History:

Maranatha, PA was a church group from Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. The organization featured many young community members from the town that attended Old Sharon Presbyterian Church. The organization, located in a building next to the church, decided to have their members produce an album to benefit their church. The resulting album was titled “The Lord Cometh” and credited to Maranatha, PA. The album features material from a couple rock bands and several folk musicians. 

The band Grace played on three tracks on Side A. Grace consisted of Wally Medic on backing vocals and lead guitar, Alfred Teamor on bass guitar, John Eichenmuller on acoustic rhythm guitar and drums, and both Kim Scofield and Ron Mytinger on lead vocals. The group performed a scorching acid rock tune titled “Lamentations”, a laidback country rock tune called “Agape Love”, and an acoustic CSNY-pastiche titled “Undecided”. 

The other band featured on the album was The New Covenant. The band consisted of Dale Babik on lead and rhythm guitars, Rich Pichora on bass guitar, Bert Wells on drums, and both Connie Cornelius and Diane Galisin on lead vocals. The band contributed a nice psychedelic rock tune titled “Sinner Come On Home” and a funky tune titled “Real Life”. The rest of the album features solo acoustic folk numbers by various members of both groups. Some of the tunes are quite eerie. Most of them were written by Kim Scofield and feature her on lead or backing vocals. 

The album was released locally at the church in 1973 on their own independent label. All albums came with a printed insert with lyrics and track information. The album did not sell that well and as a result is quite rare. Nothing more came from any of the musicians involved in the recording. The album was later featured in the book The Archivist.