1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University
© 2026 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.
Find resources related to the learning from the Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants Program.
To explore the intersection of the arts and worship through workshops on the visual arts, music, dance, drama and spoken word in partnership with an ecumenical group of four congregations and to implement the learning in the worship life of each of the congregations.
To offer to the congregation a year of creative opportunities in the visual arts that begin with Scripture and are created in response to the scriptures of the seasons with attention to the diversity of Christian experience and global cultures to nurture a creative culture that can be central to ongoing worship renewal.
To initiate worship renewal in the 154 congregations within the Conference by emphasizing imagination, creativity and the arts as a liturgical focus for congregational and individual renewal by offering a series of retreats and workshops that conclude with a conference wide gathering.
To engage the congregation in a study of the liturgical seasons and creation of visual arts that will guide worshipers throughout the year.
To engage the congregation in a process that will deepen understanding of the seasons of the Liturgical Church Calendar through sermons, teaching and the creation of visual arts.
To explore with neighboring congregations the relationship between contemplative practice and Christian worship through art, poetry, multi-sensory practices and reflection.
To study scripture and create visual art that will find and express God's transforming love and create a venue for the entire congregation including families with young children to fully participate in worship.
To explore the role of visual arts in making the Lord's Supper and Baptism more meaningful by giving attention to the church year in corporate worship and small group discussions.
To encourage five congregations to integrate theatre arts into worship with both artistic excellence and biblical integrity through a conference on theater in worship and a year long mentoring program for worship leaders.
To instruct and strengthen core teams of lay leaders through a year-long mentorship to create written resources, visual arts, graphics and musical arrangements for worship.
To include the prayer life of children, expand the use of testimonies in worship, and deepen the understanding of baptism and the Lord’s Supper to unite people of different cultures, generations and denominations while celebrating their diversity.
To educate all members of the congregation in New Testament worship through a series of workshops and small group discussions that will explore the elements of corporate worship to develop a lifestyle of worship.
