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 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.
To develop a chapel program that reflects Reformed perspectives on worship by creating an environment conducive to communal worship, training student worship leaders in the history and theology of Reformed worship, developing their leadership skills, educating the college community on the deeper meaning and purpose of worship, and implementing ways that students can apply their knowledge of worship to impact both the college community and the surrounding community.
To train students to be effective worship leaders in chapel and other worship opportunities through a Worship Training Seminar Series for the purpose of focusing the community’s vision on worship that is both spiritually vital and theologically rooted, having integrity and relevance.
To engage college students through revitalization of a chapel program using the strengths of the liberal arts college—literature, poetry, studio art, music, theater, and dance—by providing instruction, inspiration, collaboration and materials for college students to connect their academic artistic endeavors with the worship life of the college chapel.
To explore and animate the linkage between worship and justice through a process, including a conference, theological reflection, and a series of public worship events, which will lead to the creation of resources to help deepen the connection between worship and justice.
To engage congregants of different ages and different ethnicities/languages in worship preparation and celebration as one body through intentional, joint learning, reflecting, planning, and creating worship for September 11, Reformation Sunday, a service focusing on the communion of the saints and commemorating martyrs, and Pentecost.
To invite more intentional practices of visual piety through a process that will include textual analysis, lectio divina, research and conversation, resulting in the creation of fourteen images of moments in the life of Christ which will be displayed throughout the campus and incorporated in worship and the production of corresponding devotionals.
