It’s the sort of gathering where familiar faces settle into their seats, instruments come out of well-traveled cases, and the room fills with the easy, lived-in sound of musicians who have been part of this community for decades.

The church’s Live Music Series returns with a free doubleheader celebrating the pickers, singers and storytellers who keep local traditions alive.

The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with the Shade Mountain Boys, followed by refreshments at 7:30 p.m., before Garden of Grace — the husband and wife duo Brian and Jayde Worley — closes the night with a songbook that includes classic oldies by Elvis Presley, Chuck Barry and Jerry Lee Lewis.

The Shade Mountain Boys will open the evening with a lively mix of bluegrass, gospel and classic country. Led by longtime musician Gene Crissman, the group has become a staple of local jams, church gatherings and community events for more than a decade.

Submitted photo
The Shade Mountain Boys consists of Gene Crissman, from left, Art Booher and Steve Minium.

The band’s lineup includes Crissman on mandolin and guitar, Steve Minium on bass, Art Booher on dobro, John Spagnoletti on banjo, and guitarists Keith Naylor and Stanley Stuck. All six members sing, with the exception of Booher, who lets his dobro carry the melody. Their harmonies are tight, their sound is warm and their camaraderie is unmistakable.

Their story began the way many small-town bands do: by simply showing up. “We used to go to the jams,” Crissman recalled of the band’s start. “After a while, we decided we wanted to play together.”

That was 12 to 14 years ago, back when they called themselves the Shade Mountain Bluegrass Gospel Band. Over time, the name shortened, but the mission stayed the same: make music, lift spirits and enjoy the fellowship that comes with both.

Today, the group’s average age is 79, and all are retired — though you wouldn’t know it from their schedule. They jam twice a month, which doubles as their rehearsal time, and they play 10 to 12 gigs a year.

“That’s a good number for now,” Crissman said. “We enjoy it.”

Submitted photo
Rounding out the band are Keith Naylor, from left, John Spagnoletti and Stanley Stuck.

Before the pandemic, the band played heavily at nursing homes and senior centers, including the Mifflin County Senior Center. When the pandemic hit, those performances became even more meaningful. “We did a lot of nursing homes then,” Crissman said. “It felt important.”

Saturday’s concert marks a return to a venue they know well. The group performed at Ellen Chapel two years ago and is looking forward to bringing their blend of toe-tapping instrumentals and heartfelt gospel back to the stage.

Garden of Grace shares gospel, healing and hope

The second set features gospel guitarist and vocalist Brian Worley — a performer whose music carries both joy and deep personal meaning — along with his new wife Jayde on mandolin.

Worley, of Port Royal, has spent the past year and a half rebuilding his life after the devastating loss of his first wife, Mary, to cancer. Music, he says, has been his anchor.

“It’s all about building relationships, and learning how to do that again,” the 67-year-old said. “That’s what towns used to be: knowing people and working together.”

He performs anywhere he can bring encouragement — coffeehouses, senior centers, community gatherings and even fast-food restaurants. Since 2017, Worley has appeared monthly at Burger King locations in Burnham, Lewistown and Mifflintown, and the Lewistown Burger King will resume its music nights on March 19 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Worley also sings weekly at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, offering comfort to patients and staff. He and Jayde started Ambassadors for Christ, an outreach ministry designed for people who might not feel comfortable in a traditional church setting.

“Some folks are less fortunate,” he said. “We try to reach them where they are.”

Recently, the Worleys — who married last August — adopted “Garden of Grace” as a new name for their duo. The name reflects both their musical style and the spiritual renewal that has shaped Worley’s journey.

His performances blend classic gospel, uplifting originals and stories about songwriting and faith. Whether singing a classic hymn or upbeat song, everyone can feel the joy.

Through every song, Worley carries on in faith, finding motivation in love for his community and turning grief into perseverance through music. “I’m going to do this as long as I have life and breathe,” he said. “I’m going to get up and do some things.”

The concert is free and open to the public. With the Shade Mountain Boys’ spirited bluegrass and Garden of Grace’s heartfelt gospel, the evening promises a blend of joy, reflection and community — the kind of gathering Ellen Chapel has become known for.