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  "Who is calling?" Do you ever wonder? I try hard to type in names to match the phone numbers of important people. Sometimes, someone leaves me a text message and I sheepishly write back, "And who is this? I'm sorry that I don't have your phone number connected with your name." This is clearly a first world kind of problem, I know, but real nonetheless. Now imagine that you get a call or text and the name which comes up is God. If God called you right now, would you stop what you are doing and take his call? How would you answer?
Our theme at Tallowood for 2017 is Finding Our Calling. After we take the Lord's Supper together in a single service on January 1, we will gather for worship in our morning services on January 8 to consider how we will find and fulfill our corporate calling in Christ. This will be my state of the church message and vision for 2017. Please save this date. Mark it on your calendars, please. We want to live our lives together on purposeful mission. God is calling each of us and all of us. What is God saying to our church as we continue to pursue our 2020 Vision of making disciples, making relationships and making an impact?
We may have come to believe that certain members of the body of Christ are called and others are not. A careful reading of the story of Jesus and his early followers disproves this theory. God calls all of us to salvation and to service. Our challenge is to cultivate our ability to hear God's voice clearly. Our "CPA," Constant Partial Attention interferes with our ability to hear God's voice. If we could find God's calling for our lives together, I am convinced we could fulfill it and do enormous good in our world. Let's covenant together to pray earnestly as we enter the New Year. Start by asking God, "What are you calling me to do as a part of the Tallowood community in the next year?" You might open a journal and write the question down. Then wait before the Lord in prayer. Open his word and commit to read through the scriptures with us again in the new year. We have a new daily Bible reading plan available. And join me on the journey as I write our daily devotionals. God is calling. Are we answering? What will we say? I can't wait to see!
We love loving you,
Duane
 EVENTS
Jan 2:
Church Office Closed
Jan 4:
Wednesday Night Activities Resume
Jan 5:
Pastor's Winter Bible Study
11:00 a.m. | Activities Center
Jan 8:
Deacons Meeting
4:30 p.m. | WT315
Bible Drill Begins
5:30 p.m. | WT 214-216
Jan 10:
10-10-10, Fight Human Trafficking
10:00 a.m. | Taste of Texas
Jan 12:
Hudson Mann Prayer Breakfast
6:30 a.m. | Fellowship Hall West
The Gathering
10:00 a.m. | Fellowship Hall East
Jan 22:
Membership Discovery Class
9:45 a.m. | WT315B
Committee of Committees
4:00 p.m. | Chapel Reception Hall
Church Business Conference
5:00 p.m. | Chapel Reception Hall
Jan 26:
Pastor's Winter Bible Study
11:00 a.m. | Activities Center
M & M (Music & Missions)
 Wednesday Night for Kids at Tallowood
2nd Semester Begins January 4, 2017
Music:
5:50-6:50 p.m.
3's through 5th grade
Missions:
6:55-7:40 p.m.
4's through 5th grade
New members are always welcome! Come join us! Hope to see everyone then! For more information, visit tallowood.org.
Tallowood Family Retreat 
Camp Tejas
March 31 - April 2, 2017
Plan now to be a part of this year's group! Registration begins January 8th.
Join us for "This is Love"--Tallowood's family retreat experience. What is Family Retreat? A fun-filled family getaway weekend that will give you opportunities to grow closer to God and each other.
The weekend will be packed full of great family experiences including s'mores, zipline, marshmallow wars, great Bible study, and amazing family worship experiences. Through all of this, you'll discover love--love in Christ, love for your family, and love for others! This is Love!
 5th Grade Retreat
Pine Cove Silverado
February 24-25
5 p.m. Friday - 5 p.m. Saturday
Cost: $95
Registration opens January 1 and closes February 8.
+ Barn swing
+ Zipline
+ Campfire
+ Warball
+ Amazing Race Adventure
Friends | Food | Fellowship | Fun Library Contributions for Oct - Dec 2016
In Honor of Shirley Savage
A Love Transformed by Tracie Peterson
In Memory of Gordon Caldwell
Commentary: Ephesians to Revelation by Wiersbe
In Memory of Dorothy Klotz
Hopelifter by Kathe Wunnenberg
In Memory of Henry Frank
Woodlawn - DVD by Provident Films
In Memory of Dr. Homer L. Graff
Is This the End? by David Jeremiah
In Memory of Felix Mayson
Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward by Nabeel Qureshi
In Memory of Herb Schrade
The Tender Scar by Dr. Richard Mabry
The Case for Christmas by Lee Strobel
Cracking the Communication Code by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
Cries from the Cross by Erwin Lutzer
The Ever-Loving Truth by Voddie Baucham, Jr.
Name Above all Names by Alistair Begg
Insanity of Obedience by Nik Ripkin
For the Glory by Duncan Hamilton
Bible Commentary: Isaiah to Malachi by Wiersbe
A Wind in the House of Islam by David Garrison
The Awakening of HK Derryberry by Jim Bradford
Everything is Possible by Jen Bricker
Twelve Unlikely Heroes by John MacArthur
City of Jerusalem bookends
VeggieTale bookends
Shaken by Tim Tebow
Making Sense of God by Timothy Keller
PRAY bookends
Uninvited by Lysa Terkeurst
Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado
Nativity figurine
Hidden Christmas by Timothy Keller
Noah's Ark figurine
Chase the Lion by Mark Batterson
D.L. Moody: Bringing Souls to Christ by Janet and Geoff Benge
Focus on The Family:
The Mission of Jesus - DVD Study
Path To The Cross - DVD Study
With All Your Heart - DVD Study
In Memory of Ed Wright
The Insanity of God - DVD by Nik Ripkin
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17th Annual Winter Bible Study with Pastor Brooks 
11:00 a.m.
Activities Building
Thursdays:
January 5 & 26
February 2 & 16
March 9 & 23
Lunch available following study.
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Duane Brooks
Sign up now for the NEW Devotional series at tallowood.org.
Read through the Bible in 2017 with the Pastor
Pick up your NEW reading plan in the Narthex or church office.
Serve the City 2017: April 22
"Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do." - Jeremiah 42:3
Souper Bowl of Caring
 Preschool Ministry is collecting cans of soup for Gano Mission Center, January 8 through February 5.
Collection bins will be on the first floor of West Tower.
Bible Drill 
Sundays, January 8 - April 8
5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
in WT 214-216
Bible Drill is for children grades 3-5. Sign up today at tallowood.org.
Membership Discovery Class
If you're interested in seeking membership at Tallowood, please plan to attend the next Membership Discovery Class on January 22 in WT315B at 9:45 a.m.
RSVP to Outreach at outreach@tallowood.org or 713.468.8241, ext. 8109.
 Tallowood 2020 Transformation
Tallowood doesn't have a pre-set script other than we want to make disciples and teach other people to make disciples. I am most grateful for Tallowood in that it has given me an opportunity through Wellspring and the Unapologetic Conference to explore my faith. We have to know what we believe and why we believe it. My prayer life through Wellspring has also taken on a new dimension as well.
- Steve Will Tallowood Women Spring 2017
Midweek groups, studies and classes
Women's Ministry Mid-week groups and studies online registration is open! This semester will feature new studies including 1 Corinthians, Luke, Hosea, the topic of prayer, and curriculum by Lysa Terkeurst and Priscilla Shirer.
Visit tallowood.org/women for details!
Tallowood Home Fellowships
Sunday, February 5
If you are willing to be a host home, contact Barbie in the church office, ext. 8147.
Congratulations To
Steve Felts on his 25th anniversary at Tallowood on January 6!
Fredy Pacheco on his 25th anniversary at Tallowood on January 6!
 CONGRATULATIONS TO-
Bashan and Laura Blake on the birth of Benjamin Sidney on November 19. Benjamin weighed 6 lbs. 8 oz. He is the grandson of Charles and Paula Blackmon and the baby brother of Tennyson and Helen.
Aaron and Elizabeth Aldape on the birth of Aandrea Belén on November 28. Belén weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. She is the granddaughter of Lina Aldape and the baby sister of Isaac and Ezra.
David and Juliana MacKenzie on the birth of David Allaby on December 12. David weighed 8 lbs. 5 oz. and is the baby brother of Laura and Lilian.
SYMPATHY TO-
The family of Violet Pierce
John Richards on the death of his mom
The family of Van Penrod
The family of Ellsworth Hudgens
Ann Scott on the death of her mom
The family of Pat Perry
The family of pastor Roy Ladd
The family of Patsy Sweetman
The family of Alice Grant
Marilyn Turner on the death of her mom
The family of Annette Conner
The family of Nyla Rhodes
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