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”
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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!”
Christmas Moments
Meditation on Luke 2:1–20 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Pastor Karen Crawford Christmas Eve: Dec. 24, 2024 Does everyone have their Christmas trees decorated? This is the first time in many years that I haven’t put up a large Christmas tree! We only have a small artificial tree on a table in our entranceContinue reading “Christmas Moments”
Comfort, O Comfort My People
Meditation on Luke 3:1-6 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Pastor Karen Crawford Second Sunday of Advent Dec. 8, 2024 I took my cat, Liam, to the vet this week. It was time for his yearly exam and rabies’ shot. I worried how I would get him into his cat carrier, which has so many memoriesContinue reading “Comfort, O Comfort My People”
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
Meditation on Luke 21:25–36 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Pastor Karen Crawford First Sunday of Advent Dec. 1, 2024 I like figs. Do you like figs? In a tryout sermon, years ago on the First Sunday of Advent, I shared a children’s message about the lesson of the fig tree. I brought fig newtons forContinue reading “The Lesson of the Fig Tree”
Sharing God's Love and Grace 