Meditation on Romans 8:14-38
In Memory of June Carlson
6/24/1930-3/22/2023
First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown
Pastor Karen Crawford
June 25, 2023
I was the new pastor in Smithtown when I called June Carlson in May of last year. I introduced myself and told her how surprised I was to discover that she was living in the same senior living community where my mom lives—John Knox Village, in Orange City, FL.
She shared how surprised SHE was that her pastor from Smithtown, New York was calling her! And she knew my Mom! They met playing bridge.
We had a wonderful conversation that day, in which I learned a little about her life here and her life there and her hopes for the church. She never forgot us, though it had been some 9 years since she had moved away. She specifically asked about programs for children and youth. Did we bring back Vacation Bible School, yet? It was the first of many wonderful conversations; I continued to reach out to her by phone regularly, and we exchanged cards and letters.
On that first call, she told me how, in addition to playing bridge with my mom, they often had lunch together with a group on Sundays at 2, when June gathered a circle of her “interesting” friends at John Knox. June had a sharp mind and enjoyed being in the company of other bright, active women. At those gatherings, my mom learned how June missed Smithtown—her church and community friends and all of the groups with which she had been involved.
Yes, Smithtown was still her hometown, though she was born in Manhattan and grew up in Brooklyn. She graduated from what is now SUNY Oswego, northwest of Syracuse, and met dark-haired, dark-eyed Allan Carlson while they were attending graduate school at Columbia University. They were married at Grace Reformed Church in Brooklyn on Jan. 27, 1951. They lived in East Patchogue from ‘57-59 and had two children, Barbara and Phil. They moved to Schenectady for a couple of years before coming to Hauppauge in ‘62, then Saint James in ‘70.
Overall, June lived in the Smithtown area 51 years. She and Allan joined our congregation in the early 1960s, bringing their children with them for worship and children and youth programs, including Vacation Bible School!
June never shared with me that she had been a kindergarten teacher! She served children in elementary schools in Commack for 28 years—Circle Hill, Cedar Road, and Rolling Hills. She retired in 1992. When I heard that—it all made sense. Why she worried about children’s ministry so much and why we got along so well—because as a former teacher myself, I know the importance of nurturing the faith of children from an early age. We can’t wait till they are fully grown to tell them about God’s love. They need to know it now!
June cared about her community and was a joiner. She was a member of the Smithtown Garden Club and one of her projects included tending the Caleb Smith Park herb garden. She served as a trustee on the Library Board and member of the Friends of Smithtown Library. She served on the town arts council and the auxiliary of St. Catherine’s Hospital in Smithtown when it was St. John’s. She was active with the historical society. She wanted to help other women pursue higher education; this led to her involvement with PEO and remaining active with the group after she moved to Florida. This was true of AAUW, of which she was a charter member of Smithtown’s chapter. She loved participating in fund-raising activities—chairing fashion shows and luncheons.
At her senior living community in Florida, June remained active and social. In addition to playing bridge several days a week, she went to morning aquatic exercise classes, and, when she was living independently in an apartment there, attended a local church on Sunday mornings.
The strange coincidence, if you believe in coincidences, was that I actually met June at John Knox while I was serving a church on Merritt Island and visiting my parents there. I met her, again, when I was serving the church in Ohio and my father passed away in August 2019. I presided over his funeral at the community center at John Knox. And she came.
So, I think I have known June since 2016 or 17, only I have never seen her in her beloved Smithtown. Well, perhaps that’s not true. Because I have sensed her spirit with us in her garden. The garden was established in 1994, with her gift, in memory of her husband, Allan, who died on Feb. 19, 1982, and her son, Philip, who died on Nov. 17, 1993.
To talk with June, you would never know that she had experienced the great sadness of losing her husband and son, while he was still a young man. Tending to the garden was a way of nurturing her memories—and a good reminder that death can and would be swallowed up by life. She often checked in with our trustees, asking them how the garden was growing—and making sure there were funds for its upkeep.
June married a man named from Australia named Keith Johnston in 1989 and this led to their buying a place in Palm Coast, FL, and their dividing their time between Long Island and Florida.
Keith passed away in 2014, and June moved to John Knox in Orange City in 2015.
To talk with her by phone, you would never know about her physical challenges. She never talked about her pain or struggle with mobility and low vision. She didn’t complain about her health. She continued to play bridge and do many other social things as long as she could.
I think one reason that she was able to move past the pain of her losses and persevere through the many challenges and life transitions, including having to leave her apartment and move to the nursing home, was the help from the Spirit of the Lord. The Spirit gave her strength while she was weak. I never sensed any fear in June. She was a woman of faith and great confidence, a woman who persevered and was not ready to give up when things got hard.
This is the promise to all the faithful in Paul’s letter to the Romans. That the Spirit who lives within us and dwells in our midst also intercedes for us with God, with groans and sighs too deep for words. Because we don’t always know how we ought to pray. We can’t find the words to say. We don’t know what we need. The Spirit does!
We ourselves wait for our transformation, the conforming to the image of God’s Son, as Paul says. We wait for the revealing of our redemption and our glory as the children of God. We wait for all Creation to be set free from its bondage and decay. And as we wait in hope, we seek to participate in the Spirit’s creative work in and all around us. We might not be able to see the changes with our own eyes, but our faith tells us that it is happening, right now. This very moment. As we share June’s story and remember God’s promises, including God’s everlasting presence with us, the transformation is taking place.
I talked with my mom yesterday to let her know about our remembering June today. Mom still volunteers at the nursing home where June spent her last months; it’s where my father was in his last months with us, as well. She helped June and helps others in wheelchairs come to the worship service on Sunday morning.
She talked about how popular June was. How she had many friends, and that she is dearly missed—especially by one lady, another resident, who was a close friend to her at the nursing home. They were always together. Her name is Dottie Hallevy, and she just celebrated her 102nd birthday!
This is how we can glimpse the love of God right here with us now–through the love of friends and family.
Is there something you are struggling with right now? Do you have fear or anxiety? Are you struggling with the pain of grief and loss? Or possibly, a physical or financial challenge is worrying you? A big decision that you have to make? Maybe you are worrying about a loved one?
Remember the Holy Spirit is interceding with God for you, for all the Body of Christ, right now. None of us know how to perfectly pray as we ought. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray! We should absolutely pray without ceasing, as Paul will say in another letter—I Thess. 5:17. But it is hard to pray in God’s will when we don’t know what God’s will is. But the Spirit always knows. And the Spirit wants to help us in our weakness!
We are all connected by the love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. God’s Love that brought you here to worship today will continue to unite the Church and empower us to do God’s will, as the Spirit reveals it. As we receive God’s Love, we are moved to reach out in friendship to others, especially those who may truly be in need of a friend.
Remember: This is how the world will be able to catch a glimpse of the Savior’s love—by the love we share, especially with those in need.
We who have come to worship because of God’s Love will go from this place in the love of a God who knows us intimately! For this is a God who searches our hearts! A gracious God who does not condemn us!
We will leave without fear, knowing with all certainty that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let us pray.
Holy and Gracious God, thank you for not withholding your Only Son, when we were in need of a Savior. Thank for your love and the promise that we will never be separated from your love—or from your everlasting presence with us. Thank you for all the saints—for the Children of God and your Spirit that intercedes for us, leads us, and helps us in our weakness. Replace our fear with faith, dear Lord. Keep us walking in kindness and gentleness, praying without ceasing, and making new friendships so that others may see a glimpse of your love. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.
Sharing God's Love and Grace 