Author: Derek Michael Larson

Derek is a postulant for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, a Franciscan tertiary in the Third Order, Society of St. Francis, and a seminarian at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX. Most recently Derek worked as a chaplain and religious studies teacher at St. George’s Episcopal School in Milner, GA. As part of his seminary field education, Derek currently serves at Santa Fe Episcopal Church/ La Iglesia Episcopal de Santa Fe in south San Antonio. Derek currently lives in Austin, TX with his wife, LauraAnn, their toddler son, Bear, and their two kittens, Woo and Whiskey Jack.

Ordained!

by Derek Michael Larson, posted in Uncategorized

This past Saturday, at the end of the third week of Advent, December 19th, 2020, I was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Robert Wright at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. It was a simple and beautiful service and I am so grateful for the movement of the Spirit in my life. I am grateful for all the encouragement and support from family and friends. I am excited about the future!

In Bishop Wright’s sermon there was a line towards the end that immediately imprinted itself on my soul, and I think I will carry it throughout my ministry. “Today you are being ordained in the wilderness, for the wilderness, at the behest of a wilderness God.”

The wilderness is a challenging place on the margins where people have stepped (or been pushed) outside of the established societal expectations and the status quo. That is exactly where God is. That is exactly where John was sent. In the midst of a pandemic, in an empty church, with little pomp and circumstance, that is where we were being ordained. That is where we are being called to serve. What a powerful vision.

Ordination to the Diaconate

by Derek Michael Larson, posted in Uncategorized

In just three weeks I will be ordained in the The Diocese of Atlanta!

Almost 10 years ago I heard a call to become an Episcopal priest. Since then I have been praying, discerning, studying, and preparing and now on December 19, 2020 at 2:00pm Eastern I will be ordained to the transitional diaconate at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. After working for a few months as a deacon, God willing and the people consenting, I will be ordained as priest after I graduate from seminary in May. You can join in the service online here: https://www.episcopalatlanta.org/event/ordination-to-the-transitional-diaconate-livestream-dec-19/.

I hope you will continue to keep me in your prayers as I continue to discern how God is calling me to serve the Church and the world. Thanks for your love and support!

¡En menos de un mes voy a ser ordenado en la Diócesis de Atlanta!

Hace casi 10 años que comencé a escuchar un llamado a ser sacerdote episcopal. Desde entonces he estado orando, discerniendo, estudiando y preparándome y ahora, el 19 de diciembre de 2020 a las 2:00 pm hora del Este, voy a ser ordenado al diaconado de transición en la Catedral de San Felipe en Atlanta. Después de trabajar unos meses como diácono, si Dios quiere y la gente consiente, voy a ordenado sacerdote después de graduarme del seminario en mayo.Se publicará una invitación formal, pero puede unirse al servicio en línea aquí: https://www.episcopalatlanta.org/event/ordination-to-the-transitional-diaconate-livestream-dec-19/.

Espero que continúen manteniéndome en sus oraciones mientras continúo discerniendo cómo Dios me está llamando a servir a la Iglesia y al mundo. Gracias por su amor y apoyo!

Healing Hymns

by Derek Michael Larson, posted in Uncategorized

All this semester our seminary’s blog, Sowing Holy Questions, is featuring stories, poems, songs, and reflections from faculty and students on the work of racial healing. This week I had the opportunity to share a song I wrote for the blog inspired by the Christ Hymn in Philippians 2. I’ve posted a video version of the blog here and you can click the link above to read all the posts from the series.