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.

Vertical Habits/Psalms
Select Year
Select State/Province

First Presbyterian Church (2023)

To encourage active participation in the rhythms of worship (gathering, thanksgiving, response, and transformation) through weekly meals, rituals of gratitude, testimonies, and exploration of varied ways to live out faith in daily life.

Worshiping Communities
Clarksville, tennessee
2023


Young Life Capernaum

To use Vertical Habits to disciple young adults with developmental disabilities, and to help churches break down barriers to the full, conscious, active participation of those young adults in worship.

Worshiping Communities
Libertyville, illinois
2019

African Church

To introduce African Church to Western liturgical concepts and to introduce Western religious communities to the African concept of community worship and daily life through a five week series that focuses on five basic elements of worship, including planning and creating music, dance, sermons, testimonies, dramas, oral story telling, and artwork by various ages in the congregation that echo African cultural traditions, and also through intercessory prayer for Africa, the national leadership of Africa, victims of HIV-AIDS, the economic development of Africa, and the Christian church in Africa.

Worshiping Communities
Grand Rapids, michigan
2005

Bethlehem Church

To encourage continuity of worship practices in daily life by studying with local pastors, educating and training congregational leaders in Adult Sunday School, presenting a monthly drama that focuses on particular practices to encourage the development of that habit in personal life, and designing and displaying monthly banners to reinforce each practice.

Worshiping Communities
Randolph, new jersey
2005

Clifton Baptist Church

To develop a 28-day curriculum to teach and examine habits of adoration, confession and assurance, thanksgiving, and supplication in worship planning and preaching, prayer services, Sunday School lessons for all ages, Wednesday evening history lessons on a historical or contemporary person who exemplifies a specific habit, small group lessons, and personal or family devotions.

Worshiping Communities
Louisville, kentucky
2005

College Hill Presbyterian Church

To plan and implement an eight week series on Vertical Habits for both a traditional and a contemporary service, with special attention to original drama, dance, slide presentations, music, fine arts, and short original films.

Worshiping Communities
Cincinnati, ohio
2005

Cornerstone Christian Reformed Church

To help participants learn about Vertical Habits in Sunday worship and carry them into daily life through an eight-part sermon series and multi-sensory worship which will include congregational art and multimedia components, a series of articles by church leaders, and the development of an online web log of daily devotions which includes artwork of children.

Worshiping Communities
Ann Arbor, michigan
2005