Looking at the Church

• Large paper grocery bag or ready-made book covers (1 per young person)
• Markers, crayons, pencils
• Clear tape

• Explain to the young people that they will be making covers for their religion books.
• Invite them to design the front cover with a title and illustration relating to an image they choose (such as People of God, Vine and the Branches, Mustard Seed, Treasure, Fish Net, Living Stones, Community of Christ's Followers).
• Provide each young person with a piece of paper cut in a long rectangle, large enough to frame their opened book, with at least two inches on all sides.
• Have them follow these directions:

Place the paper horizontally on a desk or table and then place their book in the center. Make creases by folding the long sides of the paper against the top and bottom edges of the book.

Remove the book and fold the paper neatly along the creases.

Place the closed book on the folded paper two inches away from the right edge. Then wrap the left end of the paper around the front cover of the book and make a crease along the edge of the front cover.

Remove the book, fold the paper along the crease, and then open the book and slide the front cover into the created sleeve. Close the book and crease the right end of the paper against the back cover.

Fold along this crease and then open the back cover and slide it into the created sleeve.

• Have the young people remove their book covers and then provide them art materials for decorating the covers. When they are finished, they can slip them back onto their books.
• On the back cover, the young people can write a paragraph describing the image and applying it to life today.
• Choose from the following images:

People of God
Vine and the Branches
Mustard Seed
Treasure
Fish Net
Living Stones
Community of Christ's Followers

• Invite volunteers to show their work.