1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
© 2024 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
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.
To study and reflect on the nature of worship and the use of visual and dramatic arts, music, poetry and liturgy in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper in order to break barriers of perceived differences in age, race, ethnicity, theology, accustomed worship style and socio-economic status.
To explore and reclaim liturgical dance in worship while helping two congregations experience and study the Vertical Habits.
To develop an intercultural worship planning team for a large, multicultural parish to encourage collaboration in celebrating cultural diversity in worship.
To research, experience, and reflect on using hip-hop in worship while nurturing urban teenagers as worship leaders.
To explore ways of bringing together Asian American, Anglo, and African American urban youth for contextualized expressions of worship that are Christ-centered, joyful, sustainable and life-giving in collaboration with local churches.
To engage leaders of 75 congregations in a deeper understanding and practice of testimony in worship through a workshop, book studies and quarterly discussions.
To study Reformed Theology within the context of the African-American worship experience through workshops, a retreat and written reflections with the congregation and pastors of area churches.
To partner with other small congregations to explore the ways congregational song can help worshipers grow by connecting music in church and at home.
To create visual art for worship that communicates the core values of the church by training and equipping artists in the congregation through lectures, study and devotional resources.
To engage adults and children in exploring music and liturgical art in worship through an intergenerational, multi-sensory all-church retreat and monthly workshops.
To create collaboration between church, school and the home by focusing each month on one Vertical Habit in sermons, daily devotions, curriculum, special activities and chapel that will engage children and adults.
To explore Old Testament worship in light of New Testament themes and to probe its implications for a variety of worship practices including cross cultural relationships and the arts.
