June 2025 – Sharing God's Love and Grace

There Is Love

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 13 Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown On the Occasion of the Reaffirmation of Wedding Vows for Nine Couples June 29, 2025 From the beginning, it was a math problem. First, it was the timing. A busy journalist, divorced mother of three little boys, moving into our firstContinue reading “There Is Love”

Journeys

Meditation on 1 Kings 19:1-15a Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY June 22, 2025 We gathered at Lori Yastrub’s for our Sunday School picnic yesterday. Lori, our elder for children and youth Faith Formation, and her husband, Steve, have a swimming pool. With yesterday’s warm temperatures, the children so enjoyed theContinue reading “Journeys”

Endurance Produces Character

Meditation on Romans 5:1-5 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford June 15, 2025: Trinity Sunday/Choral Appreciation Sunday I discovered this week that our congregation has ALWAYS sung hymns. When we met in our original building on Moriches Road, most hymns were sung as rounds or refrains with the words and theContinue reading “Endurance Produces Character”

Filled with the Spirit

Meditation on Acts 2:1–21 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford Pentecost June 8, 2025 Today, on Pentecost, we recognize the Sunday School students’ enthusiastic participation and give thanks for their families who faithfully brought them to church and nurtured the faith and love of the Lord at home. And weContinue reading “Filled with the Spirit”

“I will not leave you orphaned”

Meditation on John 14:18-27 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford In Memory of Palma Courtney March 22, 1931 – May 31, 2025 Palma DiMilia Courtney was born on the second day of spring in 1931 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Her parents were Josephine and Angelo, immigrants from southern Italy. These were the daysContinue reading ““I will not leave you orphaned””

Enlightened Witnesses

Meditation on Luke 24: 44-53 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford Ascension of the Lord June 1, 2025 Any mystery fans here? I like to watch crime dramas on ACORN. Jim and I watch from 9 to 10:30 p.m., if I am home and can stay awake. We just finished theContinue reading “Enlightened Witnesses”