desert

MINISTRIES

P R E S E N T S

December 8, 2011 Doubletree Hotel—Main Ballroom

1:30 P.M.

Our “4-Star”Sponsors

Our “4-Star”Sponsors

Our “4-Star”Sponsors

Our “2-Star” Sponsors

“Christmas In Our Hearts”

O Come, O Come Emmanuel— Paul Falkowski, soprano saxophone

Angels We Have Heard on High—

Paul Falkowski, alto sax

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear— Paul Falkowski, alto sax

Christmas Song—

Kerri Nikunen

Away in a Manger— Kerri Nikunen

Do You Hear What I Hear?—

Kyle Knapp/Kerri Nikunen

What Child is This?— Kyle Knapp/Kerri Nikunen

Come Thou Long-expected Jesus—

Kyle Knapp

The Christmas Story— Paul Newell

Silent Night

A. Louise Reed Resident of Good Samaritan Society—Millard

O Come All Ye Faithful Diane Thomas leads the audience in this classic carol

Christmas Lullaby—

Colette Plagman & Sandi Wilds

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Colette Plagman & Sandi Wilds

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas—

Erin Endress

Sleigh Ride— Erin Endress

Winter Wonderland—

Erin Endress

“Merry Christmas Doll” John Rogers

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas”

John Rogers

Let it Snow— Diane Thomas/Pamela Kragt—Deja Blu

Christmas Waltz

Diane Thomas & Pamela Kragt—Deja Blu

Jingle Bells Diane Thomas & Pamela Kragt—Deja Blu

Christmas in Our Hearts—

Kerri Nikunen

Performers in Order of Appearance: Paul Falkowski Kerri Nikunen Kyle Knapp Paul Newell A. Louise Reed Colette Plagman Sandi Wilds Erin Endress John Rogers Diane Thomas Pamela Kragt Sound: Tom Sharman, Tesco Productions Lighting & Special Effects: Jayden & Bridget Burmeister, Mixnitlive Productions Set Design: Marilyn Doolittle Angel Hager Traffic Control & Parking: Bob Plagman Bill Robinson Chet Addison

Volunteer Coordinator: Priscilla Quinn Photography Emilio Franso Photography—Lincoln, NE Ed Joseph for Desert Ministries Santa & Mrs. Claus: David & Mary Johannes Gifts and Goody Bags: Aby and Aida Zuniga

A very big thank you to the DoubleTree staff for working very hard to make this event a great success!

Poinsettias: HyVee Stores At the conclusion of the concert, each facility may take one poinsettia home. Only one per facility please!

List of Participants

The Story of “Christmas in Our Hearts”

This year’s performance marks 14 years of Christmas concerts sponsored by Desert Ministries for Omaha long-term care residents, their families and the care staff who work in these facilities. For some of our guests, this will be their only Christmas. The theme song, “Christmas in Our Hearts,” was written by Kerri Nikunen, local singer and songwriter. You will also hear Kerri on the radio from time to time singing jingles for local business radio ads. Fourteen years ago, Paul Falkowski called his friend Kerri and asked, “Could you write a song for our concert, with the words, ‘Christmas in our hearts’ as part of the lyrics?” With her great “can-do” attitude she answered, “Sure, let me think about it!” The following morning, Falkowski answered his telephone at 8:00 A.M. to hear an excited Kerri Nikunen asking, “Do you want to hear it?” “Hear what?” Falkowski asked. “The song. I’ve written the song!” “Yes, of course!” Falkowski answered. And Kerri sang “Christmas in Our Hearts,” into the telephone. Falkowski was in complete shock. Kerri went on to explain that as she had been taking her walk the previous evening and while listening to music on her Walkman, the batteries died. Disappointed, she continued her walk, but as she did the words “Christmas in our hearts” came to her mind. She began to sing a melody line to it. Realizing that she was birthing the song, she called her telephone and sang into her voicemail! This way she wouldn’t forget it. The rest is history. The song not only climaxes our concert, but is now produced, recorded and has been played on local radio stations each Christmas since then. When Christmas comes we think of visiting the “old folks” at the nursing home. But what about the rest of the year? Less than half of nursing home residents get visitors from anyone. Those without visitors are twice as likely to die in the same period as those people who do get visitors. They don’t die from old age, they die from a broken-heart. One year, as people were leaving the concert, a nursing home resident turned to one of our volunteers and said, “Thank you.” The volunteer said, “No problem, we love doing this.” The old woman replied, “No, you don’t understand, it’s just nice to know someone was even thinking about us.” At Desert Ministries we’re doing more than just thinking. Please, join us in our efforts to support the men and women who live and work in nursing homes.

Please visit our website for all the latest Desert Ministries news and volunteer

opportunities!

www.desertministries.org

Our outreaches would not happen without the generous support of people like you.

Please see

Ed Joseph at the back of the concert hall, to discuss how you can become a financial partner with

Desert Ministries!

Desert Ministries, Inc.—P.O. Box 3301—Omaha, NE 68103 Telephone: (402)556-8032—E-mail: info@desertministries.org

Website: http://www.desertministries.org