Meditation on Psalm 46 Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Reformation Sunday Oct. 26, 2025 We’ve been hearing about AI lately. Artificial Intelligence. If you don’t know what I am talking about when I say AI, that’s OK. I don’t know what I am talking about, either. Not really. Earlier this week,Continue reading “Be Still and Know”
Tag Archives: first-presbyterian-church-of-smithtown
Pray Always! Do Not Lose Heart!
Meditation on Luke 18:1-8 Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Oct. 19, 2025 (Baptism of Oliver Reinhardt) Did anyone read Anne of Green Gables as a child? The story is by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery and is set in a farming village on Prince Edward Island in the late 19th century.Continue reading “Pray Always! Do Not Lose Heart!”
Praising God with a Loud Voice!
Meditation on Luke 17:11-19 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford Oct. 12, 2025 I had a nice phone conversation with Sue Potter Spencer yesterday. Does anyone remember the Potters? Sue, who now lives in Weston, MA, mailed me a large envelope of church materials belonging to her parents, Edwin and Marjorie Potter,Continue reading “Praising God with a Loud Voice!”
Embracing our History, Living our Faith
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”
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”
Journeys
Meditation on 1 Kings 19:1-15a Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY June 22, 2025 We gathered at Lori Yastrub’s for our Sunday School picnic yesterday. Lori, our elder for children and youth Faith Formation, and her husband, Steve, have a swimming pool. With yesterday’s warm temperatures, the children so enjoyed theContinue reading “Journeys”
Endurance Produces Character
Meditation on Romans 5:1-5 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford June 15, 2025: Trinity Sunday/Choral Appreciation Sunday I discovered this week that our congregation has ALWAYS sung hymns. When we met in our original building on Moriches Road, most hymns were sung as rounds or refrains with the words and theContinue reading “Endurance Produces Character”
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””
Enlightened Witnesses
Meditation on Luke 24: 44-53 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford Ascension of the Lord June 1, 2025 Any mystery fans here? I like to watch crime dramas on ACORN. Jim and I watch from 9 to 10:30 p.m., if I am home and can stay awake. We just finished theContinue reading “Enlightened Witnesses”
Sharing God's Love and Grace 