WALDOBORO — Almost 30 years ago the Waldoboro Word of Life Church started hosting monthly gospel music concerts and suppers from September through June to provide the area with music and the Gospel of Jesus Christ combined with fellowship.

For the past few summers, outdoor gospel concerts have been held every Friday evening under a tent “at the top of the hill” on Route One in Waldoboro and are scheduled to begin again in June. The Waldoboro Word Of Life Church, located on Coles Hill on Old Route One in Waldoboro was founded by Vernon

Carver, the grandfather of the church’s current pastor of the past 30 years, Thomas Rawley.

The concert tradition has continued over the years with many, primarily Maine based, musicians sharing their music and their faith. Preceded by free pot-luck suppers, these concerts have attracted gospel music fans from around the state.

Heaven’s Blend, formed in 2000, began as a quartet. They were a trio for a number of years before being a duo for a short time. Two new members were then added and one, who had left for health reasons, was able to return. Recently one new voice was added, bringing the group to six.

Rawley, a Waldoboro native, has been the senior pastor of the Waldoboro Word of Life Church for 30 years and is also the chaplain of the Waldoboro Fire Department. Some may remember him from some other local musical groups, The Country Wranglers and Hosanna.

Pastor Tom, along with Gary Leet, is one of the founding members of Heaven’s Blend and is a vocalist, keyboard and guitar player and composer of some of their songs. Gary Leet is the senior pastor of the Lisbon Free Baptist Church as well as founder and teacher of the “Life-changing Faith Bible Center.” Pastor Gary’s musical background is that of a rock drummer and he adds vocals and drums to Heaven’s Blend.

Marcel Ward of Rockland is a talented harmonica player and part of the worship team at the Waldoboro Word of Life Church. Craig Tuck, Youth Pastor at the West Harpswell Baptist Church, plays bass guitar with the group and has also composed some of the groups’ music. Vocalist Tim Connelly, a worship leader at the Waldoboro Word of Life Church, also ministers in many area churches as “Just Tim.” Naomi Tuck recently joined her husband and the group adding her lovely voice.

The concert will begin at 7 and all are invited to come at 5:30 for a potluck. For more information, please call 446- 3288.