The Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity - 2024,

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The Hymn #200   A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies and from them that persecute me.

Let me not be ashamed, O Lord: 

for I have called upon Thee.

Psalm. In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: 

let me never be ashamed.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Almighty God, we beseech Thee, show Thy mercy unto Thy humble servants, that we who put no trust in our own merits may not be dealt with after the severity of Thy judgment, but according to Thy mercy; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Gradual

Thine enemies roar in the midst of Thy congregations: they set up their ensigns for signs.

V. Remember Thy congregation which Thou hast purchased of old: the rod of Thine inheritance, which Thou hast redeemed. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God: 

God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. Hallelujah!

    

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #620        Lord Who at Cana's Wedding Feast

   

Only God Knows

The Communion Hymn #313                O Lord We Praise Thee

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #649           Jesus Savior Pilot Me             

Prayers and Announcements

• In treatment - Kermit Way hospitalized after a fall; Sarah Buck; Pastor Shrader and Chris; Dr. Lito Cruz and their grandson. 
• Those suffering from emotional and metabolic stress.

 Norma A. Boeckler 

KJV 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 Norma A. Boeckler 

KJV Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

Only God Knows

KJV Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

My Seventh Day Adventist relatives began in Battle Creek, Michigan. The SDA dogmas led to John Henry Kellogg making Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, and other vegetarian delights. Two of my relatives became bishops, I was told, and my great aunt left the Adventists when she moved to Iowa and began raising hogs with her husband. Loma Linda is an area where SDA vegetarian diets have developed a 'blue zone" of unusually good health and longevity (so it is said). 

This began when William Miller (a former Mason) collected people to experience the advent of Christ, which continued to haunt him the rest of his life. Ellen White became a major contributor to SDA through her "visions." She bought land in Loma Linda.

This lengthy introduction is a reminder - people make up new doctrines, often built upon cults like the Masons, and get far away from the Scriptures, forming their own ideas.

Thus we have the prophesies of Daniel, the Gospels, and Thessalonians. Those who form their own opinions often turn from the ruling norm - the Scriptures - and fill the library shelves with the enormous volumes of their own work, for example, ELCA and the Concordia Publishing House.

KJV 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Thessalonica was a major city at that time, and Paul went there with Silas after the Philippian unbelievers had them whipped. Paul used Thessalonica as the central place for extending the Gospel, such as Philippi, where they went back to preach the Gospel. We should note that Paul's teaching created uproars, whippings, and prison stays, but they were eager to teach the Gospel to the Jews and Gentiles. 

Paul and Silas' idea of being missionaries was the opposite of what we hear today. One woman was telling a family about all their hardships as missionaries. I told the innocent listener, because I knew the facts - The missionaries have everything done for them, even shopping for groceries, cooking, and cleaning. Children go to private school and the parents are like royalty. The innocent one asked if that was true - and all of it was.  In contrast, Paul and Silas went back to Philippi and established the Gospel there, too.

In Thessalonica, Paul cautioned the believers against foolish ideas. They worried about the loss of life. Great changes worry people because they cannot grasp  a future which is available to God alone.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

We are going through an enormous change, which touches all the nations of the world. So much evil has been promoted and expanded that it is difficult to imagine how America can settle so many issues at once - extravagant spending and debt, illegal drugs and over use of prescribed drugs, families crumbling from gender mix-ups, and so much more.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

This has stoked the imagination of many groups, and that moves people into trying to figure out what will happen. As we can see now, the living believing passed into eternal life a long time ago, never knowing on earth what was ahead. The resurrection of the dead will come first, which is limiting for those who want to know the schedule. If there is no rising from the dead, then the final episode will be fulfilled in God's time, in God's way, not in our own imagination.

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

My SDA kin overlooked this important statement from Paul himself, guided by the Holy Spirit. The living can mountain climb Mount Rainier or the Ozarks all they wish, but the final stage does not happen until the trumpet calls and the dead rise first before all others.  

People who do not read the Scriptures correctly become confused, anxious, and bewildered because God's plan is far beyond anything we can imagine. Verse 18 - comforting is a good Word for so many situations.

Protestia - ELCA Has Marvelous Method To Attract the Four Waltherian Cults - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic)

St. Paul Reformation Lutheran Church - ELCA.

From Protestia - edited by Ichabod.

Saint Paul Reformation Lutheran Church in St Paul, Minnesota, led by Rev. Dr. Patrick H. Shebeck, DMin, is “a Christian community rooted in the original community of the Holy Trinity.”

A member of the ELCA, they are active in their community in pushing LGBTQ propaganda during their local Pride parade, where they hand out stickers to gay, lesbian and trans passersby that read, “Not all Christians are A_______. God made you exactly the way you are.”

ELCA Archbishop Liz Eaton paused at a youth meeting to photograph herself and the audience. What does Liz say about St. Paul Reformation?
Did foul-mouthed Nadia Bolz-Weber start this?

PS - LCMS and WELS are closely knit with ELCA, as my aunt used to say, so they are the last to protest Protestia.

The rotten apple doth fall from the tree.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 25 - "He thus takes from our eyes all temporal and external things, casts to the ground with one word all doctrines that do not proclaim faith in its purity, and all life that is not regulated according to the right doctrine of faith. In short, he adds: “If anyone says, here or there is Christ,” believe it not, which means: Beware of everything that leads you to works, for it surely deceives and separates you from me. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

 

Luther's Sermons - Matthew 24:15-28.
Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity

24. But as at that time among the Jews, the days were shortened, as Christ said, so must now also the days be shortened for the elect’s sake; for we see that the government of the Pope has had opposition and has declined during the last hundred years, without, at the Council of Constance where Huss was burned at the stake, having frightened everybody that he was held as God; but the truth came finally to light, so that now it is very much despised and can endure but a little longer; hence we notice, as I said before, that our text refers not only to the Jews but also to our abomination, the Pope’s kingdom. Now Christ says further: “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ, or, Here; believe it not.”

25. From this passage we should indeed know and understand how to conquer the Pope and his rebel horde, who abolish the kingdom of Christ, and bind the Christian life to external and visible things, as they also publicly declare: Where the Pope is, there is the Christian church. They want to lead us to the point that we should find, feel and touch it in person or state, or in a manner that is wholly external. Thus they do in all their cloisters and institutions. Therefore they say: If you enter this calling, eat, clothe yourself, pray and fast so and so, then you will atone for your sins and be saved. Heretofore Christ pictured this beautifully to us, and pointed to all these cloisters, callings and works, by which they wish to help the soul, and warns us to be careful of them, and not to permit ourselves to be drawn from the foundation upon which we stand; that we cannot become Christians through any such thing; but are redeemed from all evil alone through his blood and are planted into his kingdom, if we believe. He thus takes from our eyes all temporal and external things, casts to the ground with one word all doctrines that do not proclaim faith in its purity, and all life that is not regulated according to the right doctrine of faith. In short, he adds: “If anyone says, here or there is Christ,” believe it not, which means:

Beware of everything that leads you to works, for it surely deceives and separates you from me. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

26. These are admirable, earnest and fearful words, that these preachers of works must force this truth into the people with such a show and emphasis that even the saints who stand in faith cannot protect themselves against it, but are led astray thereby, as has been the case. For the dear fathers, Augustine, I think Jerome also, likewise St. Bernard, Gregory, Francis, Dominicus and many others, although they were godly men, have all erred here, as I have often remarked in other places. For this error, that the Christian life was bound to external things, was early introduced and they with others were swept into it, and it went so far that they were led into it by their outward conduct, as we see in the books of St. Bernard, how poorly he writes when he answered anyone on the questions of their monastic life; but when he writes freely out of his own soul, he preaches so elegantly that it is a pleasure for him, as Augustine, Jerome, Cyprian, the great and noble martyr, and many others experienced. But when any question was laid before them concerning the law and external regulations, whether we should understand it so, or so, then they immediately stumbled and fell, so that little was needed to mislead them. Still the followers of the Pope use this as the greatest argument against us. They say, should so many holy people and teachers have erred, and should God have forsaken the world so completely? They do not see that this becomes to them a stumbling-block to cause their fall.

Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry - Alec Satin

 

Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry Weekly Updates May God bless you now and always. From your Lutheran Librarian, 📅 NEW PUBLICATIONS AND UPDATES Reasons Why I Cannot Return to the Church of Rome by Samuel McGerald “In view of the persistent and unflagging efforts of my friends to win or force me back to the Roman faith, I am led to give the following reaosns why I cannot return to the church I broke away from sixty-five years ago…” -From the Foreword Level of Difficulty: Primer: No prior subject matter knowledge needed. Contents About the Lutheran Library Titlepage Frontispiece Contents Introduction Epigraph Foreword 1 The Glories of Mary 2 Rome an Apostate Church 3 The Roman Church Founded on ... Read more Handbook to the Controversy with Rome by Karl von Hase “This Handbook… has been fitly called indispensable for a knowledge of the Roman controversy, and a masterpiece of Protestant theology, both in form and contents, unrefuted and irrefutable.” - The Translator Level of Difficulty: Intermediate: Some prior subject matter knowledge helpful. Contents About the Lutheran Library Titlepage Contents of Volume 1 Note Analysis of the Argument Translator’s Preface Prefaces Book 1. The Church 1 Catholicism A Unity B Infallibility C The Sole Means of ... Read more The Doctrine of Justification by Matthias Loy “Human reason and inclination are always in their natural state averse to the doctrine of Justification by Faith. Hence it is no wonder that earth and hell combine in persistent efforts to banish it from the Church and from the world.” — Matthias Loy Level of Difficulty: Primer: No subject matter knowledge needed. The Great Doctrine of Christianity “This great doctrine of the sinner’s justification by faith in the Redeemer of the world, who lived and suffered and died to save our lost ... Read more The True Church: Its Way of Justification and Its Holy Communion by Emanuel Greenwald “The doctrine of Justification by Faith alone, was the turning point of the Reformation; it was the experience of its necessity and efficacy in the heart of Martin Luther that constituted his best qualification for the work of the Reformation; and as it distinguished the Lutheran Church from the Church of Rome, so it has come to be regarded as the distinguishing mark of separation between Protestantism and Romanism.” — Emanuel Greenwald Level of Difficulty: Primer: No subject matter ... Read more Student Witnesses for Christ by S Ralph Harlow “The sketches in this short volume are studies of young men and women… who have been set free from self and and sin through captivity to Jesus Christ.” - from the Preface Level of Difficulty: Primer: No prior subject matter knowledge needed. Contents About the Lutheran Library Titlepage Dedication Contents Preface Epigraph 1 The Student Volunteer Movement in Turkey 2 Shemseddin 3 Maria of Ancient Samos 4 In the Shadow of the Rock 5 A Mountain Jewel 6 Savas from Galatia 7 Koordish Amy 8 ... Read more The Book of Psalms: A Translation and Commentary by Augustus Tholuck “The fine Christian spirit and unassuming intelligence which pervade the writings of Dr Tholuck have not only endeared him to theologians and intelligent Christians on the Continent, but secured for him a large number of admirers in this country…My prayer is that the blessing of God may attend the perusal of this commentary.” - The Translator Level of Difficulty: Primer: No prior subject matter knowledge needed. Contents About the Lutheran LibrarC Titlepage Contents Translator’s ... Read more 🚀 SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS Liked this week's issue? Don't forget to spread it out!

Reformation Seminary Lecture - John 12 - More Lazarus

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 Caravaggio

55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?

57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

Next - more about Lazarus and his sisters

KJV John 12 

Lazarus named 10 times altogether

12 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

A Good Summary of the Inflated, Fake 2020 Election - From American Thinker

 

November 14, 2024

The Biggest Blunder in the History of American Politics

By Steve McCann

Here is the link for the article.

The biggest blunder in the history of American politics was the premeditated, unabashed, and overt theft of the 2020 presidential election by the Democrat Party, the legacy media, and their fellow left-wing elitists in the Ruling Class as that alliance failed to create an unquestioned landslide defeat of Donald Trump and were thus, forced into the impossible task of placating the extreme left-wing faction of the coalition. This blunder set the stage for the 2024 Trump landslide and hastened the demise of the Democrat Party and the legacy media.

This cabal further compounded the original blunder of overtly stealing the 2020 election and being compelled into an alliance with the radical Left by adopting unprecedented lawfare against Donald Trump, insisting that an obviously addled Joe Biden be the Democrat nominee, ousting Biden four months before the election, and choreographing the nomination of the unlikeable and vacuous Kamala Harris.

PS - The article and the blog are well worth reading.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 25 - "There, Paul says, the Pope shall sit and be honored, not above God, but above everything that is called God, for the name of God does indeed remain the highest honor, therefore he cannot exalt himself above the true God, but above that which is called God and is worshipped; that is, he is exalted against his preaching and honor, higher than the true God, as is apparent in that so many princes and the world are clinging to him and regard his command higher and greater than the command of God."

 

Luther's Sermons - Matthew 24:15-28.
Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity

21. St. Paul prophesied all this, when in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, he calls him: “The man of sin and the son of perdition, he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.” But that the Papists want to turn this passage from themselves and say: Christ and Paul are speaking of the temple of Jerusalem, that Antichrist shall sit and rule there, amounts to nothing. For Christ says here, that Jerusalem together with the temple shall have an end, and after its destruction it shall never be rebuilt. Therefore since Paul is pointing to the time after the Jewish kingdom, and the destruction of the material temple, it cannot be understood otherwise than of the new spiritual temple, which as he says himself, we are. There, Paul says, the Pope shall sit and be honored, not above God, but above everything that is called God, for the name of God does indeed remain the highest honor, therefore he cannot exalt himself above the true God, but above that which is called God and is worshipped; that is, he is exalted against his preaching and honor, higher than the true God, as is apparent in that so many princes and the world are clinging to him and regard his command higher and greater than the command of God.

If any man eats meat contrary to his command or goes out of the impure calling of the priest, monk, or nun, into married life, as God has commanded, or according to the institution of Christ takes the sacrament in both forms; that is the greatest sin. They regarded it much less than stealing, adultery and all open vice against the command of God, and no one is even allowed to punish them for it. Yea, that they themselves defame the Word of God, persecute and kill the Christians, they esteem as the highest service of God, as it is also the highest service they can do for their god, the Pope. Is not this exalting and honoring Antichrist against God, so that if anyone speaks or does anything against this, if he gets into their hands, he must immediately die? I think now that enough has been pictured forth and explained concerning this abomination.

22. Now it is high time for him to run and flee, who is able to flee; let everything he has behind and depart; the sooner the better; not with his feet but with his heart, in such a way that he will be rid of the abomination and enter the kingdom of Christ through faith. But to do this reason and a keen insight are needed rightly to discern the abomination. It cannot be seen in any way better than when we compare it to Christ who teaches, as stated above, that we are reconciled to God, and are saved through his blood. But the Pope ascribes this power to our works. Thus you ever see that to be saved through works and not to be saved through works (to believe on Christ as our justification before God) are contrary to each other. If you then want to remain with Christ, you must flee from the Pope and let him go.

23. This is now the abomination of desolation that has reigned until our time; but is now revealed through the grace of God, but will never be destroyed by emperor or worldly power. It must all be higher than that material destruction, since that was such a great tribulation, that there never can be a greater physically. Therefore did God reserve the destruction of this abomination for himself, as Paul says in Thessalonians 2:8: “Whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming.” Although they themselves fear evil from worldly power and insurrection, yet this shall not be so well with them. For they are not worthy of such mild punishment, and God will not grant unto them that they be destroyed through man, but will do it himself without means, through his Word.

Inasmuch as it has now made a beginning and the kingdom is destroyed even to the extent that it avails nothing, nor can take captive the conscience of those who know the Gospel. However hostile the Pope rages against the Gospel; he must nevertheless fall at the feet of princes and seek help from them. Hence his power is weakened and broken by means of the Gospel; but his final destruction is reserved unto the last day. Therefore it must continue in part until Christ at his coming shall destroy and grind to powder all together from heaven.

Not Recommending Someone's Daughter for Yale.

 

Tenured Yale Professor Linn Tonstead

Education 

B.A. La Sierra University
M.A.R. Yale Divinity School
Ph.D. Yale University

Biography 

Professor Tonstad is a constructive theologian working at the intersection of Christian theology with feminist and queer theory. Her first book, God and Difference: The Trinity, Sexuality, and the Transformation of Finitude(link is external), was published by Routledge in 2016 and was named both as a best new book in ethics and a best new book in theology in Christian Century in the spring of 2017. Her second book, Queer Theology: Beyond Apologetics (link is external)was published by Cascade in 2018 and translated into French in 2022. She joined the Yale Divinity School faculty in 2012. Her teaching interests include Christian theology, queer theory, philosophy of religion, and theological method. Professor Tonstad has made contributions to various journals, including Modern Theology, International Journal of Systematic Theology, and Theology & Sexuality. She is co-chair of the Theology and Religious Reflection unit of the American Academy of Religion. She is currently working on her third book, tentatively titled The Impossible Other: Theology, Queer Theory, and the Politics of Redemption. 

A friend was asked to write a recommendation for his daughter who is applying to Yale.  Worth a read.

Dear         ,

I am unwilling to write a letter of recommendation in support of your daughter's application to Yale.  I no longer do that.  It is not that I don't believe that she is qualified, on the contrary it is because I do.

You wouldn't ask me to write a letter of recommendation for her admission to Hamas.  But Yale is no different than Hamas, a cult that abides no disagreement, and a cult certain of its purpose and mission beyond reflection.  Yale is potentially even more dangerous. Hamas will be defeated shortly.  Yale will continue to send its graduates into positions of power for years.

A recent study at Harvard found that roughly 50% of the students and professors wouldn't discuss "uncomfortable" topics.  An essential life skill is the ability to change your mind. She won't learn that at any Ivy league school.  Their reputations are still so strong that their faculty, staff and graduates all possess the arrogant certainty of religious fanatics.

I am sorry to disappoint you.  I wish her the best in her search for a school,

Signed