Odds and Sods

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” - C.S. Lewis

Once again, and for the new year, it’s time to clean out the electronic notebook of things that caught my attention.

Middle East’s largest Christmas tree lit in Nazareth

Although the one in Dubai is pretty impressive, too.

Of local interest, and I’m glad to see the old site is appropriately experiencing some resurrection:

Waterbury’s Holy Land USA launches new walking trail that follows the Stations of the Cross

This will certainly be explored by A Wandering Coracle once it has been completed.

Peer-Reviewed Study Reveals Mysterious Mathematical Pattern in Art Throughout History

I’m not sure why this is surprising, as mathematics can also be used to understand how people are attracted to one another, but it is “peer-reviewed”, so there.

Stunning New Evidence Shows Easter Island’s Moai Came From Dozens of Secret Workshops

Again, I don’t know why this is “stunning” news, as it seems like the most logical way to build a massive public works project, but I guess academics are easily surprised.

Steve Cropper, Legendary Guitarist for Booker T. & the MG’s, Otis Redding and the Blues Brothers, Dies at 84

Well, darn. If you aren’t familiar with Booker T. and the M.G.’s, who were the house band at Stax Records, then you may know him from The Blues Brothers Band, as he, along with former M.G.’s Matt “Guitar” Murphy and Donald “Duck” Dunn [creator of the classic soul bass-line] were members. [They were in the movie, too. Murphy was the memorable on-screen spouse of Aretha Franklin.]

Perhaps you know Cropper from one of his compositions, such as the M.G.’s “Green Onions”, Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay”, and Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour”.

Something for gardeners and bored mushroom farmers:

There will be a pause in our visits to area labyrinths as most of them are outside and currently covered in snow. The January thaw [Do we still have those?] should restore our ability to perambulate these spiritual sites shortly.

We mentioned William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury [martyr] the other week as he was the mentor to Jeremy Taylor, one of our Teachers of the Faith. Laud enjoys a feast day on January 10th.

His story, in brief:

William Laud (1573–1645) was the Archbishop of Canterbury (from 1633 to 1645) under King Charles I.

Theologically, Laud favored high-church Anglicanism, emphasizing ceremony, liturgy, and the authority of bishops. His reforms—such as restoring altars to the east end of churches and promoting liturgical uniformity—were deeply unpopular with Puritans, who viewed him as sympathetic to Roman Catholicism. Politically, his close alliance with Charles I made him a convenient target for the over-excitable Oliver Cromwell and his minions.

This contributed to the rising tensions that sparked the English Civil War. Arrested by Parliament in 1640, Laud was imprisoned in the Tower of London and eventually executed for “treason” [aka disagreeing with Cromwell] in 1645. Regardless, Laud remains a significant figure in Anglican history for shaping our liturgical and institutional character.

Keep us, O Lord, constant in faith and zealous in witness, that, like your servant William Laud, we may live in your fear, die in your favor, and rest in your peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

P.S. There was some programming error with SubStack and not everyone received Sunday’s post to their email address. The link to it is below: