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 create a musical setting of the Eucharistic service which reflects the theological and musical aesthetic of the faith community, and to offer educational workshops to introduce the history and practice of liturgical singing.
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 establish a series of workshops and discussions on the language of liturgy, and to encourage creativity in congregational song, movement and visual art.
To offer weekly courses which will include examples of liturgical forms and explanations of the meaning and relevance of those forms to daily life int he 21st century, and to incorporate this information through visits with people and through mentoring seminary students.
To conduct a series of 6 sessions for reading, study, and reflection on the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy and the influence it has on liturgy and the people who gather for worship.
To develop a three-year Institute for Liturgy offering 10 courses which will equip participants to offer regional and congregational educational events regarding church liturgy.
To establish The Liturgical Institute of the southwest, a certification program for training liturgical leaders in the planning and implementation of sound pastoral liturgy.
To develop excellence in liturgy by training lay worship leaders, including cantors, lectors, adult and children's choirs, by providing days of retreat and reflection, and by educating liturgy and music personnel to use use music software.
To develop comprehensive training in music and liturgical planning for musicians, worship teams and congregations in Hispanic churches.
To encourage the use and appreciation of multicultural music and liturgy in the worship services of four Lutheran and Reformed congregations located in a multicultural neighborhood through the development of a congregational/ecumenical model for worship renewal.
To educate a parish and other diocesan congregations about worship rituals and the liturgical life of their communities during a cathedral renovation project
To collaborate with neighboring religious institutions to form an increased awareness of the relationship between private spiritually and public discipleship through a Lenten Vesper Series
