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 nurture a cohort of artists who will contribute to the faith formation of the whole congregation by creating art with and for the congregation.
To reflect on worship in a university setting by nurturing the practices of prayer, reflecting on possibilities for a new chapel space, and exposing students to local church leaders and various worship traditions.
To strengthen and encourage intergenerational worship through the church year and creative excellence in all aspects of worship including music, visual arts, sacred space design, spoken and written proclamation, prayer, and liturgy—all guided by the psalms.
To initiate study and experimentation into the theology of worship space and worship hospitality that will inform anticipated renovations to the worship space so that they are done with theological integrity, artistic and architectural excellence and sensitivity to the needs of the worshiping community.
To facilitate a study of the history and usage of the chapel program that will lead to the creation of an architectural programming guide for the construction of a new chapel building that is historically rooted, contextually useful and communicates theological truths of the Christ-centeredness of the school.
To offer workshops that teach the congregation how art, color and light in the worship space engage members and visitors in worship that includes baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
To explore the creative use of the existing worship space as well as to define and expand the usage of that space through intergenerational study and dialogue on worship.
To gather information and establish a common set of expectations and values for worship services, to identify planning models that work within the framework of shared responsibility, and to implement these guidelines and models in the long-range planning of a year of worship services.
To collaborate with three small, rural churches to create a series of twelve banners, each representing and interpreting an element of worship. Work group members will research and study the theological meaning of each element of worship, collaborate to create a visual representation of that meaning, construct the banner and write narratives interpreting their symbolism so that the banners can be incorporated into worship.
To conduct workshops that will explore the theology of worship space, the various aspects of worship, and the way the space in which we worship shapes our worship.
To present four workshops to help smaller congregations begin using worship programs involving the use of dramatic readings and skits, puppets with children, interactive and narrative styles of sermons and creative changes to worship environments such as banners and interactive orders of worship.
To promote the creation of architecturally inspiring worship spaces that serve the Protestant evangelical community through a two-day conference
