Community – The Parson's Parlor

1 Peter

Published on June 25, 2026 by Karolee LarsonLeave a comment

One of the things I love about being a pastor is the deep dive that I get to do on behalf of the congregation. I love finding gems of truth that I can share on Sunday mornings and throughout the week. I love opening up scripture to make it real for everyday life. I love watching people’s eyes light up as they begin to grasp what the text teaches.

Every now and then I depart from the RCL for a deeper dive into a topic or text. When I noticed that 1 Peter was a weekly epistle read during Easter, my curiosity was peeked. Here was a book that I’ve read through many times without pausing to listen to the Spirit. What would 1 Peter have to say to me? I found its household codes to be archaic and I felt Peter was not as important as Paul. But my curiosity lingered, so as any good pastor, I dragged the congregation along with me for a six week sermon series in 1 Peter.

As I studied each week, I discovered that Peter was a letter about spiritual formation. With each chapter, I recognized a practice that Peter begged his readers to engage in for their very survival in a hostile climate. From holy living to mutual love to submission to stewardship to humility, Peter guided his readers toward a new understanding of suffering and community.

1 Peter is a gem which is very applicable for today’s hyper-individualistic culture with its excessive over consumerism. How do we live in this culture without being a part of it? How do we submit to authority without compromising our faith? How do share God’s blessings and grace with others? How do we lead people in a humble and loving manner? How do these practices strengthen us, as a community of faith, to resist temptation in our own hostile environments?

I encourage you to sit with 1 Peter, to listen deeply to what the text has to say, and then to practice these disciplines because that roaring lion is still out there, looking to devour Christ’s church and we must be alert and disciplined.

But take heart, Christ has already won the battle and we will be “restored, supported, strengthened, and established” for God’s glory (1 Peter 5:10). Thanks be to God!

Grace and peace,

Parson Larson, June 2026

Kingdom People

Published on September 18, 2025September 18, 2025 by Karolee LarsonLeave a comment

While I am not surprised to see how divided our country has become, I am sad when I see Christians participate in the division.

Our political climate has become a war between two gods who demand total allegiance from their worshippers. Battle lines are drawn on every political front. No longer can people travel safely between positions for fear of being called a traitor. We are compelled to choose a side.

But there is a third option. As Christians, we are not called to be republicans or democrats, but to be Kingdom people who follow the commands of our king. We are to live as ambassadors in this land as we wait for our king to return.

As ambassadors, our role is to show the world a better way to live – a way that is rooted in King Jesus’ commands to love God and love our neighbors, including our enemies. We are to look for signs of the Kingdom and then participate in Christ’s redemptive work, which unites instead of divides. But instead, I see Christians staunchly supporting the political positions of their preferred party without any thought to how those positions may or may not further God’s Kingdom of love.

Unfortunately, division among Christians is nothing new. When asked if he was the devil, Jesus responded, “A house divided cannot stand.” Have Christians become their own devil by fighting against one another? Is it any wonder why people want nothing to do with the Church?

Let’s put aside our false gods and rally around our king! Let’s look for signs of love and unity which point toward the Kingdom of God. Let’s follow King Jesus’ command to love God and love our neighbors – all of our neighbors. Let’s participate in Christ’s work of reconciliation and redemption for the glory of God.

Let’s be Kingdom People.

Grace and Peace

Parson Larson 2025

Cowboy Church and Community

Published on September 4, 2025 by Karolee LarsonLeave a comment

Last weekend I attended Cowboy Church. It was a brief service that was held as part of the opening ceremony at one of my husband’s mounted shooting events.

The participants, including the preacher who is a real life cowboy, were in their saddles. After a quick prayer and song, the typical “we are all sinners in need of Jesus” sermon was preached. While it was expected, I did like how he used both the Samaritan Woman and Nathaniel under the tree to show how all kinds of people need Jesus.

After asking us where we’d go if we died today (by being hit by a truck), the service ended with a call to accept Christ before the ceremony moved onto the national anthem and a brief business meeting.

It was during the meeting, when the VP shared about a recent horse event he attended, that I heard the gospel truly preached. Without intending it to be a sermon, this cowboy talked about how the community of mounted shooters supported him during a low point in his journey. Their encouraging words lifted his faith to be able to carry on and finish the race.

Our personal faith is important, but living out that faith in community is equally important for our salvation, because it isn’t a one-time decision but a lifelong journey of learning how to love God and love neighbor. With undeserved grace, God calls us into his kingdom family. We respond in thankfulness and then strive as the church to reflect the triune God to the world. An individual faith cannot reflect a trinitarian God, who by God’s very nature is a community of love.

I have no qualms with the Cowboy Preacher’s message. He did a great job, but my reformed covenant understanding of theology really appreciated how the VP’s message of community made the whole service complete.

Grace and peace,

Parson Larson, 2025