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 offer a series of workshops and small group gatherings to engage ministry leaders in worship planning that incorporates individual gifts and develops a creative arts ministry.
To train adult and youth leaders through a retreat and monthly gatherings to create and lead weekly worship that engages urban youth through word, visual arts and music.
To train and develop the gifts of the worship planning team which includes 25 people through a retreat, workshops, reading circles and congregational evaluation and to collaborate with another congregation to develop youth as worship leaders.
To engage the congregation in learning about God’s presence in worship and daily life through retreats, monthly gatherings and artistic expression that will enrich corporate worship.
To promote unity across groups separated by age and tradition by studying selected hymns and integrating those hymns in four different weekly worship services using visual art, dramatic readings, special music, and Bible study.
To develop intergenerational, scriptural worship through a series of seminars to help the congregation engage in the beauty, mystery, majesty and holiness of God using photography, music, and speaking.
To incorporate the worshipping community in worship planning by creating a collaborative process for sermon development that includes learning the role of the sermon, reflecting critically on current practices, and taking part in the process of developing the sermon.
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 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 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 offer workshops that teach the congregation how art, color and light in the worship space engage members and visitors in worship that includes baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
To explore with neighboring congregations the relationship between contemplative practice and Christian worship through art, poetry, multi-sensory practices and reflection.
