most complete family pic in recent history: Alicia & Andrew seated; then - l-r - Zandra, Ed, Faith, Reed, Micah, rachel, Tom, Seth, Jared, Heather, Sarah, Jesse, Jordan, Rebekah, Naomi (holding Rebekah), Derek, David, Craig, Lindsay, Joe, Cheryl, David, Grace, Andrew, Hannah. — The most complete family pic in recent history: Alicia & Andrew (seated); then – l-r – Zandra, Ed, Faith, Reed, Micah, Rachel, Tom, Seth, Jared, Heather, Sarah, Jesse, Jordan, Rebekah, Naomi (holding Rebekah), Derek, Craig (holding David), Lindsay, Joe, Cheryl, David, Grace, Andrew, Hannah.

This is an “extra” post, and should not break the continuity of the “Advent Devotional” series that’s running each day from December 1-24.

Even though Rebekah and I receive newsletters three, four, even five pages long (single-spaced!), we remain committed to the more manageable format of the half-page summary!

The snail-mail version comes enclosed in a card, along with our new address (If you need our Wake Forest address, then email me at derekmaul@gmail.com). This on-line version includes 12 photos at the end (with descriptive captions), to illustrate some of our news.

Enjoy – DEREK

MAUL FAMILY NEWSLETTER, CHRISTMAS 2013

The year 2013 has been, by any estimation, one of the busiest yet in the 34-plus years of the Derek & Rebekah story. The short version reads, “The move, the wedding, the baptism;” the full-length narrative could be its own mini-series.

First, after almost 17 years at First Presbyterian Church of Brandon, Florida, Rebekah accepted the call to serve as senior pastor at Wake Forest Presbyterian Church in North Carolina. We can’t say enough good things about our time in Brandon; the church is strong, faithful, and ready to grow in new and exciting ways. At the same time, Wake Forest had been looking for exactly the quality of encouraging, permission-giving leadership that characterizes Rebekah’s ministry. We moved to Wake Forest in the middle of August, and we’re excited to see where God will continue to lead our new community of faith.

Then, July 6^th, Rebekah officiated at the beautiful and festive wedding of our son, Andrew to Alicia Pashby, in Midland, Michigan. The (very) happy couple live enthusiastically in Northern Italy, where Andrew works for the U.S. government.

July 14, after vacationing in Canada and New York, we stopped by Naomi and Craig Campbell’s home in Connecticut, where Rebekah baptized our lovely granddaughter, Rebekah Mae. By Christmas Rebekah will be 6-months, and her brother, David, 26-months.

Meanwhile, Derek’s free-lance writing and speaking career continue to take him to interesting places and his next book is “in progress” (you can keep up at http://www.derekmaul.com).

We both pray that your New Year will be full with peace, purpose, and the promise of newness, as you grow as followers of the Living Way of Jesus.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

With love – Derek and Rebekah