It is often easy to get locked in to our own views and  interpretations, especially when it comes to our gospel  reading and interpretation traditions. However, we can  often most easily see our own fixatedness by approaching  these areas from different locations, and indeed through  different media. Each of the essays in this issue asks us to  revisit biblical and theological narratives which we should  know very well and view them through a different lens.  Not necessarily to change our minds, nor to discard our  thinking, but to be refreshed and renewed in our  appreciation of the biblical narrative, and especially

Advent.

The placement of Advent at the beginning of our church  liturgical calendar gives us a wonderful opportunity to  examine the biblical birth narratives alongside our  culture’s penchant for tinsel, carols, and kitsch.  Indeed, as our Evangelical tradition is often one for  words and ideas the visual and aesthetic nature of  our Advent and Christmas celebrations give good  opportunity for engagement and reflection from the  other side of our brains.

Additionally with the cyclical nature of the church  calendar, we are blessed with the possibility of  annually repeated moments where our culture and  church collide in fruitful explorations of the gospel.  May we be surprised, refreshed, renewed,  strengthened, and challenged again this advent as we  engage the cultures around us with the beauty and  blessings of the gospel. For: “the virgin shall  conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him  Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’” (Mt  1:23, NRSVA)

CHRISTOPHER PORTER