1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
© 2025 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 evaluate and expand an arts enrichment program that will impact public worship
To equip ten pastors from congregations of different geographic and ecumenical contexts to creatively preach on worship and sacrament in a way that combines the worshiper's reflection with Biblical stories and images
To sponsor a Worship Arts Conference, including the areas of drama ministry, vocal and instrumental music, and other related worship arts.
To study ways to renovate the sanctuary of a small urban church to meet the current needs through the involvement of musicians, artists, architecture students, a professional architect, and the church's congregation as well as permit architecture students to explore options for area churches with similar needs
To sponsor a conference for the Presbyterian Church in America in upstate South Carolina on the theological underpinnings and practical implications of renewal in worship and the arts.
To support a conference on programs to integrate worship, evangelism, hospitality, and small group ministries in the process of welcoming new members to a congregation
To begin a certification training program for musicians, pastors, and music leaders in Latino churches
To help churches develop stimulating and meaningful worship environments and sacred spaces for their congregations during a one-day workshop
To fund a one-day conference for hymn writers from Northern Indiana on writing hymns and other songs for worship
To develop a worship service called Cross-ConneXions, and other discipleship programs for youth and young adults
To enrich worship through learning, singing and sharing worship music from around the world, helping celebrate the diversity of the neighborhood, city and church
To provide education about worship, to train youth in the arts, and to empower them to participate in and lead worship
