Meditation on Acts 16:16-34 Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Music Ministry Appreciation Sunday June 7, 2026 Who here likes to sing and make music for the Lord? Music has always been important to me—all my life. And I cannot imagine worship without singing and instrumental music! It just wouldn’t be theContinue reading “The Power of Music”
Tag Archives: christianity
I Am with You Always
Meditation on Matthew 28:16–20 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford Trinity Sunday May 31, 2026 Any basketball fans here? Jim and I were watching the San Antonio Spurs play Oklahoma City Thunder last Sunday night. It was game 4 in the Western Conference Finals. He wanted the Spurs to win, but heContinue reading “I Am with You Always”
Podcast Episode: Easter Reflections And Unity
Pip: If you have ever wondered what it looks like when Easter refuses to stay in the past tense, you have come to the right podcast. Mara: This episode draws on a stretch of recent sermons from Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford, covering resurrection hope and what it means to be living stones, the shepherd’s voiceContinue reading “Podcast Episode: Easter Reflections And Unity”
Everyone!
Meditation on Acts 2:1-21 Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Pentecost May 24, 2026 I was at our presbytery offices in West Islip this week for a General Assembly training. I am one of two ministers of Word and Sacrament commissioned by the presbytery to go to GA in Milwaukee at theContinue reading “Everyone!”
What Can Living Stones Do?
Meditation on John 14:1-14 and 1 Peter 2:2-10 Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Fifth Sunday of Easter May 3, 2026 We had our Presbytery meeting in Cutchogue yesterday. Been to Cutchogue? It was my first time. But the white church reminded me of many of the white wooden churches onContinue reading “What Can Living Stones Do?”
My Sheep Hear My Voice
Meditation on John 10:1-10 Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown April 26, 2026 (Creation Care Sunday) Jim and I have returned from our visit to Jim’s family in Northern Island. We did have a good time, although it rained and was quite chilly for all but 3 days. But it’s as theContinue reading “My Sheep Hear My Voice”
Wounded Healer
Meditation on John 20:19-31 Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown April 12, 2026 (Second Sunday of Easter) Have you been following Artemis II? NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years returned safely to Earth on Friday after completing its historic trip around the moon. The four-member crew successfully splashedContinue reading “Wounded Healer”
Looking for Jesus
Meditation on Matthew 28:1-10 Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown April 5, 2026 He is Risen! Alleluia! Every Easter, I remember my grandmother singing in church, Jesus Christ is Risen Today. Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day. Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia! Grandma SpringerContinue reading “Looking for Jesus”
Holy Dust!
Meditation for Ash Wednesday Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Feb. 18, 2026 Yesterday, I was feeling especially grateful and the Lord brought one of my seminary professors to mind. I had seen the announcement of his retirement. But I wondered what became of him. I haven’t seen him since my graduationContinue reading “Holy Dust!”
The Gospel of Matthew for Lent/Easter
Rev. Dr. Karen E. Crawford In 2010, Tom Wright, New Testament Scholar and the former Bishop of Durham and Lord Spiritual in the UK Parliament, was asked to write a guidebook for “The Big Read.” The ecumenical project in Lent and Eastertide involved encouraging people to read through the gospel of Luke. Wright wrote aContinue reading “The Gospel of Matthew for Lent/Easter”
Sharing God's Love and Grace 