CICW has awarded Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants for over 20 years to teacher-scholars and worshiping communities in 45+ states and provinces and across 40+ denominations and traditions—including Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, non-denominational, and other Protestant communities.


While worship styles and practices vary greatly across these traditions, the grant projects typically explore at least one of CICW’s ten core convictions related to worship. Explore the hundreds of projects we’ve funded across both streams of the program.

Select Category
Select Year
Select State/Province

Third Presbyterian Church (East End Fellowship)

To create congregational liturgy and proclamation of the Gospel that reflects the diversity of the community through study and research of best practices in music, visual arts, storytelling and kinesthetic experiences that will engage worshipers of all economic and education levels. 

Worshiping Communities
Richmond, virginia
2012

Triumphant Community Church

To immerse the congregation in learning that will develop a deeper understanding of worship,  incorporate the arts through creativity and demonstrate theological integrity and biblical knowledge.

Worshiping Communities
Austell, georgia
2012

Westminster College

To offer the campus community, through example, instruction, worship and intentional conversation, the tools to express their individual faith stories that will allow them to connect with the larger narratives of faith and build relationships among students who come from many countries and diverse faith experiences. 

Worshiping Communities
Fulton, missouri
2012

Abiding Savior Lutheran Church

To explore and enrich understanding of public prayer in two congregations through an extensive study of prayer with a focus on the Psalms to shape the practice of congregational prayer that extends to the personal prayer life of individuals.

Worshiping Communities
Columbia, maryland
2011

Archdiocese of Galveston - Houston Office of Worship

To create an Hispanic Music Ministry Formation Program to engage musicians throughout the Archdiocese in a study of Hispanic music and the role of the music in each liturgical season that will inform the leaders to select and lead music that is liturgically appropriate.

Worshiping Communities
Houston, texas
2011

Candler School of Theology, Emory University

To engage teachers, composers and hymn writers in a study of practices and repertories of congregational song in North America that includes a collaborative consultation, a year-long partnership with congregations across the country and a concluding event to give new insights into the patterns in place and imagine prophetic renewal of the church’s song and leadership. 

Worshiping Communities
Atlanta, georgia
2011

Carey Theological College

To equip pastors and worship leaders in the free church tradition to recover the observance of the Church Year through a series of workshops and seminars to shape the worship life and spiritual formation of adults and children.

Worshiping Communities
Vancouver, british columbia
2011

Christ the King Presbyterian Church

To explore how Christ is proclaimed and remembered in the context of the weekly Lord’s Supper liturgy through study and workshops that will train an intergenerational scripture reading team and the congregation so that speaking and hearing scripture will deepen the observance of communion.

Worshiping Communities
Raleigh, north carolina
2011

Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA)

To partner with local congregations by offering “hands-on” experiences in the visual arts as a means for artists and congregations to study and respond to the Creation Psalms.

Worshiping Communities
Wenham, massachusetts
2011

Concordia University College

To equip church musicians and worship leaders in a geographical area where church leaders often feel isolated by offering a day long gathering for training and  discussion, book study groups sharing their learning throughout the year and a final gathering to celebrate what has been learned.

Worshiping Communities
Edmonton, alberta
2011

East Point Church

To examine how songs, prayers and sermons point worshipers to God through quarterly workshops which include historic hymns and catechisms to educate the congregation and leaders in other congregations.

Worshiping Communities
East Point, georgia
2011

Episcopal Church of St Paul and St James

To equip members of the congregation to plan and lead worship by offering workshops, retreats, and opportunities for congregational reflection as they explore what jazz worship means to the multi-cultural, multi-generational congregation.

Worshiping Communities
New Haven, connecticut
2011