1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University
© 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 engage the congregation in study and reflection of the Lord's Supper and unity that will extend hospitality and shape their life together as they move from being a mono-cultural to multi-cultural congregation.
To collaborate with four local churches of different denominations to encourage ecumenism through the study and implementation of faithful communion practices by offering workshops on Eucharistic and evangelical hospitality as well as tools for using the arts in worship.
To immerse the congregation in a year-long study of the centrality of the Lord's Supper in worship that will lead to the creation of liturgical art and new sacramental furniture that is a reminder of communion as the center of the life of the church as the congregation moves to a permanent worship space.
To engage the congregation in a year-long study of how baptism forms and informs identity to more deeply live into their mission statement "Centered in Christ, Called to the Core City, and committed to being a multicultural community reconciled to each other through Christ."
To deepen a relationship between two congregations in a cooperative parish through worship, study, fellowship, and liturgical arts focused on gathering as a community around the Lord’s Table.
To offer seminars for laity, worship leaders and local artists to help deepen understanding and appreciation of the Lord’s Supper and prepare the congregation to create new sacramental furniture in a congregation that celebrates the Lord’s Supper weekly and meets in a neighborhood theater.
To unite members of the congregation, worship leaders, and members of the community in a process that will deepen the understanding and experience of the Lord’s Supper.
To create a new communion liturgy in collaboration with two other AME churches through workshops and community meals that will deepen understandings of sacramental theology.
To study and evaluate past worship practices and create new liturgies that practice inclusivity, collaboration, creativity, and social justice and that encourage the gifts of musicians, artists, dancers, children, writers, and persons with disabilities.
To explore with children, youth and adults what it means to be a baptizing community by focusing on the ways baptism impacts worship, vocation, and outreach.
To offer workshops in the theology and practice of worship, congregational singing, drama, movement and visual arts and implement what is learned into congregational worship.
To connect the congregation's worship life and its mission by studying how biblically embedded beliefs and practices, such as celebration of communion, adherence to the liturgical calendar, and use of a common lectionary, have formed congregations for service and witness.
