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 develop four two-day gatherings for in-depth, hands-on training in worship leadership for adults and youth in smaller urban churches.
To conduct a seminar to address the need for clergy, choirs and congregations to better understand the Psalms and how the Psalms deepen the prayer life of congregations and nurture their faith.
To study the worship practices of the members of the congregation who are of European-American, African-American, and Hispanic backgrounds through a church-wide forum and focus groups, and to develop materials and education classes to continue discussion and incorporate new practices into worship.
To develop two different types of Sunday evening worship services to reach the de-churched and postmoderns, and to offer a contemplative worship retreat.
To become a catalyst for worship renewal in the community by training youth and mentoring them individually, so that they understand the basics of worship and can participate in planning worship services.
To assess current worship services, events and courses at the college, and to explore ways to offer diverse worship services built on a biblical foundation of worship.
To offer a series of one-day events in eight locations on the connections between worship and discipleship. The workshops will help revitalize the worship and empower the ministries of the 182 congregations of the regional synod.
To develop a congregational worship education program that can be used in Sunday school classes or small group studies, and to guide pilot churches in implementing the curriculum, especially in small rural churches.
To train members of the school faculty and staff to prepare children for increased participation in worship through training in music, liturgical rites, the dramatic portrayal of scripture, dance, puppets and art.
To conduct a retreat and workshops for six churches on the purpose of worship, preparation for worship, prayer, biblically-based praise, preaching/teaching, giving, congregational participation and holiness of life.
To train choirs and choir directors of six congregations which include Hmong, Lao, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Anglo- and African-American Christians and represent more than 3400 people, to refine their skills and renew their sense of mission. This project involves conducting retreats and workshops, and commissioning members to write music for the choir that is bi-lingual, appropriate for worship and specific to events such as Pentecost and Palm Sunday.
To research appropriate uses of technology in worship and to offer area churches a conference on using presentational technology wisely in worship.
