karenpts

Bread

Meditation on Exodus 16, selected verses, and Luke 4:1-13 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Pastor Karen Crawford First Sunday in Lent March 9, 2025 Precious Lord, take my hand Lead me on, let me stand I am tired, I am weak, I am worn Through the storm, Through the night, Lead me on toContinue reading “Bread”

What’s Important

Meditation on John 14 In Memory of Matthew John Kutil May 29, 1966-March 4, 2025 Pastor Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY March 10, 2025 Matthew Kutil was the best softball player our church team ever had. Coach John Agostini said Matthew won championships for us. He never did anything halfway.Continue reading “What’s Important”

Soil

Tell Me About Your Garden Series for Lent Psalm 51:1-17; Genesis 4a-25 Ash Wednesday March 5, 2025 Thank you to the 15 gardeners, ranging in age from 51 to 102, for opening your homes and gardens to me and sharing your stories in the summer and fall of 2024 and as a group inContinue reading “Soil”

Vision

Devotion on Exodus 3:1-17 and Luke 9:28-36 Tell Me About Your Garden series Pastor Karen Crawford Transfiguration Sunday March 2, 2025 “O God, light a candle in my heart. And sweep the darkness from Your dwelling space. Amen.” – Marian Wright Edelman Thank you to the 15 gardeners, ranging in age from 51 to 102,Continue reading “Vision”

Like Trees

Meditation on Psalm 1:1-3 Tell Me About Your Garden series: First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Pastor Karen Crawford Feb. 16, 2025 (Prelude to Lent) “When I rise up let me rise up joyful like a bird. When I fall let me fall without regret like a leaf.”—Wendell Berry [1] Thank you to the 15Continue reading “Like Trees”

Worked all night, caught nothing

Meditation on Luke 5:1-11 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Pastor Karen Crawford Feb. 9, 2025 As we prepare to celebrate our 350th anniversary, I have been looking through old directories and history books. This week, I came across a black and white picture directory from 1968, featuring many young families. Who was here inContinue reading “Worked all night, caught nothing”

I Am Only a Boy

Meditation on Jeremiah 1:4–10 and First Corinthians 13:1-13 Pastor Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Feb. 2, 2025 I wrote a long letter and emailed it to my friend, Britt, this week. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where the weather forecast for today is -11 degrees F, with a wind chill makingContinue reading “I Am Only a Boy”

The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me

Meditation on Luke 4:14-21 Pastor Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Jan. 26, 2025 This is a happy day for our congregation. Today, we will ordain and/or install our Elders and Deacons to active service. Ordination is truly God’s gift to the church—the Lord’s way of equipping and caring for the people of God.Continue reading “The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me”

The First of His Signs! Water into Wine!

Meditation on John 2: 1-11 Pastor Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Jan. 19, 2025 Have you been to any weddings lately? The story of the wedding at Cana always makes me remember the little things that go wrong at weddings. One time, when I was presiding over a wedding in Ohio, theContinue reading “The First of His Signs! Water into Wine!”

Filled with Expectation!

Meditation on Luke 3:15–17, 21–22 Baptism of Our Lord Sunday Rev. Karen Crawford Jan. 12, 2025 We have just made a new memory together! One more for the history books! We remembered our baptisms and recognized those who have been baptized in our church. Most of those present today who were baptized in our churchContinue reading “Filled with Expectation!”