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 initiate avenues for teens and young adults to become involved in planning and leading worship for a growing multicultural congregation.
To engage the congregation in a study of the liturgical seasons and creation of visual arts that will guide worshipers throughout the year.
To develop a process that brings together clergy and people with disabilities to create a model of inclusive worship in six area congregations.
To create worship liturgies that connect classic Christian texts and secular artistic, literary, and philosophical works in collaboration with local congregations and campus ministries.
To explore creative uses of media and the arts in order to engage youth and encourage collaboration between youth and adults in planning worship.
To create worship services that expand the range of music, visual art and technology used in worship, incorporate the gifts of lay leaders in worship planning and reflect their multicultural community.
To deepen students’ understanding of theology and the arts in worship in partnership with two other campus ministries through workshops and planning worship together.
To explore new music, dance and drama that will deepen worship and bridge racial, cultural and generational divides to promote unity among people in the congregation who represent 40 different countries and meet in several locations.
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 offer workshops for congregations throughout the Diocese of Pennsylvania that will help them become more aware of global Anglican resources and use them in creating liturgies that reflect the diversity within the churches.
To immerse the congregation in the Psalms of Ascent with the help of linguists, musicians, visual artists and pastors that will help the congregation form faith, identity and tradition in modern life.
To create scripturally-based, experientially rich worship using music, dance, visual art and writing for patients in treatment at an adolescent residential psychiatric facility.
