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 train and encourage clergy and lay leaders in African-American churches by offering a four-day conference on worship and a pre-conference study related to worship for those who will be attending the conference.
To create litanies, choral readings, and scripture dramas to facilitate the dramatic nature of worship through the collaboration of lay theologians and artists of all ages within the congregation.
To deepen the understanding and practice of healing as a part of worship life in a community surrounded by large institutions dedicated to healing and health, through forums, workshops, retreats, and worship experiences for lay leaders and congregation members and weekly healing services for the community.
To develop a deeper understanding about the theology and practice of worship, educate and train worship leaders from the church’s diverse membership, and explore ways art can enhance the multicultural worship experience in an urban setting.
To explore the shifting cultural contexts of worship and to identify a theology of worship that is rooted in the past and open to the future, through a yearlong consultation on worship leadership with student leaders of the Hastings College Chapel and local pastors, musicians, and lay leaders.
To study hospitality as a model for worship and missions through workshops and Bible studies with members of the three congregations who worship in the same sanctuary: Jan Hus, Indonesian Presbyterian Church, and St. John’s Independent Catholic Community.
To study the biblical foundations as well as theological, historical and practical perspectives of the inclusion of a variety of forms of dance and movement in worship, with the intention of incorporating dance appropriately into worship services in a primarily college-age congregation.
To explore forms of art and ways to incorporate that art in the ongoing worship life of local congregations through a two-week institute on the arts in worship for clergy, laity, and seminarians and to develop a resource guide for local congregations.
To conduct teaching sessions for clergy and laity centered on the topics of preparation, observance of the Lord’s Day, prayer, praise, proclamation, obedience, offerings, service, congregational participation, holiness of life, significance of preaching of the Word of God and the administration of the sacraments.
To equip and disciple worship leaders in dance ministry through biblical teaching, to establish a network of dance leaders and to develop strategies for training dancers to use their gifts in worship.
To create an ecumenical team of liturgists who will mentor local parishes/congregations to reflect upon and develop their ritual focus, proclamation of the Word of God, preaching, clarity of the sacraments, music, architecture, art, and hospitality.
To train and inspire clergy and lay leaders through national music, worship and staff development sessions for the purpose of developing innovative worship practices that affirm theology and music to promote the gospel message.
