karenpts

Created in Christ Jesus for Good Works

Meditation on Ephesians 2:1-10 for Reformation Sunday Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Oct. 25, 2026 I received a call a couple of weeks ago from the presbytery’s nominating committee. It didn’t come as a surprise that the committee would ask me to serve a second 3-year-term on the Commission ofContinue reading “Created in Christ Jesus for Good Works”

“Show me the money”

Meditation on Matthew 22:15-22 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford Oct. 18, 2026 I visited Tom Deakins at St. Catherine’s Hospital last Sunday. He had been hospitalized with symptoms of a stroke, but the MRI machine had been broken for the first anxious days of his stay. Finally, the machine hadContinue reading ““Show me the money””

“And the God of Peace will be with you

First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown” Meditation on Philippians 4:1-9 Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford Oct. 11, 2026 Dolly Parton is no longer with us. She went home to the Lord on August 25 after a brief battle with cancer. She was just 80 years old. I was shocked to hear of her passing as many peopleContinue reading ““And the God of Peace will be with you”

The First Christian Community

Meditation on Acts 2:37-47 Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown World Communion Sunday Oct. 4, 2026 We don’t know the exact day or even the season when the first church is organized in Smithtown. No records remain concerning its formation. But historians believe that the year is 1675. And that the firstContinue reading “The First Christian Community”

Come, Labor On! Well done! Well done!

Meditation on Matthew 20:1-16 Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Commissioning the Choirs and Welcoming New Members Sept. 27, 2026 Do animals have morals? What do you think? Maybe it depends on the animals. I listened to an NPR/TED Talk yesterday with that title, “Do animals have morals?” “Empathy, cooperation, andContinue reading “Come, Labor On! Well done! Well done!”

Amazing Children of the Bible Series: Timothy

Meditation on 1 Timothy chapter 6 verses 6 through 16 Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Sept. 20, 2026 Today, we have the joy of baptizing Valentina Bella McMaster-Castro. Valentina, daughter of Savannah McMaster and Jahn Castro, is my 21st baptism here at First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown. Twenty-one doesn’t seem likeContinue reading “Amazing Children of the Bible Series: Timothy”

Amazing Children of the Bible Series: The Boy with Loaves and Fish

Meditation on John 6:1-14 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford Sept. 13, 2026: Rally Day! Kathy and her daughter, Jessica, left a present for me on my desk a week or so ago. I didn’t know why, at first, the Sunday School teachers gave me a plastic bag filled with rolledContinue reading “Amazing Children of the Bible Series: The Boy with Loaves and Fish”

Amazing Children of the Bible Series: Daniel

Meditation on Daniel 1:1-17 Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation Sept. 6, 2026 When Wendell Berry was 30, “he confronted in himself a deep need to return to his roots.” He moved “to an old two-room cabin on the Kentucky River at Port Royal, in Henry County, whereContinue reading “Amazing Children of the Bible Series: Daniel”

Amazing Children of the Bible Series: Little Maid of Israel

Meditation on 2 Kings 5:1-14 Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Aug. 30, 2026 Has anyone seen hummingbirds this summer? Does anyone plant certain flowers known to attract and feed hummingbirds? Do you make your own sugar water? Who does both? I was thinking this week as I washing out the hummingbirdContinue reading “Amazing Children of the Bible Series: Little Maid of Israel”

Amazing Children of the Bible Series: Josiah

Meditation on 2 Kings 22 and 23, selected verses Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown August 23, 2026 How is your garden growing, with all this rain? I was away a few weeks and when I came back, my flowers had grown tall and toppled over. I tried to do a littleContinue reading “Amazing Children of the Bible Series: Josiah”