"It is not the gift itself, but the giving that is most important," First Congregational Church of Wiscasset Pastor Josh Fitterling told attendees of Sunday morning's service. The gifts they were about to leave around the manger up front came in white envelopes or white wrapping, underscoring Fitterling's point.

The church does White Gift Sunday annually, Fitterling and church members said. They said it aids local causes, this time Midcoast Humane's animal shelter, St. Philip's Church's food pantry and First Congo's special needs fund to help residents in Wiscasset or neighboring towns with some emergency cost.

Michelle Peele said her white gift, a check, went to the animal shelter. She takes part in White Gift Sunday "because it's a great outreach for the community," Peele said.

It also helps culminate the season of Advent, Fitterling said. In recent weeks, the magi figures have circled the church's interior, from one window to the next, en route to the manger, where they arrived in this week's service.

Libby Mooney held them as Fitterling held Charlie the Church Mouse, the stuffed animal used in Fitterling's children's messages on Sundays. Charlie wore a crown this week so he could be one of the Magi, Fitterling explained later. The mouse, bearing a white gift marked for the animal shelter, joined the manger and then gift bearers lined up to leave theirs for the causes.