The Spirit of Christmas Concert 2009
Tickets are now on sale for The Spirit of Christmas Concert 2009,
featuring Pastor Piano Man Dave and Penni from Heaven.
Concert to benefit children in foster care being served by CASA for Kids.
The Flathead Valley in Montana has seen an alarming increase in the number of children removed from their homes due to allegations of abuse and/or neglect. These children will be the beneficiaries of The Spirit of Christmas Concert scheduled to start at 6:30 pm on Saturday, December 12 in the Performance Hall at Glacier High School in Kalispell.
The Spirit of Christmas Concert is an annual event spear-headed by Pastor David Merkel and Penni Chisholm with the goals of nurturing the Spirit of Christmas, building awareness of abused children in our community, and raising funds for non-profits in northwest Montana. This year’s concert will provide monetary benefit to Flathead CASA for Kids and non-perishable food for the Food Banks in Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls.
The seemingly contradictory nature of a pastor as an entertainer, a former traveling professional musician and piano bar entertainer, may be a part of what attracts attention; but it is the spirit of the concert itself combined with the talents of musicians from the area that cause people to leave the concert uplifted and with a renewed spirit of Christmas. This year’s concert will include piano duets by Pastor Dave and Penni Chisholm, including 4-hands on one piano and 4-hands on two pianos, along with a slate of additional musical performances of Christmas, Christian, and secular music. Additional performers include: The Nutcracker Trio, a blend of professional musicians from the area; The Men’s Quartet, four Christian men from the area with amazing vocal talents; and The Columbia Falls United Methodist Church Choir.
Flathead CASA for Kids (CASA is an acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocates) is a non-profit organization that provides a court-appointed advocate to each innocent child that finds herself caught up in the legal system after being removed from her home by Child Protective Services due to allegations of abuse or neglect. The average annual cost to provide a volunteer advocate for each child is $1080. In October 2009, 111 children were being served by CASA in Flathead County in Montana. The demand for services provided by CASA are continually increasing, perhaps in part due to the financial stress more families are experiencing.
Tickets for the December 12th concert are on sale at the following locations: Glacier Bank branches in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Bigfork; Herberger’s in the Kalispell Center Mall; and Freedom Bank in Columbia Falls. Tickets are $12 each. Admission to the concert is one ticket and a non-perishable food donation for the area Food Banks.
Pastor Dave said “Each of us is called to share our gifts and graces in a way that helps heal the brokenness, and helps to nurture relationships with one another and with God. And we are all called to live lives that build up life, not tear it down.” Together, since 2004, Pastor Dave and Penni Chisholm have helped raise approximately $40,000 for charitable groups and organizations in northwest Montana through their performances.
More information about the concert is available online at: www.columbiafallsumc.org/spiritofchristmas. Additionally, a Facebook page is in place to allow people to interact with the featured performers as the concert takes shape. Visit the Facebook Page and become a “fan”. You can also click the logo below for more information.
On behalf of the young, innocent and abused/neglected children … I thank you for letting me do a little personal promotion for this concert.
This Christmas remember those who are shopping for hope, acceptance and love. Give of yourself.
- United Methodist Communications
Peace-
Pastor Dave
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