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”

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”

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?”

For Daniel Davidsen’s Eagle Scout Honor Court

First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford Aug. 2, 2025 It is rare for a pastor to meet in her congregation a young man who possesses the gifts and talents of Daniel Davidsen. It is rarer still to meet a young man whose heart is for serving God and neighbor. Daniel grewContinue reading “For Daniel Davidsen’s Eagle Scout Honor Court”

Who Is My Neighbor?

Meditation on Luke 10:25-37 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford July 13, 2025 Something caught my eye in the grass after filling my birdfeeders the other day. Something moved—gave a little jump but didn’t go far. I assumed it would be one of the bold chipmunks or squirrels, anxious to beContinue reading “Who Is My Neighbor?”

Filled with the Spirit

Meditation on Acts 2:1–21 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford Pentecost June 8, 2025         Today, on Pentecost, we recognize the Sunday School students’ enthusiastic participation and give thanks for their families who faithfully brought them to church and nurtured the faith and love of the Lord at home. And weContinue reading “Filled with the Spirit”

“I will not leave you orphaned”

Meditation on John 14:18-27 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford In Memory of Palma Courtney March 22, 1931 – May 31, 2025  Palma DiMilia Courtney was born on the second day of spring in 1931 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Her parents were Josephine and Angelo, immigrants from southern Italy. These were the daysContinue reading ““I will not leave you orphaned””

She Was Listening with Her Heart

Meditation on Acts 16:9-15 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford May 25, 2025 Last weekend was a whirlwind of activities, beginning with a long travel day on Friday to Austin, TX, due to weather-related delays. Jim and I finally arrived at our hotel at 4:30 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday. Later that day,Continue reading “She Was Listening with Her Heart”

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