Meditation on Mark 4:35–41 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Pastor Karen Crawford June 30, 2024 What are you afraid of? What started out as a lighthearted conversation stirred some more serious thoughts later. Jim was picking up a bug with a napkin under the kitchen table yesterday—a bug that our cat, Liam, happened to beContinue reading “Living in the Calm”
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All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Sunday School
Meditation on Matthew 7:24-29 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Pastor Karen Crawford June 23, 2024 Sunday School Recognition Day Some years ago, Robert Fulghum had a best-selling book called, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Does anyone remember that book? I found a list of things he said that heContinue reading “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Sunday School”
Seed, Scattered and Sown
Message on Mark 4:26-34 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Pastor Karen Crawford June 16, 2024 I was happy to hear that everything went well with the gifts of children’s clothing and baby wipes and diapers at Smithtown’s homeless shelter while I was away. Thank you to all who gave these gifts for families in need,Continue reading “Seed, Scattered and Sown”
Send Me!
Meditation on Isaiah 6:1–8 Pastor Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Trinity Sunday/Memorial Day Weekend May 26, 2024 I can’t remember the moment when I heard God calling me to parish ministry. I don’t think it was just one moment, actually, but rather a gradual illumination, a slow dawning, that this was God’sContinue reading “Send Me!”
The Secret of Happiness
Meditation on Ezekiel 37:1–14 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Pastor Karen Crawford May 19, 2024 Pentecost The title of my message today is, “The Secret of Happiness.” I would love to know, right now, before I start preaching, does anyone already know the secret of happiness? Have you found it? Do you want to shareContinue reading “The Secret of Happiness”
And He Was Carried Up into Heaven!
Meditation on Luke 24:44–53 Pastor Karen Crawford Ascension of Our Lord May 12, 2024 It’s so good to be back with my flock today—after being away two Sundays! It felt like a long time for me. I missed you so much. Thank you for your cards and calls! My eye surgeries went well. I amContinue reading “And He Was Carried Up into Heaven!”
“Keeper” of the Garden
Meditation on Genesis 2:4b-10, 15 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Pastor Karen Crawford April 21, 2024 Creation Care Sunday We hosted a funeral at the church yesterday. The service was not for a member but for someone with Smithtown family connections. Everything went smoothly. Special thanks to our volunteers who helped behind the scenes!Continue reading ““Keeper” of the Garden”
Meditation on Romans 8
In Memory of Gillette Dauphinot Piper First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Pastor Karen Crawford April 20, 2024 Gillette did not have an ordinary childhood. But how could she? She was born in 1941, a time that lives on in the American memory, the year Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor, and our world would beContinue reading “Meditation on Romans 8”
“Have You Anything to Eat?”
Meditation on Luke 24:36b-48 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Pastor Karen Crawford April 14, 2024 I have a scar on my left wrist that is almost as old as I am. There’s a story behind every scar, isn’t there? I was thinking the other day how there’s only one person left in the worldContinue reading ““Have You Anything to Eat?””
What Do You Need to Believe?
Meditation on John 20:19–31 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Pastor Karen Crawford Second Sunday of Easter April 7, 2024 Where were you on Friday when Long Island experienced an earthquake? Did you know it was an earthquake, right away? The earthquake we felt this past Friday, April 5, was a magnitude 4.8 at itsContinue reading “What Do You Need to Believe?”
Sharing God's Love and Grace 