Christmas In Our Hearts with Community 360?
- CIOH 2012 audience gathers
- On Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 11th 2012, nearly 400 residents and staff of local and area nursing homes and care facilities arrived by the van-load at The DoubleTree Hotel in Downtown Omaha. They had come for the 15th annual “Christmas In Our Hearts” show. “Christmas In Our Hearts” is a free annual holiday musical production by Community 360? (formerly known as Desert Ministries). Community 360? is a terrific non-profit organization of skilled, caring volunteers that, for over 20 years, have befriended and served residents of nursing homes and care centers. Paul Falkowski, Community 360? Executive Director, smiled broadly as volunteers helped frail, smiling people slowly out of their vans, often in wheelchairs or walkers and with oxygen. Off they went, through the hotel to the Grand Ballroom where a magical Christmas experience awaited. For too many, this would be their only Christmas celebration, and for some, their last.
The DoubleTree Ballroom’s stage was beautifully decked out with poinsettias and trees. Santa and Mrs. Claus were posing for pictures in the back of the room while the audience slowly assembled…and I do mean slowly.
Then, complete with multiple wireless mics, a nice video screen, intelligent lighting and effects (including snow) and crisp, clean house audio, the show began. Paul played some beautiful sax on several traditional Christmas tracks and, to paraphrase a popular holiday song, it really was “beginning to feel a lot like Christmas”
A series of talented singers and musicians then took turns entertaining the very receptive audience. I was honored to again be among the performers, and when I took the stage with my trusty Taylor 614CE acoustic guitar, I shouted, off-mic, “Merry Christmas” to the crowd. To my great pleasure, most of these frail, elderly folks hollered it right back with gusto! I then asked if there might be a few US military veterans in the audience, which of course, there were. The whole room joined me as I thanked them and we applauded them for their service. I performed “Merry Christmas Doll” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, with the crowd joining in on the last verse.
CIOH-2012-Paul-intro
CIOH 2012 Paul Sax
Each face I made contact with and each eye I caught was smiling. What a pleasure to sing and play music for such an audience…people who both greatly deserve and truly appreciate some holiday TLC. We all had the true Spirit of the Season in us.
The finale and title song, “Christmas In Our Hearts”, was written and sung by Keri Nikunen. It is a beautiful song of celebration and hope and we all joined her onstage for the last choruses. BTW, Keri is the voice you hear singing, “Control Comfort…keeps it under control.” The woman is a gem, has serious pipes, lots of soul and wrote a great Christmas song; it’s on my seasonal playlist.
As the house lights came up and each care center’s residents were summoned van-by-van, there was plenty of time for us performers to again visit with many of the audience. Each smiled when spoken to and graciously thanked us for our performance.
But, as usual, we performers (who always get most of the praise) were only a part of the production. Generous donors and contributors included The DoubleTree Hotel, Tesco Productions, Mixinitlive Productions, Midwest Sound & Lighting, Emilio Franso Photography, Vetter Health Services, Pinnacle Bank, Localmotion, Canoyer Garden Center, Pam, Pat, Bill, Chet, Bob, Priscilla, David and Mary and countless other care facility staff and Community 360? volunteers.
This show has become the way I catch the Christmas Spirit each year, and it worked again.
I think everybody got their cup filled. I know I did.
Merry Christmas to all,
John Rogers
Midwest Sound & Lighting, Inc. www.mwsound.com Community 360? Development Committee www.community-360.org
Peace, Love, Etc. www.PeaceLoveEtcBand.com