Meditation on 1 Cor. 3, selected verses (MSG) First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY The Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford Oct. 5, 2025, in honor of our 200th/350th anniversaries Four years ago, when I was in conversation with a committee seeking a pastor for the Presbyterian church in Smithtown, I was curious how a congregationContinue reading “Embracing our History, Living our Faith”
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Guard This Treasure, This Precious Thing
Meditation on 1 Timothy 1:1-14 (MSG) First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford World Communion Sunday: Oct. 5, 2025 Earlier this week, families with young children received a letter from me. I told them that today, on World Communion Sunday, we would be celebrating Communion early in the service, immediately following aContinue reading “Guard This Treasure, This Precious Thing”
Run for Your Life!
Meditation on 1 Timothy 6:6–19 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford Sept. 28, 2025 I pulled out Eugene Petersen’s paraphrase, The Message, for the reading of Paul’s first letter to Timothy today. On this day when we celebrate Christ’s claiming little James Lawrence in the waters of Baptism, and theContinue reading “Run for Your Life!”
Pray for Everyone
Meditation on 1 Timothy 2:1-7 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford Sept. 21, 2025 How many of you have ever ridden in a sailboat? How many of you have rowed a boat? It’s a lot of work to row a boat, isn’t it? Which would you rather do? Sail or row? Continue reading “Pray for Everyone”
Lost and Found
Meditation on Luke 15:1-10 Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Sept. 14, 2025 Our young disciples are back in worship! Isn’t it fabulous?? Someone texted me yesterday, “Rally Day. All your special young disciples will return. I’m sure you are excited, and we will have more stories!” Rally Day means notContinue reading “Lost and Found”
“O Great God”
Meditation in Memory of Harriet McMahon November 16,1942 – July 23, 2025 The Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford Smithtown Cemetery Sept. 12, 2025 Not long after I began serving our flock, Harriet’s family contacted the church. They were emptying out the home in Saint James where Harriet had lived for many years with her husband,Continue reading ““O Great God””
Being Made Useful to the Lord
Meditation on Philemon First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford Sept. 7, 2025 My mom and I just returned from our cruise, traveling from Norway to The Netherlands. It was amazing at times, especially when we were in the little village of Flam, and we had breathtaking views of the fjords. WeContinue reading “Being Made Useful to the Lord”
Run the Race of Faith!
Meditation on Hebrews 11:29-12:2 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Reverence Dr. Karen Crawford Aug. 17, 2025 Any golf fans in here? Any golfers? I admit that I don’t know much about the sport. I have never played golf before. Well, only miniature golf. My husband persuaded me to watch a new American sports comedyContinue reading “Run the Race of Faith!”
Faith: Conviction of Things Not Seen
Meditation on Luke 12: 32-34 and Hebrews 11:1–3, 8–16 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford Aug. 10, 2025 My healing journey continued this week. I am feeling better than I did a week ago and certainly better than two weeks ago, when I first hurt my back cleaning up my yard. SeveralContinue reading “Faith: Conviction of Things Not Seen”
Too Much Stuff?
Meditation onLuke 12:13-21 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford Aug. 3, 2025 We had the pleasure of hosting Daniel Davidsen’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor here in our sanctuary yesterday. Quite a few of our church members attended and helped with the reception that followed. The ceremony included numerous speakers sharingContinue reading “Too Much Stuff?”
Sharing God's Love and Grace 