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 offer creative worship experiences, using theater and the arts, to five to seven congregations, and to teach them how to create artistic expressions of worship that will deepen the worship life of the congregation.
To explore the connection between worship and outreach by developing appropriate worship services that speak to three target groups—children and youth, seniors, and individuals in 12-step programs.
To develop and pilot a hospitable worship model for persons with mid to late stage dementia. Based on their learning, they will prepare a Handbook presenting the concepts and rationale for planning worship experiences and activities for persons with dementia living in a residential unit. The project also includes workshops, training sessions, and a one-day conference for worship leaders.
To offer leadership training for Immanuel and neighboring churches that will include workshops, resources, and worship planning and evaluation experiences for musicians, readers, worship teams, worship planners and dramatists.
To develop meaningful liturgies, rituals and special worship services which connect worship and important life issues faced by older adults. They plan to engage staff and residents of nursing homes, assisted living and independent living communities in discovering new and creative ways to conduct meaningful worship in those settings. They will convene a regional conference to share insights about worship and older adults.
To equip IVCF chapters in worship leadership by offering a worship team curriculum and assisting worship teams in skill development, which will diversify and theologically strengthen the worship expressions of IVCF chapters so they might be a welcoming community for students from many countries.
To teach skills in sermon preparation and delivery to 15 lay preachers from rural/small town congregations in southwestern Ontario. They will come together for times of study, sermon preparation, and individual mentoring.
To train worship/music leaders in the theological foundation for worship and the practical aspects of leading worship and music, especially in small, rural congregations.
To offer a two week intensive seminar on the liturgical prayer life of the church for parish liturgical leaders so that they connect corporate prayer with daily prayer and living. The seminar will include times of theological study and reflection, and practical sessions on developing liturgical skills.
To develop a team of educators and pastors from various congregations and denominations to deepen their understanding of Christian worship, and to develop a plan that will help children comprehend and encounter the essence of Christian worship and the significance of what the parts of worship contribute to their spiritual experience.
To host several one-day seminars for the congregation and the ecumenical community of Boston and Cambridge. Seminar topics include: The Theology of Worship, Exploring Theological Ideas in the Songs of Our Faith, and Reaching a Multi-Cultural Community through Worship.
To offer four workshops for pastors, musicians and church leaders on music and preaching, with special emphasis on the Christian Year and Revised Common Lectionary. By enriching worship leaders’ understanding of worship and their skills in worship leadership, the congregation will better understand the role of scripture and music in worship.
