What is a Cross Page?  (Two-Hour Workshop)

A Cross Page is an art project that provides a rhythm or framework to process your larger story, a specific story, an event, or period of time. It is used as a tool to help one examine your life’s story and bring awareness to experiences that have shaped your identity and beliefs about God and others. This workshop provides a safe space to explore, discern, and celebrate the graces in your story.

The collage is placed around the cross to remind you that because of what Jesus did on the cross there is hope for your deepest wounds, healing for your heart, and redemption for your story. Our team will safely hold you story, as we trust the compassionate presence of God to be with each of us throughout the Cross Page process.

This project is helpful with an individual or within a variety of groups including, but not limited to: leadership teams, bible study groups, and short-term mission teams.

To create a Cross Page, first decide what each quadrant will represent. (See example projects below.) The medium of collage may help you communicate stories that there have been no words for. You may use pictures clipped from magazines, colored papers, or fabric to represent emotions or events such as joy, hope, pain or loss, etc.

After creating each quadrant, take time to share with a safe person or group. Making art often helps us reach straight to our soul, and things long hidden may surface and be brought to the light. It is usually very healing to be heard and seen by others who show compassion, empathy, and grace. At this point in the workshop, you may want to pray for one another, offer comfort to the hard parts of your story, and thank the Lord for times of grace you may not have noticed before.

You are encouraged to date your project and journal about the process of creating your Cross Page Collage.

Supply List:

  • 8-inch square piece of card stock weight paper
  • Pictures, phrases, or words cut from magazines
  • Painted papers or scrapbook papers
  • Two narrow strips of painted paper to make cross
  • Glue sticks
  • Scissors

A materials fee and an honorarium for the Creative Call are received at the end of each workshop. These fees depend on the size of your group and length of workshop.

PROJECT #1 Your Story

Making a collage that tells your personal Story. Moving from left to right, starting at the top answer these questions.

  • What were your “beginnings,” or childhood like.
  • What or who do you “celebrate” in your story?
  • What is “hard” in your story?
  • What do you “hope” for?

PROJECT #2 How Does God See You?

Read Judges chapter 6-8. Make a collage in response to the story of Gideon. Moving from left to right, starting at the top answer these questions:

  • When were you gripped with fear?
  • When did you feel very alone?
  • When did you feel very small?
  • How does God see you?

Project #3 Your Healing

Read Mark 2:1-12. Make a collage page in response to your reading and study of this passage. Take time to look for deep need to bring to Jesus. Moving from left to right, starting at the top answer the questions.

  • What is an immediate need?
  • What is God saying?
  • What is a deeper need that you are noticing?
  • Who can be carried to Jesus in your prayer?

“Loving ourselves through the process of owning our own story is the bravest thing we will ever do.” Brene Brown