This year’s Lincoln Arts Festival Jazz Church Service takes place at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 13 at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor. The joyous and dynamic program has been a favorite of the Boothbay Harbor community for 20 years.

In 2014, the Lincoln Arts Festival dedicated its program book to long-time LAF supporters Dee and Howard Wright; one of Howard’s well-known contributions to LAF is his “dance down the aisle” with church pastor Sarah Foulger at this popular service.

Barney Balch leads the Novel Jazz Quintet in the Sunday morning celebration. The musicians of Novel Jazz have been performing straight-ahead jazz around Maine and New England for over 30 years. They draw from the Great American Songbook and specialize in the works of Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.

The band members hail from all over Maine: Portland, Belfast, Northport, Newcastle, Gardiner, Augusta and Waterville.

They are going through the massive archive of compositions by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, who wrote over 3,000 pieces between them, transcribing some lesser known gems for the band, and reinterpreting them with a 21st century sound.

The church service is free and open to all, but get there early for a seat! It is usually a standing-room-only crowd.

For more information, email laf@wiscasset.net or call 207-633-3913.