Activity time: 35 minutes

Materials for Activity

• Handout 1, Congregational Covenants
• Handout 3, Building a House of Covenant
• Handout 4, House of Covenant Template
• Light-color card stock, one 8x11-inch sheet for each participant
• Scissors, tape and glue sticks, stickers, and fine point markers to share
• Optional: Magazines to cut up for collage, and copies of a printed covenant that can be cut up
• Optional: UU clip art to use for crafts

Preparation for Activity

• Copy Handout 1, Congregational Covenants (if you did not already done so for Activity 1).
• Copy Handout 3, Building a House of Covenant.
• Copy Handout 4, House of Covenant Template on card stock. Optional: To save time during the workshop, precut the house template for each participant.
• Gather magazines to cut up for a collage. You may also wish to copy your congregational covenant or workshop handouts with covenant text for participants to cut up.
• Prepare a craft area where participants will have room to work on individual projects.
• Optional: Print out UU clip art from the UUA website.
• Optional: Identify a place in your congregational building where you can display the finished "Houses of Covenant."

Description of Activity

Participants each construct a "House of Covenant," based either on your congregation's covenant or a sample covenant.

Distribute Handout 3, Building a House of Covenant and Handout 4, House of Covenant Template. Make sure each participant has Handout 1, Congregational Covenants.

Explain the project in these or similar words:

First, cut out the house template (if this has not already been done).

Then, follow the suggestions on Handout 3, Building a House of Covenant for each part of the house-the foundation, roof, walls, and doors and windows.

Decorate your house with the appropriate elements of your covenant. You might use words, pictures, or colors to represent each element. There is no one way to construct a house-or a covenant!

When you are done decorating, assemble the house using tape or glue. As you work, you are invited to share with each other your own interpretations of the covenant.

When creations are complete, consider displaying them for the rest of the congregation to admire.

Including All Participants

Not all participants will consider themselves artistic, so, provide supplies that invite expression without requiring drawing ability. Printed copies of a covenant that can be cut up, printed clip art, and old magazines can provide a source of inspiration and artwork.