Have you ever felt overwhelmed by gift planning and holiday expectations? On this Thanksgiving Sunday, hear the Rev. Desmond Jagger-Parsons’s explanation of the freeing opportunities available through the United Church’s gift-giving catalogue.

For some alert and practical folks, Christmas shopping has begun. Many of you have already discovered The United Church of Canada’s Gifts with Vision 2013 catalogue, which has been sent to each United Church congregation and slated to be included with the November issue of The United Church Observer magazine.

We recommend this gift-giving catalogue to you as an excellent way to do two things:

• Free yourselves from the commercialization of Christmas with all of the burdens that come with too much “stuff.”

• Support the work of our church and its partners in our joined mission.

Whether your gift would be to feed people or to support an education or health program, it is clear that against the worries of an expanding midsection that Christmas gives most of us, these gifts are ones we can afford.

If you don’t receive The Observer and would like a copy of the Gifts with Vision catalogue, please contact the congregational church office, or visit the Gifts with Vision website at www.giftswithvision.ca.

Every gift to the church’s mission and service is used wisely and helps transform lives. Please continue to give generously - visit the Mission and Service donation page.