desert

MINISTRIES

P R E S E N T S

December 9, 2010 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

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year— Marian Greer, Colette Plagman

Welcome to Our World—

Marian Greer

Let It Snow— Erin Storey, Kerri Nikunen, John Rogers, Marian Greer

Sleigh Ride— Erin Storey

Winter Wonderland— Erin Storey

“Merry Christmas Doll”

John Rogers

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” John Rogers

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas— Erin Storey

Bethlehem Star— Amanda Coker/Bill Coker

The Star Carol—

Amanda Coker/Bill Coker/Paul Falkowski

Christmas in Our Hearts— Kerri Nikunen

Performers in Order of Appearance: Paul Falkowski Kerri Nikunen Kyle Knapp John Rogers Paul Newell Marian Greer Colette Plagman Erin Storey Amanda Coker William (Bill) Coker Rich DelSenno—Accordian Sound: Tom Sharman, Tesco Productions Lighting & Special Effects: Jayden & Bridget Burmeister, Mixnitlive Productions Set Design: Marilyn Doolittle Poinsettias: HyVee Stores Traffic Control & Parking: Bob Plagman Bill Robinson Chet Addison

Volunteer Coordinator: Kate Falkowski Garcia Aby Zuniga Photography Shoma Roberto Carlos Lee Santa & Mrs. Claus: David & Mary Johannes A very big thank you to the DoubleTree staff for working very hard to make this event a great success!

List of Participants

The Gift of Song Songbooks are a gift from the students of Skutt Catholic High School. Skutt Catholic High closes down the entire school once per year for Community Involvement Day. The entire student body goes throughout the Omaha/Council Bluffs area to benefit the poor and needy. Our advisement worked at a retirement home where we led the singing and the kids danced for the folks there. As a follow-up to this we put together these music books to give them out to all of the elderly. We planned to give out fifty. They take one hour per twenty-five to run off and staple and roll into a booklet. So far we have made 800!! Merry Christmas to all who receive!

The Story of “Christmas in Our Hearts”

This year’s performance will mark 10 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 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. Ten 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 our donors. Please see

Andrew Dungan, 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