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 help churches and artists learn to collaborate with each other more effectively through an artist-in-residence program that will help worshipers connect more deeply with God, scripture, and one another through the arts.
To deepen worshipers' experience of the beauty and majesty of God in this church's unique space by engaging with the stories of the art glass windows lining the worship space.
To engage the neighborhood community with radical hospitality through creative worship by establishing an arts residency program and community arts events.
To cultivate and nurture intergenerational discipleship through creative arts and songwriting workshops that will result in artwork in the sanctuary and original songs that tell the redemptive story from Genesis to Revelation.
To integrate intergenerational relationships, imagination, and playfulness into worship life to promote faith formation that begins in and transcends the rituals of worship.
To connect older and younger generations in both church and neighborhood communities through creating virtual meeting places for online worshipers and by creating opportunities for intergenerational musical and artistic engagement.
To explore art and creativity as an act of worship to promote shalom in the community through workshops, retreats, and learning practices of contemplative creativity.
To connect different generations through partnered experiences of varied artistic and worship expressions to promote connection, spiritual health, and joy.
To explore the intersection of artistic communication, theology and Scripture through a yearlong exploration of Ezekiel 47:1-12, by creating and reflecting on art with an artist-in-residence.
To center the sacraments in worship by collaboratively creating artwork for worship that contextualizes images of bread, wine, and water for each season of the church year.
To encourage worshipful reflection on Easter hope by creating a theologically informed outdoor art installation and hosting events related to the piece.
To enrich worship by incorporating multiple forms of art created by worshipers at intergenerational workshops focused on creating art as a form of prayer.
