BUCKHANNON – A local church has invited the community to enjoy a free classical violin performance this Friday.

Pastor Daniel Venegas with the Seventh-day Adventist Church said renowned violinist Jaime Jorge will be performing a Christmas-themed show, to celebrate the holiday season at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3.

“The event is going to be a Christmas concert played by a very famous violinist, at least in our denomination, and he’s been playing I think, for about 34 years, and it’s going to be free admission,” Venegas said. “It’s going to be his music and maybe a bit of a story as well, and some testimonies from him, but it’s going to be a family-centered, Christmas-centered affair to get people in the Christmas spirit.”

Jorge is currently touring throughout different states to perform in several select churches.

“He is in our denomination and somehow his agent communicated with me,” Venegas explained. “He wanted to visit out church, and they were already going to be in a town in Virginia or Maryland the night before. They looked up our church and tracked me down; it was really surprising and really awesome because I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for people to get their spirits uplifted.”

He hopes members of the church and the wider Buckhannon-Upshur community attend the show.

“I know these last two years have been very difficult, but I personally have seen how Jesus can really show up in someone’s life – in my own life, in the life of my wife and my family – so I want people to come in and feel warm, welcomed and loved,” Venegas said. “I hope people will draw a little closer to Jesus and see the beauty of this world through the music and realize that Jesus is at the center of that beauty and want to get to know Him a little more.”

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is located at 1122 Brushy Fork Road.

“I think the Christmas spirit entails unity and connection with other people, no matter your background or belief system or race or anything like that,” Venegas said. “It’s about coming together, being at peace, celebrating something bigger than ourselves, and also serving each other and being generous towards each other.”