November Valley Vine 2021

the

Valley Vine

November 2021 Vol. 66, No. 9 Valley Presbyterian Church

IN THIS ISSUE: Fall is in the Air Jennifer Hamm Upcoming Classes Senator Jon Kyl Sandra Gonzales Mental Health Workshop ShaRon Rae Next Steps Faith Anderson Finish Strong—Start Stronger Kris Bahr News from Session Karen Meyer Desires in the Future John Voris

Senior Pastor

DAVID JOYNT Dear friends, Faith is the ability to receive the good things God wants to give you through Jesus Christ.

—Diogenes Allen How good are you at receiving God’s gift of joy? Jesus prayed that His joy would be made complete in His disciples (John 17:13). Joy is an accurate test of faith because through faith we should be able to see and then celebrate God’s work in ourselves, in others, and in the world.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, some responded to His teaching, miracles, and moments of healing with great joy. They celebrated God’s power and goodness and rejoiced with those who had been relieved of their burdens and diseases and those who had found new life and friendship. Others did not celebrate. Instead they found fault: Jesus was not authorized to teach, He was helping the wrong people, He was healing on the wrong day, or He was threatening traditional boundaries and practices. In some ways, reactions to Jesus come down to two options: celebration or opposition.

Today, the same dynamic holds. Joy is the greatest evidence that we are kingdom creatureswhotrustinGod$sgoodness,experienceHisgrace,andareQlledwi His love, and joy is also the greatest weapon against evil and darkness. Christian maturity consists in the capacity to see God at work in triumph and in failure, in elation and in sorrow, in gain and in loss.

Heavenisaplaceofjoyandthepopulationthereareall,withoutexceptio with praise and thanksgiving. Take time this November to see and celebrate the work of God at VPC. Remember all the past saints who have toiled and prayed, built, ventured, created, and led. Now they cheer every advance we make, every challenge we meet, every goal we achieve. Notice those around us right now who work faithfully behind the scenes. They teach and nurture, they befriend and support, they plan and administer, they serve and give. They model commitment and embrace our common life with enthusiasm and excitement. Marvel at the talented artists who sing and play. Enjoy the mission partners that embody love and compassion. Appreciate the incredible women who helped dozens of Christian organizationsfor50yearsthroughCooks'Tour,anddon$tmissitsQnaleonthe6t ReRectgratefullyontheleaderswhodiscernanddirectandwhomakesure gifts are spent wisely and well. Be glad that you have a part in everything good that God does each day in and through this congregation.

Be bold and daring enough to feel joy for what is yet to come and to celebrate what isstillemerging.OnOctober6our 2 SessionvotedtoreazliatewithE.C.O.andto enter negotiation with the Presbytery for title to our property. Please pray for our negotiatingteamandourSession.hopeandbelievethisbravedecisionwil new ventures and deeper church relationships, as VPC meets the urgent challenges for training leaders and creating communities of faith in a secular culture. I also trust that our church and the Grand Canyon Presbytery can witness to a unity that is deeper than structure and procedure and is rooted in friendship, worship, and mission.nmonths 6 praythatwewillberejoicingthatwehaveachievedanew way,inPresbyteriancircles,todemonstrateloveandconnectionamiddier

May God grant all of us the faith to see and receive the many good things He wants to give us in the remaining months of 2021 and in the future. May we continue to be a community of joy where: Jesus is central, everyone is vital, and nothing is impossible.

Blessings,

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Cover art by Alexander Tsang, Unsplash

Highlighte d

EVENTS

Celebration Weekend

50th Cooks' Tour

Saturday, November 6, 8AM-2PM Luncheon, 11AM-1PM, $20 Learn more & get luncheon tickets: vpc.church/cooks • RummageSale • Craft Boutique • Costume Jewelry • Kitchen Treasures • SilentAuction • Tea Table

Adventures in Learning Presents Two classes with Jon Kyl

The Christian Heritage Involved in the Founding of the United States Tuesday, November 2, 7-8:30PM, Sanctuary

There is Nothing Wrong with Our Constitutional System That a Little “Civic Virtue” Won’t Cure Tuesday, November 9, 7-8:30PM, Sanctuary

Celebration Sunday Worship Sunday, November 7, 9:30AM Sanctuary & Livestream vpc.church/live-worship

• Welcoming 1new 6 membersfrom012'• Honoring 50 years of Cooks' Tour • Recognizing VPC's Building Committee • Thanking VPC contractors & architects • Launching VPC's new Mobile App

Jon Kyl served as a Congressman from Arizona from1987-5andasa Senatorfrom195203and 2018.HewasSenateMinority Whip from 2007 to 2013. Kyl earnedbachelor$s(1964)and law(196)degreesfromthe University of Arizona where he served as President of the Arizona Law Review. After being admitted to the state barin196,hepracticedata PhoenixlawQrmforthenext20years,beforerunning foraseatintheU.S.HouseofRepresentatives.

Advent.ure Wednesday, December 1

5:30-7:30PM, Awaken Café Plaza Start the holiday season with friends, family, and fun!

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FALL IS IN THE AIR

Jennifer Hamm

Minister of Music 4 80 -916 4ext.

2 42 1 jenniferh@vpc.church

Music

MINISTRY Fall is in the air and the holidays are quickly approaching.

As I look back on the more than six years I have been Minister of Music at VPC, I realize how much the last 18 months of the pandemic have changed our lives. It has certainly changed our music ministry in many ways. I am very proud of VPC and the Chancel Choir that we were able tonotjustmaintain,butRourishinthemidstofCOVD. WhenthepandemicQrstbegan,itseemedtobesomething that would go away in a few weeks. As time continued and more and more folks were infected, we started to realize that we were all in for a long haul. In April of 2020, the music department worked hard to provide quality music by pre-recordingourworshipservices,fromhomeandfrom the Chapel. That summer we started livestreaming worship services in an empty sanctuary. This was the strangest feeling I’ve ever experienced, because without the people, it didn’t feel like a church! Livestreaming is a wonderful technology tool, but true fellowship and the feeling of community cannot happen from home.

WhenwestartedbringingfolksbackintheSanctuary in August 2020, I felt it was time to get the choir back in our new loft. We began rehearsals by dividing into three dierentchoirsandrehearsedseparatelytominimize infection rates. We used best practices and sang on alternatingSundaysingroupsofabout2people, 1 distanced and in masks throughout the fall. This sounds easy, but hours of planning went into each rehearsal. It was frustrating for the choir, but they hung in there. Through the generosity of Valley Presbyterian Foundation, we hired additionalValleySingerstomakethiswork.Wewereable to present our annual Christmas Concert with the choir divided into two groups. It was a wonderful event for all!

StandingintheSanctuarythatevening,thoughtbackt oursoldoutconcertin9at 1 02 ScottsdaleCenterforthe Arts. Who knew this is where we would be one year later?

In January, we continued to sing masked in two choirs.

As Easter rolled around, we decided we could sing with all choir members as long as we were all masked and distanced. It was so wonderful to be back together again.

SinginginmasksisdeQnitelynoteasy!Yetagain,when faced with problems, the choir came through!

As fall 2021 approached, we stopped requiring singing in masks, but still encouraged any choir members to wear theirs if they were more comfortable doing so. Now, we sing all together in the choir loft every week. I feel we truly triumphed over the pandemic by staying as safe as possible, but still worshipping our God, either from our homesorintheSanctuary.

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This fall has been so exciting with the launch of a brand We are excited about being together for our Christmas newConcertSeries,withQveconcertsthroughout Concert, the Keeping Christmas,onDecember6atPM. 7 school year, bringing talent in from all over the Valley.

Featuring full orchestra and narration, it will be an Everyone has missed live music and performances evening of glorious music that promises to bring the during the pandemic! Performers and artists have Christ Child into your hearts. struggled to make ends meet as stages shut down.

We are thrilled to be able to help those artists during My heart is so full of gratitude in this new season. The SundaymorningworshipandtheConcertSeries. choirissupportiveofeachotherandRexible.We've hadmanyrehearsalsintheSanctuaryandChoirRoom.

OurQrstconcert, Sounds of Autumn, was presented No one ever complains. We are all thrilled to be back byLanQiu,JoyPan,andQveoftheirstudents.What in our loft, ministering to our congregation through an incredible afternoon! I cherish these violinists, two music.ValleySingers,nowunderthedirectionofDanya friends who are incredibly talented and brought an Tiller, are outstanding musicians who have assumed incomparable afternoon of music. worship leading at the 8AM Chapel service in addition to singing at the 9AM service.

Our next concert, From Opera to Broadway, involves ourveryownValleySinger,ChadMillar,andmyuncle, Lastly, I could not be more thrilled to announce that James May, an accomplished pianist and Broadway we have hired a new organist! Mutsumi Mori will be at director. They will be joined by Jesse Berger (also thebenchstartingsecondweekofNovember.Sheis aValleySinger),hissister,KathleenBerger,Holly deQnitelyagiftfromGod,andcannotwaitforyouall Shepphard,andmyself!TheQrsthalfoftheconcert tomeether.Shehassuchaheartforworshipandfor will feature some wonderful opera selections. The the Lord. We are going to be a dynamite team. second will move on to Broadway show tunes. There isdeQnitelysomethingforeveryone.Getyourtickets God has richly blessed me at Valley Presbyterian soon for Friday, November 12, at 7PM! Church and I can hardly wait to see what is in store for all of us in 2022 and beyond.

Valley Presbyterian Church presents:

From Opera to Broadway Friday, November 12, 2021, 7PM, Sanctuary

Featuring James May & Chad Millar BroadwayMusicDirector/ConductorJamesMayandSan Francisco Opera Tenor Chad Millar come together for an evening of some of the greatest moments from musical theater & opera. James will be accompanying Chad as well a performing piano solos, including a rousing patriotic medley.

Tickets: vpc.church/music Online: $20/$15/$10; At the door: $25/$20/$15

TheywillbejoinedbySopranosKathleenBerger,Holly Sheppard,andJenniferHamm,aswellasBaritoneJesse Berger. These acclaimed artists will take the audience on a musical journey spanning four centuries, from works by Mozart, Rossini and Verdi to musical theater gems such as West Side Story, Man of La Mancha and many more. This will surely be an evening to remember for all those who love music and theater.

With special guests:

Jesse Berger

Kathleen Berger

Holly Sheppard

Jennifer Hamm

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UPCOMING CLASSES

Senator Jon Kyl The Christian Heritage Involved in the Founding of the United States Tuesday, November 2 7-8:30PM (Doors open at 6:30PM), Sanctuary

There is Nothing Wrong with Our Constitutional System That a Little “Civic Virtue” Won’t Cure Tuesday, November 9 7-8:30PM (Doors open at 6:30PM), Sanctuary

Adventures

IN LEARNING I will be teaching two classes, on November 2 and 9.

TheQrstwillfeatureapresentationontheinRue of religion on the founding of America. From the landingofPuritansinMassachusettsin06,as 21 historian James Hutson writes, “…there can be no doubt—none whatever—that religion was the salt that th Ravoredlifein 7 1 century British North America.”

That included ideas that found their way into the governing documents of the new republic, most famouslyThomasJeerson$shistoricproclamationin the Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident—that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Genesis 1:27 teaches us that our inherent humanity and dignity are derived from our creation in God’s image. We will learn why that aspect of our being requires us, as faithful stewards of God’s gifts, to protect and preserve those rights, both as a Christian callingandaseculardutyasgoodcitizensofoursel governingUnitedStates.

Thesecondclass,buildingontheQrst,will study our founding documents, in particular the Constitution, to examine the question whether we should make radical changes to the way the governmentoperates.Somearguethatthefederal government is dysfunctional— too slow to act and unrepresentative—and that the answer is to change the rules to speed things up, allow a mere majority to enact legislative policy and enable the President to make more decisions.

Almost all agree things have become too polarized and partisan. We will explore the possibility that the Constitution and other traditions could work as intended if both voters and their representatives exercised what the founders thought indispensable to self governance—civic virtue, the idea that we should all strive for what is good for the whole, not just our particular “faction.” The essence of civic virtue is fundamental morality; which the founders appreciated that it came from religion.

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For upcoming classes or to register visit: vpc.church/classes

There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion after my presentations. I hope to see you there.

Hello happy cooks! I am looking forward to our time together in the kitchen. In this class I will prepare a dinner party menu with hors d'oeuvres. Upon arrival you will receive an “amuse bouche,” which is a small taste of what is to come. As you settle in and make yourself at home, I will demonstrate how to create a yummy small bites dinner fromstarttoQnish.hopetheclasswillprovideyounewideasforyou next dinner party as you gather friends and family around your table.

Bon Appetit!

Chef Sandra Gonzales Whisk Chop whiskchop@gmail.com

The Art & Craft of Hors D’oeuvres as a Five-Course Dinner

Menu: • Amuse Bouché • FallSoup • SeasonalSalad • Prosciutto wrapped parmesan stueddate • Potato Basil Frittata

• Warm Marinated Olives • FiletSliderswithGorgonzola Sauce • Cowboy Caviar with Corn Chips • Mini Desserts

Thursday, November 11 11:30AM-1:30PM Landes Center Kitchen Cost: $20 for food, payable to Sandra

Congregational

CARE

ShaRon Rae

MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP

Successful Communication in Trying Times and During the Holidays Presented by ShaRon Rea Thursday, November 18, 8:30-10AM, Zoom Registration required: tiny.one/communicate Questions: bhi@stpatcc.org

ShaRonistheFounderNo of Judgment, Just Love and has 30+ years experienceintheQeldsofcommunication,life/familyandexecutive coaching, workshop facilitation, and education.

We often leave situations puzzled as to what happened. Calm and successful conversations have become harder. This fun interactive workshop will discuss elementsofeectivecommunicationandgiveeveryonetimetorelatethesepractice personal and professional lives.

7 Thisworkshopisforanyoneinterestedinlearningwaystocommunicateeectively!

NEXT STEPS

Faith Anderson

StudentMinistry Assistant Director 4 80 -916 4ext.

2 37 1 faitha@vpc.church

College

MINISTRY What should college ministry look like for our church?

We have wrestled with this important question for years. It's one that continues to be important as we seek God's will regarding next steps for our church family. The words that come to my mind when I think of college students are: transitional, pivotal, andinRuential.Collegeisahugetimeinlife,where students take that deep dive into learning and a career, discovering more of who they are, and what their purpose is in God’s plan for the world. It is a time of discovery and a lot of intimidation.

The transitional atmosphere of college can leave many feeling out of place, questioning where they belong, wanting a place to call home, and community. These are some of the things we want to address as a church and the body of Christ. Reaching out, reminding students they belong, showing acceptance and care is crucial for students who are seeking and searching who Jesus is in the midst of their college experiences, doubts, and journey.

I remember when I in was college, it became a serious season of soul searching. I left high school with a lot of ideas and goals, but as I began college I realized I didn’t know really who I was or what I wanted to do withmylife.Somuchchangedandmorphedduring that time. Relationships came and went as I sorted out what kind of friends and healthy community I wanted in my life. I began looking at guys as friends, but also, maybe, romantically? This brought on a whole new kind of scary into my world. I worked two jobsandwasacommuter;thisalsoaddedadierent dimension to my life. My faith became my own, discovering who Jesus is and what kind of relationship He wants to have with me.

Our hope at VPC is to create an environment where students can feel that acceptance and belonging. This iswheretheStudentMinistryteamandourchurch can partner to take that next step to start a College Studentministry.Together,wecanbuildacommunity where students can grow together, ask questions, andQndasafeplaceduringachallenginganddizcult season. Inviting students into relationship as they navigate through college is crucial as they take next steps in learning, friendships, careers, and even marriage.

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So-drumrollplease-wearepleasedtoannounce Ways to Pray: ourQrstCollegeMinistrygathering!

-Forspiritualprotectionoverourstudentsd a very overwhelming season of life.

On Friday, November 12, on the Landes Patio, wewillhostabonQreforourcollegestudents -For to wisdomforstudentsastheysortthrough engage, connect, and have fun together. We’ll have God’s next steps in their lives, and balance school s’mores, drinks, ice breakers, and group games to schedules and life. build on existing friendships and create new ones.

-Forstudentstounderstandandembracetrut We so look forward to pouring into college and grace in a world where these two things are students. We will tangibly do this through events no longer popular or sought out. that connect and engage with students’ needs.

Over the next month, please pray with us as we Ways to Help: prep, send out mailers, and seek out our students -Prayforourstudents. toconnecttogetherandQndcommunityforthe NovemberbonQreevent.Maythisbethestart-Host of anevent! theSpiritleadingustobiggerthingsaswelookto love and serve this group of students!!

-Participateandjoinmonthlymeetings.

-Helpoutwithcarepackagesforthestudents/ send a letter/adopt a student and check in.

-nterestedinhelpingoutwithcollegeministr Talk with Faith, faitha@vpc.church.

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FINISH STRONG— OPERATIONS START STRONGER Finances &

Stewardship

COMMITTEE What a year 2021 has been!

When the 2021 budget was approved at the end of last year, we really had no idea how the year ahead would look.

We were worshipping in person again, albeit in limited numbers, Kris Bahr Finance & Operations Director buton- campusclasses were minimal, and we 4 80 -916 4ext.

2 21 were Zooming most krisb@vpc.church committee meetings.

Unfortunately, to balance the 2021 budget, over $200,000 across the various ministries, that is usually funded by Faith Giving, had to be funded by dedicated fundsforthoseministries.AsofSeptember30,weare forecasting that only about half of that, up to $100,000 in dedicated funds will need to be used to break even for the year.

OnNovember4,you 1 willhaveachancetomakeyour commitment to the mission and ministry at VPC for the year20.Youwillbereceivinganinvitationinthemail soon.

As you prayerfully consider what God is calling you todofor20 ,wealsoinviteyoutohelpusQnish 1strong, 20 withsomeextrayear- endgivingtohelp TheincomebudgetreRecteda%decrease 6 inFaith preserve the dedicated accounts for maintenance, mission, etc. The work we are doing is so important, Giving, due to deaths and other loss of members and the outreach in each of our areas is so vital to due to COVID restrictions. In 2020, VPC did not need reach those who don’t yet know about the love of the customary support from Valley Presbyterian Christ.YourgiftstoVPChelpchangelives,andfortha Foundation, so we were able to include two years’ we are eternally grateful! worth of support in the 2021 income budget.

On the expense side, committees budgeted for an entire year at the same level as prior years, and as 2021 progressed, we were blessed to see so many of our plans become a reality — • Children$sMinistryorchestratedasuccessfulVBS in June • StudentMinistryshepherdedMiddleSchooland HighSchoolstudentstoForestHomeCampand mission trips in June and July • MissioncoordinatedtheFeedMyStarving VPC finances year-to-date as of September 30, 2021: Children food packing event in October • WorshipinitiateditsConcertSeries in Income September

Actual $ Budget $ Variance $ Faith Giving0 7 , 1 4 , 1 1,390,000 Other Income 299,700 0 0 , 6 9 2 Total Income 1,711,400 1,686,000

Expense

Pastoral Ministry Admin & Facility Mission, Outreach, Cong. Care Christian Education Worship & Music Total Expense

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Net Income less Expense

0 1,943 0 6,857 0 5,542

0 9,637 69,0

350,300 0 7,86 257,300

221,200 0 3 , 6 2 1,643,400 1,639,500 68,000

46,500

21,700 3,700 25,400

0 7,12-

1,200 0 311,800 5,100 -3,900 21,500

News from

SESSION

OCTOBER MEETING REPORT

AttheOctoberSessionmeeting,TheAdministrativeCommittee(AC)oftheGrandCanyon Presbyteryreportedalowpercentage(15%)oftheVPCcommunityanswereditssurvey regardingVPCleavingthePC(USA)andmovingtoEvangelicalCovenantOrderofPresbyterian (ECO). Therefore, the AC was unable to draw any conclusions about the broad sentiment of the congregation.SessionthankedtheACforitsworkandnoteditwouldconsiderformallya for dismissal from the Presbytery.

Karen Gill Meyer ClerkofSession 4 8 0 -3 6 8 - 6 5 7

Afteragooddiscussion,SessionvotedtostartthedisazliationfromthePCUSAandazli ECO. This change in denominational status will require an agreed settlement with Grand Canyon PresbyteryoverthePC(USA)$strustclaimtoourpropertyandaPresbyteryvotetoratifyth termsofthesettlement.SessionappointedaNegotiatingCommitteetoachieveafair settlementwiththeAC,whichbothourSessionandthePresbyterymustapprove.Thememb willincludeJonKyl,BryanGottfredson,MaryArtigue,JimUnruh,JimSchaller,andAlanMills.

Fifteen persons have been received into our membership in the last couple months.

TinaGilbreathdeliveredaChildrenandFamilyMinistryreportandPastorTravisKingmaupdatedtheSessionont Ministry.SessionthankedTinaandTravisfortheirgreatworkbuildingtheirministriesinthisdizculttime.

If you have any question or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Valley Presby terian

FOUNDATION

—Blessings, Karen Gill Meyer

DESIRES IN THE FUTURE

…The purpose of this Foundation is to do the long-term thinking and executing of plans for capital gifts that the congregation will need for the upkeep of its buildings and for the purposes of its life and mission in the decades and centuries ahead…

• Educate congregation to the capital needs of our Church • Secure gifts and bequests for these needs • Invest such funds with sound business judgment • Distribute such income in accordance with the wishes of the donor when the use is designated, and when undesignated to distribute the income in a manner most advantageous to the aims of our Church.

—Dr. L. Wilson Kilgore, March 22, 1976

John Voris

Valley Presbyterian Foundation is continuing to follow Dr. Kilgore’s vision. Distributions to Studentprogramsmission, ( summercamps,scholarships),Music( ValleySingers,Christmas VPF Trustee andEasterconcerts,VPCConcertSeries)andbuildingneedsOrgan ( Restoration, A New Heart for the Valley), First Fruits Fund and Memorial Garden are very visible examples of VPF work for the VPC community. The Barbara Pattersongiftofover1million, $ whichbeneQttedMusic,scholarships,FirstFruits,MemorialGarden,andtheGener examples of how her legacy continues to service our beloved community.

Legacygiftsoverthepast45years,totaling$ 4million,continuetofundthemissionofVPCtoday.nthepastfewyearsVPC focus has been on rebuilding our house, what an amazing place of worship we have! Thanks to our amazing members who made that happen!

As you can imagine, the focus on rebuilding our house means legacy bequests have been low over the past four years, ranging from$20, 0to$60, 0annually.

VPF is looking at several organizations who specialize in marketing tools and reporting services to help support our objective of putting the emphasis back on Legacy giving. VPC has provided a loving, giving, strong community to VPC and the community at large. Additional Legacy members will ensure the future of VPC, and your children and grandchildren will have a spiritual home in the future.

Wewouldlikeyoutoconsideralegacycommitment.ThereisnoimpactonyourcurrentQnancialsituation,butagiftofany yourwillortrusttoVPFwillensurethatfuturegenerationswillbeprovidedfor.SamKelsallhasworkedwithoverm 01 toensuretheirestateplanningwillbeneQttheirlovedonesandtheircharities.TherearemanyQnancialadvis sureyouhaveyourown.However,shouldyourequireSam$shelp,VPFwillhelpyouineithercreatingorupdatingyourtrust.

Making your plans now is critical to ensuring life events do not impact your desires in the future.

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FALL SERMON SERIES

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PASTORS David Joynt, David Turner, Chris Woodard, Travis Kingma

IN-PERSON & LIVESTREAM vpc.church/worship 8AM CHAPEL 9 & 10:30AM SANCTUARY

SUNDAY WORSHIP VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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