Hello St. Peter’s!

I am so grateful and excited to be joining you soon as your next rector. It has been a delight to spend time with your search committee and vestry as we discerned this call together, and it will be a delight to spend time with you in the years to come. 

The more I learn about St. Peter’s, the more I realize just how blessed I am to be joining you. We have a lot in common. Your mission and vision statements captured my attention from day one. The focus you place on caring for the poor and engaging the local community, the emphasis you have on intergenerational life and the uplifting of children and youth, and the passion you have for spiritual growth and deep prayer are all so important to me. I am eager to explore how we can further deepen our mission to be a welcoming Christian community of all ages that embodies God’s word and sacraments, invites spiritual curiosity, celebrates children and youth, and embraces the world with God’s love.

For the past three years, I have served as the Associate Rector at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Tequesta, FL, initially hired by Bishop Doug Scharf when he was rector. After Bishop Scharf’s election as bishop, I served as solo clergy for a year and a half until we welcomed our new rector, the Rev. Sanford Groff. My journey in professional ministry has spanned over a decade serving in Episcopal churches and schools, and even longer as a church volunteer and pastor’s kid. I earned my Bachelor of Arts from Southeastern University, my Master of Arts in Theology from Saint Leo University, and my Master of Divinity from the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest. My time in the Episcopal Church has been spread across six dioceses, and I was ordained by the Rt. Rev. Robert Wright of the Diocese of Atlanta in 2021. I am also a member of the Third Order, Society of Saint Francis, a dispersed, Episcopal religious order for folks living the Franciscan way in the world.

My wife, LauraAnn, and our two sons, Barret (8) and Alaster (2), are equally excited about this new chapter in our lives. We are particularly delighted to be returning to an area so dear to my heart, having grown up between Lakeland and Plant City. Indeed, we know some of you from our short time as parishioners at St. David’s in Lakeland. Our boys are eager to be near their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, who are also in the area, making this transition even more meaningful for us.

In my leisure time, I enjoy reading poetry and fiction, hiking, kayaking, juggling, and off-road unicycling. These hobbies often provide me with moments of reflection and joy, and I look forward to sharing these interests with you, finding common grounds, and perhaps discovering new ones together.

LauraAnn, Barret, Alaster, and I eagerly anticipate meeting each of you, getting to know your stories, and embarking on this spiritual journey together. May our shared faith and collective efforts bring us closer to God and each other, fostering a community that truly embodies the love and teachings of Christ. See you soon in Plant City!

God’s Peace,

Derek

The Rev. Derek Larson, TSSF

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

302 Carey Street

Plant City, FL 33563