT AP~RT BY DOCTRINE AND LACK 0 CHARITY. C REFUL, CHRISTI.N PILGRIMS!

1 LK I~ DOUBT .N.0 FE:AR, liTH THE CROSS OF JESUS

BRINGING UP THE REAR.

IN THS !{ ~ OF GOD, 1 ~1'-!. ·;,rg OF THE FRE ·'ONT STR~ET -~THODIST CHURCH , BR NCH OF THS CHURCH UNIVERS L, DO JOYOUSLY COVE1~ANT TOGETHER TO STRI ~ SINCERELY TO BE TRUE 'IO OUrt BEST SELVES IN EVERY EX RESSION t1N RE~TION OF LIFE. 'IE . ILL E.DEAVOR TC B8 PUPE- INDED Nu UNSELFI H IN PERSONAL l TTERS, TO AKE OUR FA ILY LIF3 H. P Y Il~ LOVE, TO BE JUST, HONEST 1.~rD JIERCIFUL I1~ .. OFESo.JIC .. \·~L , BU INESS D SOCI L FF IRS, TO BE LOVING, FR TERNAL h u FO GIVI~G N GHUrtCH LIFE Nu E~UALLY READY TO HARE A BROTHER'S JOY OR CARE.

UNTO THE CHUR H UNIVER L, •IHICH Ib THE DEPOSIT­ORY OF ALL NCIENT viSDO AND THE SCHOOL OF L PROGRESSIVE THOUGHT; .HIGH RECOG IZES IN LL PROPHETS A HARMONY, IN ALL SCRIPTtRES UNITY, AND THROUGH ALL DISPENSATIONS A CONTINUITY; HICH ABJURES ALL THE SEPARAT"'~ ~D DIVIDES, ND .tU,·, AYS ~, GNIFIES BROTHER.-c:OOD ;N.o !<' .Cti;; •,,HICH SEEK TRUTH IN FRE~DO , JUSTICE I1 LOVE, ND IN­DIVIDUAL DISCIPLINE IN SOCIAL DUTY; ND IilliCH SH LL .. l KE OF ALL SECTS, C SSE.:~, ~ TIONS r·: RACES, ONE FELLOvSHI OF ~ - U1TO THIS CHURCH, AND UNTO ALL IT ~:EMBERS, K .. 0\ .~ NIJ UN'.cC 011N, THROUGHOUT THE .1iORLD , ~~E PLEDG"" ALLEGIANCE OF OUR H~ARTu rlJ.DS.

-4-BEFOR& THE PUPILS 60 AS TO v~LCO E THE PUPILS AS THEY ARRIVED. THE SCHOOL VAS FULLY ST.FFED. EVERY CLASS A TEACHER. ND A SPIRIT OF JOYbUL EFFICIEN-CY BROODED OVER ALL. ' !D I RECOGNIZED • SPIRIT OF FRIENDLINESS BETV~EEJ TEACH.ii:R ND PUPIL - FRIEND­LINESS BORN OF 'v~EKD Y CONTACTS AS ~ELL AS SUNDAY •

• - ND I BEHELD .... "Y DRE CHURCH THROUGH THE YEEK MUCH ACTIVITY. FINE FELLO•SHIP. YOUNGER PEOPLE ESPECIALLY FO I.G STRONG SENTI.~ TS AROUND THIS CHURCH. IT INISTER.ii:D TO TOTAL NATURE - BODY, :IND AND SPIRIT. THE r OF THIS CHURCH liAS TO PERVADE ALL OF LIFE ITH S~IRIT AD liND OF CHRIST. THIS CHURCH LID NOT POSE AS A SOCIAL ND EXCLUSIVE CLUB ITS .INIST.:!:R '1 AS NO APOSTLE TO THE GE TEEL; ITS FUNCTION •AS TO INISTER TO ALL ORTS AND CONDIT-IONS OF "N IR~SPECTIVE OF RACE, CLASS OR AGE. AND DURING THE ~w.E...:K I , S PERMITTED TO SEE CHURCH OE MY DREAMS, I HEARD NO QUARRELING OR BICKERING; THE T OSPHERE ', S S~EET V1ITH REASONABLENESS. AND I MARVELLED GREATLY - FOR THIS DRE CHURCH r AS SO DIFFERENT TO CHURCHES I HAD KNO N.

AND THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF

ND IN THE SPIRIT HEARD A VOICE - ''BE NOT A •• ZED! THERE IS NOTHING I.~:r THIS DRE THAT CAN~OT BECO~

REALITY IN EVERY CHURCH. 11 AND I SAID, "BUT THAT ENTHUSIASM - ',iHERE DOES THAT FI ro ITS BIRTH?" HE REPLIED, "SUCH ENTHUSIAS If ONLY CO:n!ES 'iHEN .PEO­PLE LOVE THEIR LORD - PASSIONhTELY I OVE THEIR LORD AND THB;RE IS NO HOPE FOR ANY CHURCH i.HERE SUCH A P SSION IS MISSING." FOR A ?iAN !ILL DO NYTHING A1 D GIVE ANYTHING IF HE REALLY LOVES. THEN THOUGHT I OF THE STORY OF THE BUILDING OF C THEDRAL OF SEVILLE. ON 8TH DAY OF JULY 1401, DEAN AND CHAPTER SOLE NLY RESOLVED "LET US BUILD A CHURCH SO GREAT THAT THOSE WHO COMS FTER US MAY THINK US D TO HAVE ATTE TED SUCH A DEED".

"Ho,, EXPL GN JOYFUL EF ICIENCY OF CHU CH CHOOL? 11 .n.GAIN I HEARD VOICE OF SPIRIT. "BECAU E

·~ ·E BELIEVE NO GREATER ORK C.n.N BE DONE THAN TH T DONE IN CHURCH SCHOOL. THAT LONG -~ITING LIST OF TEACHERS IS A E U OF ~lEN ND vrO ~N 'IIHO H VE .rTOT FORGOTTEN THEIR OYN DAYS IN CHURCH SCHOOL, ND WHO REALIZE THEY m E A DEBT OF HONOR. FOR THEY 'i1 OULD NOT BE wHERE THEY ARE 1ERE I'I NOT FOR THE CHURCH SCHOOL AND THEIR T'E CHERS OF LONG AGO" • ND TID::N

THINGS ABOV.E <l3od'.s illlord for 'l:odBH

"Set your affection 011 th i11gs above, not on th ings on th e ea1·th ." Colossians 3: 2

Things above and things on earth. T hings of God and things of man. Things that endure and th ings that pass. These are contrasts suggested by God's \'\ford today.

\Vith earthly matters we work and struggle, but heavenly things fill our hearts. Our needs and wants for da ily living are provided for by the labors of our hands, bu t the one thing needful must be sought above. Daily we usc the th ings on earth ; always our love should be centered on the things of heaven.

On a Monday afternoon a pas tor ca lled on a young family . On the floor p layed a l ittle boy ; sister was in the high chair; mother was busy with many things; through the window waved the morn­ing's washing sti ll on the line; on the dining room table Jay an open hymnbook.

Picking up the book, the you ng mother said , "As you can see, I am kept pretty busy. But while I go about my work I sing the hymns I learned in chi ldhood. It helps me forge t that the work is hard. I am reminded how good God is, and how grea tly He has blessed us. It always lifts my soul above the ca res and burdens of the day." Handling the book gen tly, she added, " I keep the book open at the hymn I sing. It is so easy to forget some of the words, and you know they all get to be prctt y precious."

0-'PH.L ..... a U.S lt. Me. <ttl

I"m a pilgrim, and I'm a stranger, I ca n tarry, I can tarry bu t a night, Do not detain me, for I am goi ng To where the foun tains are ever fl owing I"m a p ilgrim, and I 'm a stra nger , I can tarry, I can tarry but a n ight.

There the glory is ever shining; 0 my longing heart , my longi ng heart is there Here in th is coun try so dark and dreary I long have wan dered, forlorn and weary I'm a pilgrim, and I 'm a stranger, I can tarry, I can tarry but a night.

Of the city to which I'm go ing My R edeemer, my R edeemer is the light ; There is no sorrow nor a ny sighing, Nor anv sin ning-. nor any dying Of the city to which I'm going My R edeemer , my R edeemer is the light.

fi.eavenwatJ

r I :::I I~ 111 r I If I'/ .I I • I I l

FREMONT STRl~ET METHODIST CHURCH GLOVERSVILLE, !JEW YORK Fred Clarke - Minister

Dorothy E, Me llick Grace L. Gifford Minister of Music Church Secretary ___________ Le_w_i_s . ..£.':-r:ning - Sext._o_n __ _

ORGAN PRELUDE Larghetto CALL TO WORSHIP HYMN 17 From all that dwell below the skies INVOCATION AND LORD'S PRAYER

* RESPONSIVE REhDING GLORIA PATRI APOSTLES' CREED

*

38th Sunday - page 605

SCRIPTURE LESSON Revelation 1:4-20 PRh.YER FOR THOSE IN THE ARMED SERVICES

Raff

0 Lord of Hosts, grant to those who have gone forth to fight our battle by land, sea, or air, Thy protection in danger, patience in suffering and moderation in victory.

Look with compassion on the sick, the wounded, and the captives. Sanctify to them their trials, and turn their hearts unto Thee . Wo beseech Theo to comfort and bless the dying ; have mercy upon the widow and fatherless, and give the assurance of Thy presence to all who mourn.

And, 0 God, who makest wars to cease in all the earth, restore to us the blessines of peace; and grant that our present trouble may be overruled to Thy honor and glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

* l1.NTHEM Forward! be our Watchword

PLSTORAL PRJSER ORGAN OFFERTORY Hoar My Prayer PRESENTi .. TION OJ? OFFERING HYMN 240 ·wha. t a. Friend we have in Jesus

SERMON" 11 THE CHURCH OF MY DRW1S"

HYMN 380 Jesus with Thy Church abide BENEDICTION l .. ND DOXOLOGY ORGJ.,N POSTLUDE C ortugc Re 1 igiouse * Interval Cor Ushering

Shelley

Dvorak

Doigo

.. SEPTEMBER 17, 1944 - Ci~LENDLP. FOR TCD: I ------------ -·-- ----·- ·~--- .

10:30 Morning Worship. Sermon "The Church of My Dreams".

11:45 Church School with classes for all ages.

6:00 Youth Fellowship. Covered Dish Supper. Election.

7:30 Union Service at Bleecker Street Church of Christ; Dr. David Davy will be the preacher.

TUESDiS

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THROUGH THE WEEK AT FREMONT - - ~ .. , .. __ ... ______ --··· ----·-6:30 Covered Dish Supper for the members of tiievf .s.c .s. and their families. Speaker will be Rev. Fred Brown of Fonda Methodist Church. Theme; "The China Church in the New East 11 • "A Ballad for Americans" will be presented by .Mrs. Arthur ri . Lathers. Women of the church invited .

WEDNESDJ~Y 7:30 The ~~id-week Service , Everyone invited ,

THURSDAY 7:30 Choir r ehearsal.

8:00 The laure l Band will meet with Mrs. Mor­itz-Gunders en, 71 Park Street. Assisting host­assess Ntrs, James Kueba ugh , Mrs. Florenc e. Moore and Mrs. H. ·p. Quackenbush. Letter "E".

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Altar flowers today are given in memory of Mrs, David Reid by the Winning Six Class.

The luncheon for women to be hold on We dnesday. Septem­ber 27th, under the QUspices of the Woman's Church Coun­cil, and in conn0ction with the State Council Area Con­vention, wi 11 be h0 ld at the YWCA. Tickets may now bo obtained of Mrs . Howard Graham. Tickets are fifty cents.

COMING EVENTS September 26th and 27th The i~rea Conven­tlon of the New York State Council of Churche s will be he ld in Gloversville. Rally Day Qnd Worl~1ide Communion Sundny will be observed on October 1st.

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