Today marks the beginning of advent. This is quite literally the beginning of a new year in the church calendar. We tell the story of Jesus throughout the year and advent starts us off with his birth. For some, rehearsing this story is nostalgic and begins a season of good heart-warming traditions. For others, it feels repetitive (those carols we always sing!) and tired, so lacks significant meaning. How does the story of Jesus in a manger tie into our lives now? What hope can we find through this familiar narrative? How is Jesus a present hope?