Renowned folk-music composer and performer Jay Smar to be in concert at St. Mark's and St. John's Episcopal Church, 21 Race Street, Jim Thorpe, at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, September 14.

Rev. John Wagner, pastor of the church, said Smar's performance will be followed by a "folk mass," at which all baptized Christians will be invited to receive Christ's Body and Blood. A free-will offering will be collected.In the recent past, Jay Smar has toured Scotland twice, received recognition from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival twice, recorded music for the BBC movie "The Welsh in America" and has been selected by the Performing Arts on Tour to be on their professional touring roster.Armed with 2 guitars, baritone vocals, claw-hammer banjo, and fiddling, singing and flat-footin' (a form of clog-dancing), he serves his audience an "acoustic buffet" of traditional American and original folk ol' time mountain music, bluegrass and gospel tunes, as well as coal mining songs of Northeast Pennsylvania preceded by their origin.Original and "covered" guitar instrumentals garnish this plate of cultural cuisine.Jay is expected to showcase music of the coal industry during his concert at St. Mark's and St. John's, and will be providing the music for the "Folk Mass" which will follow his concert.For further information contact Fr. John at 570-325-2241 or

frjohn@ptd.net