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 develop four two-day gatherings for in-depth, hands-on training in worship leadership for adults and youth in smaller urban churches.
To study the worship practices of the members of the congregation who are of European-American, African-American, and Hispanic backgrounds through a church-wide forum and focus groups, and to develop materials and education classes to continue discussion and incorporate new practices into worship.
To develop two different types of Sunday evening worship services to reach the de-churched and postmoderns, and to offer a contemplative worship retreat.
To assess current worship services, events and courses at the college, and to explore ways to offer diverse worship services built on a biblical foundation of worship.
To offer a series of one-day events in eight locations on the connections between worship and discipleship. The workshops will help revitalize the worship and empower the ministries of the 182 congregations of the regional synod.
To develop a congregational worship education program that can be used in Sunday school classes or small group studies, and to guide pilot churches in implementing the curriculum, especially in small rural churches.
To train choirs and choir directors of six congregations which include Hmong, Lao, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Anglo- and African-American Christians and represent more than 3400 people, to refine their skills and renew their sense of mission. This project involves conducting retreats and workshops, and commissioning members to write music for the choir that is bi-lingual, appropriate for worship and specific to events such as Pentecost and Palm Sunday.
To offer a worship conference, worship events, and educational workshops exploring how spiritual formation and community dialogue are nurtured by worship in an ecumenical, multicultural setting.
To engage four congregations in a process of worship renewal for adults and youth through an educational retreat, an ecumenical worship service, the development of a new African American liturgy, and instruction on the use of percussive instruments in worship that is sensitive to various cultures while preserving the historical order of worship.
To research and write a Christian education study series of the traditions, including Jewish, Catholic, Scottish, and African American, which have shaped the worshiping community.
To develop a 12-week integrative training course to study the history and purposes of congregational song and to provide participants the opportunity to write, critique and perform original songs and hymns. To teach individuals, both young and old, how to effectively memorize and communicate Scripture for presentation in worship.
To sponsor a two-day conference on worship for small to mid size congregations.
