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 incorporate new methods to plan, lead and reflect upon meaningful worship and to adapt worship planning to the gifts and challenges of local churches by working with seminary students and recent graduates across the United States.
To study a biblical perspective on worship through a series of workshops for worship leaders and local congregations with small group follow-up and implementation in individual congregations.
To develop worship resources and support for prisoners in both understanding and participating in worship by forming relationships between six West Michigan congregations (CRC and RCA) and worshiping communities in prisons.
To reflect on the role of visual arts in worship as pairs of pastors and artists and to present the results of this collaborative learning to the broader body of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
To create a mission-oriented worship environment that focuses on visual arts and healing within the emergent church by integrating tradition, cultural context, and individual gifts.
To explore ways to make worship accessible for children and adults with disabilities and to recognize and encourage the participation and leadership of those with special needs and gifts through a partnership with eight to ten congregations.
To encourage deeper participation in the worship of prison congregations by teaching prisoners how to develop drama, lament, prayer, poetry, and music.
To strengthen prayer, worship, and evangelism through a weekly worship service of healing, monthly times of fellowship, study and discussion, and a workshop for church leaders.
To focus on biblical hospitality as a basis for inclusive worship that reflects diverse cultures through the collaboration of six local congregations.
To empower youth to plan and lead worship through study of and exposure to various forms of worship.
To train parish music coordinators in Roman Catholic liturgical practices and mentors to assist them in the application of these practices.
To contextualize a Reformed theology of worship in the Hispanic/Latino community through biblical study and practice in music, arts, dance and drama.
