On Thursday afternoon, Dec. 8th 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 for the 14th annual “Christmas
In Our Hearts” show. “Christmas In Our Hearts” is an
annual, free holiday musical production by Desert
Ministries (desertministries.org), a non-profit, non-
denominational organization involved in care facilities
and nursing homes. Paul Falkowski, Desert Ministries’
Executive Director, recruits dozens of caring volunteers
to help frail, smiling people slowly out of their vans,
often in wheelchairs or walkers and with oxygen, through
the hotel and to the Grand Ballroom, where Christmas
awaits.
The DoubleTree Ballroom’s stage was beautifully decked
out with poinsettias and trees and 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, nice
intelligent lighting and crisp, clean house audio, the show
began as Paul played some beautiful sax on several nice
Christmas tracks. It really was beginning to feel a lot like
Christmas…
A series of talented singers and musicians then each took
turns entertaining the very receptive audience. I was
honored to be among the performers, and when I took
the stage with my trusty Taylor 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! What a pleasure to sing and play music for
such an audience…people who both greatly deserve and
truly appreciate some TLC.
The finale and title song, “Christmas In Our Hearts”, was
written by Keri Nikunen, who was, unfortunately, under
the weather and couldn’t close the show as planned.
Thankfully, the talented Erin Endress stepped right up
and nailed Keri’s beautiful song of celebration and hope
as we all joined her onstage for the last choruses.
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 visit with many of the
audience. We’d introduce ourselves, ask their name,
where they’re from and what their life’s work was. To a
person, each smiled when spoken to and thanked us for
our performance.
I think everybody got their cup filled. I know I did.
Merry Christmas to all,
John Rogers