As the noise of the holiday season rises, how can we recover the stillness, peace, and joy at the heart of Advent? In this deeply moving episode of Now & Then, host Wendy VanderWal Martin welcomes pastor and author Rich Villodas to explore his new devotional, Waiting for Jesus: An Advent Invitation to Prayer and Renewal.
Rich shares how the rhythms of the church calendar have reoriented his life and ministry in New York City — “the city that never sleeps” — toward waiting, peacemaking, rejoicing, and beholding. Together, Wendy and Rich reflect on how these ancient Advent themes offer an antidote to our culture’s frenzy and distraction, inviting us into a slower, more attentive way of being with God.
Listeners will be drawn into stories of how prayer sustains community, how true peace begins within, and how joy and lament can coexist in the same heart. Rich also opens up about the lasting influence of Henri Nouwen — his honesty, vulnerability, and insistence that we are all the beloved of God.
Whether you’re longing to rediscover the sacred meaning of Advent or simply seeking renewal in a weary world, this conversation offers a compassionate and contemplative guide to centering your life on Christ amid the clamor of December.
“Waiting is not despair — it’s dependence.” — Rich Villodas
Listen now to be inspired, refreshed, and reminded that even in a restless world, the invitation to behold beauty and live as God’s beloved still stands.
___________
Resources:
https://www.richvillodas.com/
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/776021/waiting-for-jesus-by-rich-villodas/9780593602607
___________
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As the noise of the holiday season rises, how can we recover the stillness, peace, and joy at the heart of Advent? In this deeply moving episode of Now & Then, host Wendy VanderWal Martin welcomes pastor and author Rich Villodas to explore his new devotional, Waiting for Jesus: An Advent Invitation to Prayer and Renewal.
Rich shares how the rhythms of the church calendar have reoriented his life and ministry in New York City — “the city that never sleeps” — toward waiting, peacemaking, rejoicing, and beholding. Together, Wendy and Rich reflect on how these ancient Advent themes offer an antidote to our culture’s frenzy and distraction, inviting us into a slower, more attentive way of being with God.
Listeners will be drawn into stories of how prayer sustains community, how true peace begins within, and how joy and lament can coexist in the same heart. Rich also opens up about the lasting influence of Henri Nouwen — his honesty, vulnerability, and insistence that we are all the beloved of God.
Whether you’re longing to rediscover the sacred meaning of Advent or simply seeking renewal in a weary world, this conversation offers a compassionate and contemplative guide to centering your life on Christ amid the clamor of December.
“Waiting is not despair — it’s dependence.” — Rich Villodas
Listen now to be inspired, refreshed, and reminded that even in a restless world, the invitation to behold beauty and live as God’s beloved still stands.
___________
Resources:
https://www.richvillodas.com/
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/776021/waiting-for-jesus-by-rich-villodas/9780593602607
___________
SUPPORT THIS PODCAST: henrinouwen.org/donate/
* SIGN UP FOR FREE DAILY E-MEDITATIONS:
henrinouwen.org/meditation/
* MORE FREE RESOURCES: henrinouwen.org/
* FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/henrinouwensociety/
TWITTER: twitter.com/nouwensociety
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/nouwensociety/
Welcome to Henri’s Bookshelf, a podcast brought to you by the Henri Nouwen Society — where timeless words spark fresh conversations.
In this episode, host Dr. Wendy VanderWal Martin is joined by Rev. Dr. Kyle Norman for a rich and reflective dive into one of Henri Nouwen’s most enduring works: Reaching Out. Together, they explore Nouwen’s spiritual vision of the inner journey — from loneliness to solitude, hostility to hospitality, and illusion to prayer.
Whether you're a longtime reader of Nouwen or discovering his wisdom for the first time, this conversation invites you to pause, reflect, and reach out — to God, to others, and to your own heart.
Let’s open the book… and begin the journey.
Check out the 2025 Week 4 Adult 19+: The Spirituality of Henri Nouwen: 4 ways to live as God's beloved With Ver. Rev. Dr. Kyle Norman Here:
https://sorrento-centre.secure.retreat.guru/program/2025-week-4-the-spirituality-of-henri-nouwen-4-ways-to-live-as-gods-beloved-copy/
___________
Book Discussed:
Reaching Out
https://amzn.to/37BuyjZ (US)
https://amzn.to/2AxxCBJ (Canada)
___________
SUPPORT THIS PODCAST: henrinouwen.org/donate/
* SIGN UP FOR FREE DAILY E-MEDITATIONS:
henrinouwen.org/meditation/
* MORE FREE RESOURCES: henrinouwen.org/
* FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/henrinouwensociety/
TWITTER: twitter.com/nouwensociety
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/nouwensociety/
PINTEREST: www.pinterest.ca/henrinouwen/
henrinouwensociety
As the noise of the holiday season rises, how can we recover the stillness, peace, and joy at the heart of Advent? In this deeply moving episode of Now & Then, host Wendy VanderWal Martin welcomes pastor and author Rich Villodas to explore his new devotional, Waiting for Jesus: An Advent Invitation to Prayer and Renewal.
Rich shares how the rhythms of the church calendar have reoriented his life and ministry in New York City — “the city that never sleeps” — toward waiting, peacemaking, rejoicing, and beholding. Together, Wendy and Rich reflect on how these ancient Advent themes offer an antidote to our culture’s frenzy and distraction, inviting us into a slower, more attentive way of being with God.
Listeners will be drawn into stories of how prayer sustains community, how true peace begins within, and how joy and lament can coexist in the same heart. Rich also opens up about the lasting influence of Henri Nouwen — his honesty, vulnerability, and insistence that we are all the beloved of God.
Whether you’re longing to rediscover the sacred meaning of Advent or simply seeking renewal in a weary world, this conversation offers a compassionate and contemplative guide to centering your life on Christ amid the clamor of December.
“Waiting is not despair — it’s dependence.” — Rich Villodas
Listen now to be inspired, refreshed, and reminded that even in a restless world, the invitation to behold beauty and live as God’s beloved still stands.
___________
Resources:
https://www.richvillodas.com/
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/776021/waiting-for-jesus-by-rich-villodas/9780593602607
___________
SUPPORT THIS PODCAST: henrinouwen.org/donate/
* SIGN UP FOR FREE DAILY E-MEDITATIONS:
henrinouwen.org/meditation/
* MORE FREE RESOURCES: henrinouwen.org/
* FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/henrinouwensociety/
TWITTER: twitter.com/nouwensociety
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/nouwensociety/
