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 incorporate the worshipping community in worship planning by creating a collaborative process for sermon development that includes learning the role of the sermon, reflecting critically on current practices, and taking part in the process of developing the sermon.
To develop a worship experience for people who feel excluded from church worship experiences due to their mental health issues and to equip local congregations to receive and minister to them.
To offer a year-long study for the congregation and community with a focus on the Psalms, lamentation and prayer that will foster radical hospitality and intergenerational worship.
To study, create, implement and share innovative worship that engages patients, their families and staff within the hospital and connects with local congregations to expand pastoral care both in and out of the hospital.
To offer a series of workshops on visual arts, drama and improvisational preaching for churches in the conference and provide opportunities for the congregations to report to one another on their experience of worship renewal within their congregations.
To explore the role of arts in worship through a series of workshops and book studies to encourage members of the congregation to become involved in worship planning and implement what has been learned.
To offer a series of Bible studies, workshops and discussions on the history of biblical worship and its theological foundations that will encourage the congregation to practice in worship what they have learned.
To form an intergenerational liturgical dance program that connects movement to scripture while strengthening an appreciation for the African church and its expressions in worship.
To support ecumenical peer learning cluster groups to consider how seminaries can form worship leaders.
To offer a series of retreats, consultations, and worship services aimed at bringing together worship leaders and musicians for collaboration and reflection in an urban, multicultural, emerging worship community.
To train youth and young adults from diverse backgrounds to lead worship and to strengthen unity in the congregation by encouraging and studying intergenerational worship.
To engage the congregation in a process that explores the connections between theology, liturgy and life through a conference and ongoing class which will study aesthetic liturgical reasoning to better understand decisions about music, outreach, and space.
