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 What is your first Christmas memory? I remember the year I went to kindergarten. My dad was in Southeast Asia for a year. Our basset hound George opened my present for me and chewed up a plastic truck. Then my brother sent a picture last week of me holding a metal Tonka truck on that Christmas morning. Somebody replaced my lost toy apparently. I wish I could ask my mom who bought the new one. She would know.
What is your first Advent memory? It may be harder question for us. We had just arrived in Germany in 1969 when our landlady brought Advent calendars to our door. Even back then, I loved chocolate. What an invention! We counted down toward Christmas, anticipating the coming of Christ. As I waited for the chocolate each day, we learned something about anticipation of God’s coming into the world.
This month we will celebrate Advent with a devotional guide, a box for families, as well as scripture readings and candles in our corporate worship services. Historians tell us that Christians celebrated Advent at this time of year even before we adopted many of the customs we hold dear today. In this season we remind ourselves that the Christ who was born in Bethlehem will come again to earth not to suffer on a cross but to rule without rival.
Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist said, “Prepare the way of the Lord . . .” How are we preparing our hearts this Christmas? Isaac Watts wrote so many years ago, “Let every heart, prepare him room.” Christmas can be about consuming. Advent is about being consumed with Jesus. All the signs and advertisements say we are consumers. But Christianity says we are consumed with Christ alone. As Amy Carmichael prayed: “Make me your fuel, flame of God.”
One group has called Christians back to the celebration of Advent with a concept called the Advent Conspiracy. Christmas is not a time to spend on ourselves and accumulate greater debt. As an alternative they suggest we: worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all. What if we did? Would our celebration be more meaningful? It would! Let’s start with worship this Sunday morning December 3 and continuing with four more services through Christmas Eve on December 24. I hope to see you here so that we can grow in our hope together.
In Advent Hope,
Duane
 EVENTS
December 2
One Bethlehem Night
6:00 PM | Worship Center
December 8
Glory!
7:00 PM | Worship Center
December 9
Glory!
3:00 and 6:00 PM | Worship Center
December 10
10-10-10: Fight Human Trafficking
10:00 AM | Taste of Texas
December 12
Celebrate Jesus
5:30 PM
December 13
Hudson Mann Prayer Breakfast
6:30 AM | Fellowship Hall West
The Gathering
10:00 AM | FHE
December 16
Reception for Lowry Family
4:45-6:00 PM
Behold the Lamb of God
6:00 PM | Worship Center
December 23
A Family Christmas
6:00 PM | Worship Center
December 24
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
4:30, 6:00 & 11:00 PM
December 24-25
Church Offices Closed
December 31
Business Office Open
Glory!
Presented by the Tallowood Choir and Orchestra, Ballet Grace, and Handbells.
Saturday, December 8 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, December 9 at 3:00 & 6:00 PM
Celebrate Jesus
Wednesday, December 12, 5:30 to 7:30 PM
Crafts | Family Fun | Live Nativity | Refreshments
Free Admission
Behold the Lamb of God
Sunday, December 16, 6:00 PM
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
December 24
4:30, 6:00 and 11:00 PM
Christmas at Tallowood
Children's Choir Christmas
One Bethlehem Night
Sunday, December 2 at 6 PM
Glory!
Saturday, December 8 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, December 9 at 3:00 & 6:00 PM
Celebrate Jesus
Wednesday, December 12 at 5:30 PM
Behold the Lamb of God
Sunday, December 16 at 6:00 PM
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
December 24 at 4:30, 6:00 & 11:00 PM
Tallowood’s Family Retreat
Unplugged... to plug in to what matters most!
April 5-7, 2019
at Camp Tejas Retreat Center
Join us for an amazing weekend for families, as we spend time together eating great meals, having tons of fun, age appropriate Bible Studies and family worship experiences. We will focus on “unplugging” from the stuff of life (all those screens and gadgets) for a weekend and refocusing our attention on what matters most for us and our families.
Details and registration at tallowood.org/family/
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Tallowood Concert Series
The University of North Texas A Cappella Choir will present its 2019 tour program in performance on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at 7:00 PM. This concert is free to the public and features works by Prauliņš, Mozart, Pachelbel, Mendelssohn, Vaughn Williams, Gibbons, Whitacre, Ešenvalds, Randol Bass, Stacey Gibbs, and Robert Hunter.
Couple's Night Out, January 11
 A date night for married and engaged couples of all ages!
(Free child care.)
Fridays 6-9 PM
Register @ tallowood.org/CNO
Christmas Poinsettias
 Poinsettias will decorate the Worship Center this Christmas. Contribute one or more in honor or memory of a loved one. Deadline to order is December 16. Cost: $30.
Order at tallowood.org or call Denny Courter, 713.468.8241, ext. 8137.
Year End Giving
The business office will be open Monday, December 31 from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM for the convenience of our members who want to make contributions. Gifts sent through the mail must be postmarked by December 31, 2018 in order to receive contribution credit for 2018. Thank you for your faithful support of our ministries at Tallowood.
Spark 2019
Spark will be January 18-20, 2019. All students can enjoy a weekend of large group teaching times, staying in host homes of TBC members, small group Bibles studies, praise and worship, fun activities, lots of fellowship and more! The cost is $100 per students. Registration ends January 16. Sign up for Spark 2019 today at tallowood.org/students.
Women's Weekly Groups
Registration for spring Bible studies begins this week. We have many types of studies to choose from, with both morning and evening options available. Visit tallowood.org/women for a weekly schedule and class descriptions.
Daily Devotional
Daily Devotional with Dr. Duane Brooks. Sign up at Tallowood.org.
Read Through the Bible
Find 2019 reading plans in the Narthex and office.
Winter Bible Study with Pastor Brooks
Thursdays at 11 AM
January 3 and 17
February 7 and 21
March 7 and 21
Activities Building
Lunch available after Study
Bible Drill 
Bible Drill is FUN! Children learn to memorize scripture, gain confidence in their knowledge of the Bible and their ability to quickly locate significant passages with ease. We learn all this through fun games and challenges. This short season of time is one that will benefit your child forever as God uses His word to comfort, guide, and teach your child for his/her whole life. Bible Drill participants compete in the spring at Church Competition, Association Competition and State Competition. Full details and registration at tallowood.org/bible-drill.
We have two Bible Drill Groups, which meet Sundays from 5:30-7:00 PM
* NEW 1st-2nd Grade Group (January 6 – March 3)
* 3rd-6th Grade Group (January 6 – April 13)
 CONGRATULATIONS TO-
Greg and Kim Nguyen on the birth of Olivia Grace on November 16. Olivia weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. and is the baby sister of Hailey, Khloe and Cheyenne.
SYMPATHY TO-
Family of Al Pessarra
Family of Betty Boswell
Family of Roy Stolting
Family of Olea McCormick
Family of Hakrieng (Ha) Lo
Family of David Sanders
Family of Susan O’Quinn
Family of Kurt Kaiser
Family of Wayne Johnson
Family of James Cooper
Family of Martha Harris
Audrey Middlebrooke on the death of her son
Matt Keeling on the death of his stepmother
Jane Kennon on the death of her brother
Richard and Sue Adams on the death of their daughter
LaDonn Nelson on the death of her sister
Pablo Rendon on the death of his brother
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