You should immediately change the cassette to 12-27 or anything with a lower gear up to 30T (if you can find one). That will make a significant difference without requiring that you change anything else.
Won't the the RD become an issue if the OP wants a maximum rear cog that exceeds 27t?
Originally Posted by DMF
Then consider a smaller chain ring up front - say a 36T instead of a 39T (again, if you can find one). That won't make as much difference, but it will help.
Can the OP really go smaller than a 38t inner chainring with a 130BCD crank?